Authors

Discussion

Andrey Kondrashov, head of the TASS news agency and a notable Russian journalist, once remarked, “If they criticize and hold Russia back, then our ship is on the right course.” This sentiment encapsulates a theme common to many documentaries produced in Russia over the past decade. These films often differentiate between 'us' (Russians) and 'them' (an external world seemingly antagonistic to Russia). This study explores how these documentaries reflect the regime's aspirations to solidify a cohesive Russian national identity, especially through representations of the past.

From 2012 to 2018, a sizable number of TV documentaries reinforced state ideology, shaping national identity through themes such as leadership, war, land, religion, and history (Kriachko Roeren 2023). This period culminated in Putin's re-election. What followed this era? Did the state maintain its funding levels for documentary production? Which subjects were highlighted, especially when real-world military invasions unfolded?

Our analysis indicates that post-2018 documentaries still emphasize similar themes, but with shifting priorities. Lengthy films about Putin are less common, with history and war emerging as dominant subjects in response to real-world events such as ongoing wars, sanctions, international confrontations, economic challenges, and climate instability. Notably, titles like Dangerous Virus (2021), Russia: Recent History (2021), Mariupol: Return to Home (2023), and Tested by War (2023) have become more prevalent.

Examining these documentaries provides insight into evolving national identity narratives in the last decade, raising questions about the normalization of war and the instrumentalization of history. These films both interpret the past to rationalize the present and project a state-endorsed vision of a united Russian populace.