Authors

Discussion

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has transformed Russia’s domestic information environment, giving rise to new patriotic yet semi-independent digital actors. Among them are the voenkory—military bloggers on Telegram—who combine overt loyalty to the state with selective criticism of its wartime performance. This paper investigates how these actors function as intermediaries between the military, the state, and society in the co-production of wartime legitimacy. Drawing on research on authoritarian resilience and digital authoritarianism, the study analyzes Telegram posts from leading voenkory between 2022 and 2025 using a mixed-method approach that integrates Natural Language Processing (NLP) with Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). By tracing how voenkory articulate grievances, frame state shortcomings, and negotiate ideological boundaries, the paper illuminates how semi-autonomous illiberal networks help sustain, adapt, and legitimize authoritarian rule under conditions of protracted war.