1/ In a fascinating proxy for waning Russian public support of Putin's war, the "We can explain" (MO) Telegram channel says that falling demand for pro-war memorabilia in Russia is resulting in deep discounting and the withdrawal of some products from sale. ⬇️
2/ MO reports:
"The value of paraphernalia bearing the symbols of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Z – "Zahodim" ["let's go"] and the symbol of victory V) has been falling in recent months, according to data from aggregators, to which MO has drawn attention.
"The value of paraphernalia bearing the symbols of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Z – "Zahodim" ["let's go"] and the symbol of victory V) has been falling in recent months, according to data from aggregators, to which MO has drawn attention.
3/ The decline accelerated after the surrender of Kherson. There have also been fewer comments on these goods, which means a significant drop in demand for them.
4/ Goods with "special operation" symbols are sold on all major Russian platforms (Wildberries, Ozon and Yandex Market). However, dynamic pricing is now available only on Wildberries, the other online shops disabled it back in March.
5/ Demand is falling for clothing as well as for stickers, badges and flags. For example, T-shirts bearing the Z symbol have fallen in price by about half or two times (some even three times). Reviews for them have also gone down, compared to March-April.
6/ Clothing with phrases like "For Russia", "I am not ashamed", "We do not abandon our own" also fell in price. For example, the most popular Z-shirt from the manufacturer Russkiy Mir has fallen in price from 2028 to 1225 rubles ($33 to $20).
7/ Car stickers with Z-symbols, as well as badges, have ceased to be popular. The sticker "I am not ashamed" fell in price from 204 to 136 rubles ($3.38 to $2.25), and Z-badges from 336 to 226 rubles ($5.57 to $3.75).
8/ Most of the items that the MO correspondent kept in his favourites at the beginning of the war are now unavailable. Propaganda stationery – for example, passport covers, school diaries and books – is also getting very cheap.
9/ For example, the book "The Power of Truth" [stylised as "Сила V правде"] by Vladimir Kiknadze, which was launched in October by former Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky, has depreciated in value.
![9/ For example, the book "The Power of Truth" [stylised as "Сила V правде"] by Vladimir Kiknadze, wh...](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FiUSx3gXoAECFq9.jpg)
10/ At that event he said that the entire journalism department of Moscow State University was full of "creatures" from among the liberals.
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