Rosyjska interpretacja paktu Ribbentrop–Mołotow

Article analyzes the evolution of Russia’s historical narrative regarding the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, with particular emphasis on the period from 2019 to 2023. It explores how the Russian government has strategically reinterpreted this controversial 1939 agreement-once condemned in post-Soviet discourse- as a justified and pragmatic act of Soviet diplomacy. Using interdisciplinary methodology, including content analysis of media (state-run and independent), political statements, and digital platforms like Telegram and VKontakte, the study reveals how history is instrumentalized to legitimize internal authority and project a cohesive national identity. Drawing on Maurice Halbwachs’ theory of collective memory and the strategic narrative theory, the article shows how the Kremlin constructs and disseminates historical reinterpretations to support geopolitical goals and ideological narratives. The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, now portrayed as a necessary response to Western appeasement, has become a key element in Russia’s broader historical policy and an ideological tool in the context of contemporary conflicts, especially the Russian-Ukrainian war. The study also reflects on the implications of these narratives in education, social media, and international relations, emphasizing the increasing role of digital propaganda and state censorship in shaping collective memory.