Simple English News Daily Andrew Ryvkin part 3 - Your Questions
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Nov 29, 2025 Andrew Ryvkin, a former Kremlin propagandist turned critic, shares his captivating journey from the inside of Russian media to his current perspectives on propaganda and the war in Ukraine. He discusses the complex relationship between Russia and China and the chilling atmosphere in St. Petersburg under repression. Andrew also reveals insights into Russian public opinion on the war, the fate of independent media, and how he plans to tackle his past in his upcoming memoir. His recommendations for countering propaganda are refreshingly pragmatic and accessible.
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Maintaining Distance Inside Propaganda
- Andrew Ryvkin kept a mental distance from Russian propaganda because he consumed mostly English-language media and saw it as a 'game'.
- He respected colleagues as smart and worldly but could tell when they were speaking as professionals rather than as themselves.
Publicising An Assault For Protection
- Andrew described being physically assaulted by colleagues and then publicising it to gain protection.
- Making the incident public prevented further attacks and put the assailants on the defensive.
China's Transactional Role In The War
- China profits from Russia's dependence and sells components to keep its war machine running.
- China is transactional, not an ally, and nothing it gives Russia is free.
