Russian authorities have admitted that their war-themed propaganda films are failing to connect with the country’s youth, according to recent reports from the Center for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council.

Officials in Moscow expressed frustration over the lack of interest among young Russians in films about what the Kremlin euphemistically calls the “Special Military Operation” (SVO) in Ukraine. The revelation came during discussions in the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, where lawmakers acknowledged the propaganda efforts weren’t yielding the desired results.

In a particularly telling moment, even a representative from Russia’s Ministry of Culture—the department directly responsible for overseeing such propaganda initiatives—was unable to name what they considered the three “best” films about the war when asked to do so.

“Russian officials are dissatisfied with the results of film propaganda among Russian youth,” the Ukrainian agency reported in Telegram messages on the topic. “There is no interest among Russian youth in films about the so-called ‘SVO’. Moreover, even among the officials responsible for propaganda, there seems to be no interest in such cinema.”

The admission emerged during a Duma roundtable ostensibly focused on addressing destructive behavior among teenagers. However, rather than developing concrete educational measures or advancing media literacy, ruling party representatives again turned to propaganda as their preferred solution—a strategy that appears increasingly ineffective.

This failure represents a significant setback for the Kremlin’s broader information strategy. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, Russian authorities have invested substantial financial resources in films, television programs, and other media products designed to glorify the war effort and generate patriotic fervor, particularly among young people.

According to the Ukrainian agency, Russia has long approached youth education as an exercise in ideological indoctrination rather than critical thinking development. The Kremlin’s approach prioritizes raising “a compliant generation capable of unquestioningly obeying the regime’s orders,” the agency noted.

Media analysts point out that young Russians increasingly obtain their information from alternative sources, particularly social media platforms and independent online channels—despite the government’s extensive efforts to control the information space through website blocking, VPN restrictions, and “foreign agent” designations for independent outlets.

The film industry has been a particular focus for Russian authorities. Since 2022, the government has channeled millions into war-themed productions, often featuring idealized portrayals of Russian soldiers and simplistic narratives of Russian heroism against Ukrainian and Western antagonists.

However, these films have struggled at the box office despite receiving state support and being heavily promoted through official channels. They’ve been criticized for their overtly propagandistic nature and lack of artistic merit, with some Russian film critics privately noting their formulaic approaches and heavy-handed messaging.

The Kremlin’s failure to engage youth through propaganda films comes amid other signs of generational disconnect. Recent independent polling, though increasingly difficult to conduct in Russia’s restrictive environment, suggests younger Russians are generally less supportive of the war than older generations, though public expression of anti-war sentiment carries significant legal risks.

Education experts suggest that rather than doubling down on propaganda, a more effective approach would involve developing critical thinking skills, media literacy, and creating spaces for open dialogue about complex issues including national security.

As the war in Ukraine approaches its third year with no end in sight, the Kremlin’s admission of propaganda failures highlights the challenges facing Russian authorities as they attempt to maintain domestic support for an increasingly costly military campaign that has isolated Russia internationally and strained its economic resources.