---
title: Address announcing a 'special military operation'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/special-military-operation-address-2022/
description: President Putin during the televised address that launched Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which he called a 'special military operation' aimed…
section: Collection
---

[Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)

[![Address announcing a 'special military operation'](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/special-military-operation-address-2022.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/special-military-operation-address-2022.jpg)

# Address announcing a 'special military operation'

President Putin during the televised address that launched Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which he called a 'special military operation' aimed at the 'demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine.' The operation label stands in for the word war. 'Denazification,' a term from Allied occupation policy after 1945, is applied to an elected government led by a Jewish president.

- **Date:** February 24, 2022
- **Period:** [Contemporary](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#era=contemporary)
- **Made by:** Government of the Russian Federation (President Vladimir Putin)
- **Region:** [Eastern Europe and Eurasia](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#region=eastern-europe-eurasia)
- **Country:** [Russia](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#country=russia)
- **Medium:** [Broadcast](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#medium=broadcast)
- **Issuer type:** [State](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#actor=state)
- **Regime:** [Putin Government](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#regime=putin-government)
- **Leader:** [Vladimir Putin](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#leader=vladimir-putin)
- **Audience:** [Mixed](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#audience=mixed)
- **Purpose:** [Persuade or win support](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#purpose=persuade-support)
- **Themes:** [War and the military](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#theme=war-military), [Media and information](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#theme=media-information)
- **Event:** [Russian Invasion of Ukraine](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/#event=russian-invasion-of-ukraine)
- **Techniques:** [Euphemism / doublespeak](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/euphemism/) [Semantic hijacking](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/semantic-hijack/)
- **Source:** Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- **Source:** [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vladimir_Putin_(2022-02-24).jpg), retrieved September 27, 2026
- **Rights:** CC BY 4.0 (kremlin.ru) Presidential Executive Office of Russia (kremlin.ru), CC BY 4.0.

## Text on the object

Checked for printed text

No printed or legible text on this object.

Checked closely: this still frame has no on-screen caption, lower-third, date stamp or channel bug. Putin sits at his desk with the Russian tricolour flag and state coat of arms behind him and two desk telephone/console units in view; the console has an ordinary numeric keypad but no message text. No other visible text in frame.

[← 'Liberte / Support Truck Drivers' banners on a truck at the 2022 Canadian convoy rally](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/freedom-rally-truck-banners-canada-2022/) [Address 'Drive the occupiers out, drive these slaves out' to the residents of Ukrainian cities →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/zelenskyy-drive-out-slaves-address-2022/)

## Using the same techniques

- [詔書 (Imperial Rescript on the Annexation of Korea), Korean translation, Official Gazette of the Government-General of Korea no. 1, p. 17](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/annexation-rescript-korea-gazette-1910/) (Aug 29, 1910 · Glittering generalities, Euphemism / doublespeak). Content note: Official Japanese imperial text on the 1910 annexation of Korea, printed in Korean translation; shown as issued.
- ["Sous le soleil équatorial" (Le Petit Journal illustré, 6 July 1924)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/petit-journal-congo-ocean-railway-1924/) (Jul 6, 1924 · Euphemism / doublespeak, Glittering generalities)
- [Human Sterilization Today](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/human-sterilization-today-1938/) (1938 · Euphemism / doublespeak, Glittering generalities, Transfer). Content note: Pro-sterilisation pamphlet using "insane and feebleminded" for patients, with a disparaging remark about Catholics.
- ['Instructions to All Persons of Japanese Ancestry' (exclusion order posted in San Francisco)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/exclusion-order-japanese-ancestry-1942/) (Apr 11, 1942 · Euphemism / doublespeak)
- [Attention American Soldiers! I Cease Resistance (surrender pass, leaflet 17-J-1)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/i-cease-resistance-leaflet-1945/) (1945 · Euphemism / doublespeak, Testimonial)
- [Mr. John Dillon, M.P., on recruiting in Ireland. Join an Irish regiment to-day](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/john-dillon-on-recruiting-in-ireland-1915/) (1915 · Testimonial, Semantic hijacking)
- [Auch die Geduld hat ein Ende (Even Patience Has an End), German-language leaflet for German soldiers](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/allied-leaflet-auch-die-geduld-hat-ein-ende-1918/) (1918 · Scapegoating, Semantic hijacking)
- ['Zeitaku wa teki da!' (Luxury Is the Enemy!) street sign, Tokyo](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/luxury-is-the-enemy-sign-1940/) (Aug 1, 1940 · Semantic hijacking, Identity fusion)