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Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the government has promoted a militarized masculinity, contrasting "real men" who serve with those who flee. Propaganda shames deserters while glorifying soldiers, including criminals in groups like Wagner. Military service is portrayed as a route to wealth and status for working-class men, normalizing violence, including sexual violence against both women and male POWs. Returning soldiers, emboldened by their experiences, often commit domestic abuse with impunity. This reshaping of Russian masculinity fuels wartime violence. Meanwhile, Russian elites stay loyal to the regime, fearing loss of status and rejecting Western refuge, further bolstering anti-Western narratives.
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