Former RT producer turned soldier killed in Ukraine conflict

Magomed Buchaev, a former Russian propagandist and producer for the Russia Today channel, was killed on 17th November during fighting in Chasiv Yar, Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian service The New Voice of Ukraine, Buchaev volunteered to fight several weeks earlier. He was 27 years old.

Chasiv Yar—where the soldier-propagandist was killed—holds significance for several reasons, both strategic and symbolic, in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Donbas, especially in the face of the war between Ukraine and Russia. The town is located in Donbas, one of Ukraine's key regions. It is part of the so-called "coal basin" of Ukraine, a region of notable industrial and military importance. The town is near larger cities such as Bakhmut and Avdiivka, which are important points of resistance and strategic military locations in the region.

The death of the propagandist is yet another instance of a Russian propagandist perishing in a clash with the Ukrainian army. Previously, on 15th September, Oleksandr Korobov, a journalist for the Rossiya-1 channel, was killed in Belgorod. He had supported Russia's so-called "special military operation" in Ukraine through propaganda. Ukrainian media reported that he was involved in war crimes on the front line.

Russia Today (RT) is an international television channel funded by the Russian government, which began broadcasting in 2005. Its stated aim is to provide an alternative perspective on global events, often contrasting with Western media. However, RT is frequently criticised for functioning as a tool of Russian propaganda, promoting narratives aligned with the Kremlin's interests.

What are the main propaganda themes? RT often portrays the United States, the European Union, and NATO as sources of global conflicts, thereby undermining their credibility and intentions. RT employs strategies of blending facts with half-truths or conspiracy theories. For example, during conflicts such as the war in Syria, the annexation of Crimea, or the war in Ukraine, the channel disseminated false information or undermined independent sources.

RT promotes the image of Russia as a power defending traditional values, stability, and justice on the international stage—a portrayal that is evidently misleading.