Donetsk bloggers and “normal life.” How propaganda works in the occupied Donbas

How do bloggers in occupied territories create the illusion of normal life? This video examines content from Donetsk: restaurants serving “Kamchatka crab,” swimming pools during a water shortage, and videos about a “prosperous city.”

We analyze how everyday propaganda functions on social media. Why bloggers show only the “showcase” side of life, how humor and ordinary lifestyle content normalize a crisis reality, and what role such videos play for Russian and international audiences.