Russia organized a festival for foreign youth featuring Kremlin propaganda
Yekaterinburg is hosting the so-called “International Youth Festival—2026,” which Russia is using to promote its image abroad. Foreign guests are treated to matryoshka dolls, roly-poly toys, the song “Katyusha,” and other symbols of Russian culture, while the Ukrainian side calls the event yet another propaganda campaign by the Kremlin.
Russia is attempting to use this international youth event to present foreigners with an image of the country that is favorable to the Kremlin. The “International Youth Festival—2026” was organized in Yekaterinburg, to which youth representatives from various countries were invited. The Ukrainian side believes that behind the rhetoric of cultural exchange and international friendship lies typical Russian propaganda. A number of familiar Russian symbols were prepared for the foreign guests. At the festival, visitors can see installations in the form of matryoshka dolls, make roly-poly toys, play arcade games while wearing ushanka hats, and sing “Katyusha.”
In this way, the organizers are attempting to create an atmosphere of a “traditional” and supposedly open Russia. At the same time, outside the festival grounds, the country continues to wage war against Ukraine. Critics of the event emphasize precisely this contrast with reality. Instead of discussions about the war, repression, and international isolation, visitors are shown cultural symbols and entertainment. The Ukrainian side also draws attention to the composition of the participants. In its assessment, the Kremlin is interested not only in making an impression on young foreigners right now.
It is also about establishing contacts with people who may work in the media, politics, or the public sector in the future. Through such contacts, Russia may attempt to build a circle of supporters abroad and promote its own narratives. The festival also plays a special role for the Russian audience. Propaganda media feature stories about foreign guests who are supposedly fascinated by Russia.
Such content is accompanied by statements from Russian leadership. As a result, they are trying to create the impression among the domestic audience that Russia is not, in fact, internationally isolated, but rather enjoys broad support around the world. This is important for the Kremlin, as the Russian authorities regularly try to convince their own population that Western countries supposedly have no real influence over Russia, while other states continue to seek contact with it.
In this sense, the festival in Yekaterinburg serves as a convenient television platform. Foreign participants, Russian symbols, and large-scale events create the image needed for propaganda. At the same time, the mere fact that foreigners are participating in such an event does not mean that they support the Kremlin’s policies. Similarly, it is impossible to automatically assume that all participants understand or share the organizers’ propaganda goals.
The Ukrainian side believes that Russia uses such events as part of a broader information campaign. Its goal is to present a supposedly “open” Russia to the world, to undermine the perception of its international isolation, and to maintain influence over a foreign audience. Therefore, behind the seemingly innocent matryoshka dolls, songs, and youth entertainment lies a much broader information campaign. The Kremlin is attempting to use cultural events not only for entertainment but also to shape the image of Russia abroad that it desires. This is reported by .
