Russia’s “Invincibility” Is a Dangerous Myth, Not a Reality
The idea of Russia’s military invincibility, once the preserve of pro-Kremlin propaganda, is now echoing in Western political discourse — and it’s distorting global perceptions of the war in Ukraine, Petro Oleshchuk, political scientist and expert at the United Ukraine Think Tank, writes in his article for The Gaze.
Oleshchuk explains that “this myth is becoming increasingly popular not only in pro-Russian media, but also among Western political leaders and experts who either openly or implicitly acknowledge the Russian Federation’s supposed special ability to withstand any war.”
One of the clearest examples, he notes, is Donald Trump’s May 2024 statement: “They defeated Hitler and Napoleon. It is a powerful nuclear power with a very intelligent leader. We need to negotiate.”
According to Oleshchuk, this not only mimics Russian propaganda but also “reproduces historical simplifications that are beneficial to Moscow.”
However, Trump contradicted this narrative himself when he claimed the U.S. was key to defeating Hitler. “We won both wars, no one even came close to us in strength, courage, or military prowess,” the former president wrote.
Oleshchuk points to multiple historical defeats that shatter the myth of Russia’s invincibility — from the Crimean War and Russo-Japanese War to World War I and the Soviet failure in Afghanistan.
He argues that “the idea of Russia’s ‘invincibility’ is beneficial to several groups,” from Kremlin propagandists mobilizing support to Western politicians avoiding tough choices. But the narrative is false — and dangerous.
“Russia’s invincibility is not a reality, but a convenient illusion for those who are afraid to defeat it,” he concludes.
Read the full article by Petro Oleshchuk on The Gaze: Debunking the ‘Russia Can’t Be Defeated’ Myth