Selfies From the Front: Inside the ‘V.I.P.’ Brigade for Ambitious Russian Officials
The New York TimesSunday, May 25, 2025 at 9:00:16 AM
This article takes a peek into a bizarre and unsettling trend among Russian officials—forming what’s being called a "V.I.P. brigade" where they take staged selfies on the front lines of the Ukraine war. It’s less about combat and more about currying favor with higher-ups, using social media to project an image of bravery and loyalty. Think of it as wartime performance art, but with real bullets flying nearby.
Editor’s Note: This isn’t just cringey behavior—it’s a window into how Russia’s political culture rewards performative loyalty over actual competence. These staged heroics reveal the absurd lengths officials will go to climb the ladder, even in the middle of a brutal war. For the rest of us, it’s a grim reminder of how war can be twisted into a PR tool.
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