Russian state media and less official propaganda outlets have gone into overdrive in their efforts to criticize and negatively characterize Ukraine as the country approached and started its election period. The Kremlin-controlled Rossiya 1 TV channel, RT (formerly known as Russia Today) and Sputnik have been leading the charge.

But beyond the usual disinformation or anti-Ukrainian propaganda, an increase in fiery rhetoric on state television that advocates for war and, in some cases, the total destruction of Ukraine, has also been noticed by concerned observers.