Russian Propaganda Mistakes The Sims 3 For SIM Cards In Alleged Ukrainian Nazi Paraphernalia

By Aidan Walker
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• Published 2 years ago

Published 2 years ago

A posed photo of what the Russian government claims to be confiscated "Ukrainian Nazi paraphernalia" was released yesterday, with a fairly humorous mixup. The photo, which purportedly shows items found at the apartment of a cell of neo-Nazi assassins ordered by Ukraine to kill a pro-Putin TV personality, includes three copies of The Sims 3 expansions. Many online believe the Russians, who purportedly staged the photo, meant to get three SIM cards but there was a miscommunication.


Russian security services claimed to have exposed and brought down the group of assassins on Monday, and Vladimir Putin even mentioned the bust in a speech. Part of the Russian state media’s narrative about the ongoing war in Ukraine is that the Ukrainian government is run by neo-Nazis, and this latest propaganda move is reportedly a way that Russia is trying to cement that false narrative.

A “raid” on the apartment was shown on Russian state TV yesterday, featuring heavily armed FSB officers putting half-naked men in handcuffs and a camera show slow-panning over the collection of items, including The Sims games. Other items found at the apartment include a picture of Adolf Hitler taped to a speaker and a baggie of methamphetamine.


Posters on online platforms like Twitter and Telegram speculated about how the three copies of The Sims came to be a part of the Ukrainian Nazi starter pack that Russian security services assembled. Some theorized that the inclusion of The Sims must have been due to sloppy communication between various Russian spies.

One Twitter user, @ChrisO_wiki, pointed out that in the photo there are three copies of Sims 3 expansion packs, all of which would be unplayable on their own without the base game. @ChrisO_wiki speculated that the Russian spy responsible was unsure whether the written instructions they were given (which were probably “Sims x3”) referred to the number of games or the type of game, and so checked both boxes.


Others pointed out that the haul also included an odd green wig and a book with an inscription reportedly signed “Unclear signature.”


Alongside those attempting to break down the contents of the photo, many others expressed surprise at the incompetence displayed in the apparent mix-up.


As the Russian propaganda war with Ukraine continues alongside the war on the ground, some expect there will be many more attempts to frame Ukrainians as Nazis — and, probably, more face-plants like this one.

Despite the oddness and outlandishness of the narratives pushed by the Russian government, however, many commentators have exhorted audiences and journalists around the world to watch and take seriously what happens on Russian state media channels because it does have an impact on Russian public opinion and war plans.


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