Are stories more powerful than bombs? Russia's leaders are sending comic books to Russian schools to increase support for the war. It could hold the key to their victory.
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Russia's new secret weapon: comic books
Are stories more powerful than bombs? Russia's leaders are sending comic books to Russian schools to increase support for the war. It could hold the key to their victory.
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Last September, RussianFrom Russia, the largest country in the world by area. It has a population of 144 million people. officials sent a nine-carriage train across the country.
It had no passengers. Instead, the train contained an exhibition celebrating the army. It included war-themed comic stories showing Russian soldiers as brave heroes fighting evil enemies.
Vladimir PutinRussia's ruler since 2000. He is a strong opponent of the West. uses propagandaInformation, which may be biased or misleading, used to promote a certain viewpoint. to make sure the Russian people support his war in UkraineA country in Eastern Europe. It was invaded by Russia in February 2022. . This includes social media posts and TV broadcasts. But lately he has turned to cartoons.
Russia has started giving tens of thousands of comic books to Russian schools. Some show Ukrainian soldiers giving up on their fight.
Last year Russian high schools received a new textbook. It spreads various untruths, such as that Ukraine is controlled by NazisA German political party of the twentieth century, led by Adolf Hitler. The Nazis controlled Germany from the early 1930s until the end of World War II. and that Ukrainians are Russians. Officials hope the cartoons and stories will encourage more Russians to sign up to fight in the war.
Others think that stories have their limits. Stories inspire wars, but they cannot fight them. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says: "People believe in words only for a stretch of time. Then they start to look for action."
Are stories more powerful than bombs?
Yes! The writer Edward Bulwer-Lytton wrote: "The pen is mightier than the sword." He was right. If cartoons convince thousands of young Russians to sign up to be soldiers, then Russia may soon win.
No! Leaders might think so. But people who are on the battleground know that weapons are clearly more powerful. Words alone cannot kill people and destroy buildings.
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Keywords
Russian - From Russia, the largest country in the world by area. It has a population of 144 million people.
Vladimir Putin - Russia's ruler since 2000. He is a strong opponent of the West.
Propaganda - Information, which may be biased or misleading, used to promote a certain viewpoint.
Ukraine - A country in Eastern Europe. It was invaded by Russia in February 2022.
Nazis - A German political party of the twentieth century, led by Adolf Hitler. The Nazis controlled Germany from the early 1930s until the end of World War II.
Russia’s new secret weapon: comic books
Counterattack: Cartoons showing inept Ukrainian soldiers surrendering are being delivered to Russian children. Glossary
Russian - From Russia, the largest country in the world by area. It has a population of 144 million people.
Vladimir Putin - Russia’s ruler since 2000. He is a strong opponent of the West.
Propaganda - Information, which may be biased or misleading, used to promote a certain viewpoint.
Ukraine - A country in Eastern Europe. It was invaded by Russia in February 2022.
Nazis - A German political party of the twentieth century, led by Adolf Hitler. The Nazis controlled Germany from the early 1930s until the end of World War II.