Victory and Victimhood: Competing Narratives in Russia's War with Former SAS Soldier, Robin Horsfall

Whereas around 80% of the public in the UK, Finland and Sweden blame  Russia mostly or entirely for the war in Ukraine, this view is by no  means universal. Russian propaganda may get shirt shrift here but is far  more pervasive and persuasive in countries like Bulgaria and Greece,  where higher percentages of the population blame NATO more than Russia  as the primary cause of the conflict. Today I’m talking to one of the  UK’s most experienced military men, not just about the execution and  impact of the conflict, but also about how the struggle for victory is  one of competing narratives where information has become weaponised by  propagandists, Where the Kremlin is creating a parallel reality of  victory and victimhood, to justify their crimes against humanity and  Ukraine.   

Robin Horsfall joined the British Army at the age of fifteen in 1972. He  served with the Parachute Regiment and 22 Special Air Service. He left  the British Army in 1984 and worked as a mercenary, bodyguard and as a  medical officer is many active zones around the world. He then built  London Karate for twenty years, teaching thousands the art and  discipline of karate. When he broke his neck, he retired and went to  Surrey University aged 56 and graduated in English Literature and  Creative Writing three years later. He is the author of several books  including his hugely successful autobiography Fighting Scared. He is in  demand as an after-dinner speaker and campaigns against the persecution  of war veterans and has plans for a Veterans Human Rights campaign in  2021.