Belarusian state propaganda, despite its complete solidarity with the Kremlin in supporting the war against Ukraine, uses its own narratives that distinguish it from Russian propaganda. This conclusion was reached by the authors of the iSANS report "Red Lines of Belarusian Propaganda", which analyzes pro-government Belarusian Telegram channels and media outlets.
Experts note that Russian propaganda is built around rhetoric aimed at destroying Ukrainian statehood, denying Ukraine’s right to exist, and calling for the continuation of the war until victory. Belarusian propaganda, meanwhile, increasingly resorts to "peacekeeping" rhetoric, promoting the idea of negotiations and presenting Belarus as a possible venue for them. At the same time, it does not question Russia’s actions and continues to spread the Kremlin’s anti-Ukrainian narratives.
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The report identifies three main areas of divergence. Russian propagandists portray the war as a struggle for destruction and an existential confrontation with the West, while Belarusian media emphasize the need for negotiations. Ukraine is depicted in Russian propaganda as "anti-Russia", whereas Belarusian media describe it as a "neighboring" or "brotherly" country that has supposedly fallen under Western influence. Finally, Russian propaganda denies the existence of a separate Ukrainian identity, while Belarusian propaganda continues to promote the concept of "three fraternal Slavic peoples."
Researchers emphasize that Lukashenko’s peacekeeping rhetoric is one-sided. According to their assessment, he regularly calls on Ukraine to agree to negotiations on Moscow’s terms while making no demands on Russia as the initiator of the war. The report also notes that statements about peace are accompanied by continued military and political support for the Kremlin.
