Opinion: Russia’s propaganda from the 1939 Winter War is now strangely familiar

Russia’s 1939 Propaganda Echoes in Today’s Narratives

Eighty-five years ago, on November 30, 1939, the Soviet Union launched its attack on Finland, an event remembered as the “Winter War.” The campaign was brutal but ultimately unsuccessful for Moscow, which failed to subdue Finland despite its vastly larger army. Today, many of the same propaganda narratives used by the USSR reappear in the Kremlin’s language regarding Ukraine.

The Winter War and Soviet Messaging

The Soviet regime justified its assault by claiming Finland had provoked the conflict and even fired on Soviet territory first—a fabricated story eerily similar to present-day excuses for invasion. Officials in Moscow asserted that their forces were “liberating” Finland from supposed fascist elements, depicting their aggression as a defensive and humanitarian mission. Soviet newspapers of 1939 portrayed Finnish soldiers as extremists manipulated by Western powers.

In reality, Finland was a small democracy trying to defend its sovereignty. Despite facing overwhelming odds, Finnish troops used innovative tactics and local knowledge to hold off Soviet forces for months. The war ended in March 1940, with Finland forced to cede territory but maintaining its independence.

Parallels with Modern Russia

Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine revived many of these Cold War-era justifications. Once again, the Kremlin described the target nation as “Nazified,” accused it of Western manipulation, and portrayed Russian forces as liberators. The recycled rhetoric highlights a consistent propaganda model: frame the aggressor as the victim and the victim as a threat.

Western analysts note that this pattern is not accidental but built into the Russian political mindset inherited from the Soviet past. It reflects how propaganda functions not just as a communication tool but as an ideological shield, turning conquest into patriotic duty.

Lessons from History

The 1939 Winter War and the current war in Ukraine both reveal how authoritarian regimes use language to distort reality. In both cases, the aggressor reshaped narratives to justify violence and create moral confusion abroad. Understanding these historical echoes helps explain the staying power of Russian disinformation strategies and the importance of confronting them with truth and documentation.

“History doesn’t repeat itself,” said a Finnish historian quoted in the article, “but in Russia’s case, it often rhymes.”

Author’s summary: Propaganda used by the USSR in the 1939 Winter War reappears in today’s Russian narratives about Ukraine, showing how historical lies persist in modern conflicts.

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The Hill on MSN The Hill on MSN — 2025-11-30

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