In this episode of GovExperts Insights, host Chris Britton speaks with Peter Pomerantsev—author, documentary producer, and senior fellow at Johns Hopkins University—about documenting alleged war crimes committed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and why even a negotiated peace may leave profound legal and moral questions unanswered.
Together, they examine The Reckoning Project, an initiative designed to preserve evidence of potential war crimes committed by the Russian Federation, confront state-sponsored denialism, and ensure that facts survive long after the fighting stops.
We need evidence that lasts longer than propaganda.” — Peter Pomerantsev
Pomerantsev’s work is shaped by both personal history and professional focus. Born in Kyiv to a dissident family, he has spent decades studying authoritarian systems and the ways regimes manipulate truth to evade accountability. Today, his work centers on a pressing question: how justice can be pursued when information itself is weaponized.
Tune in to the full conversation: Peter Pomerantsev on Truth, Propaganda, and Justice
Key Insights
- Identity and propaganda are deeply linked: Pomerantsev explains how societies build narratives about themselves—and how authoritarian systems exploit moments of confusion to impose new identities.
- Russian propaganda adapts to each audience: It shifts tone between Europe, the U.S., Africa, and Latin America. Yet its core message remains constant: Russia is the victim, and the West is to blame.
- The Reckoning Project blends journalism and law: Ukrainians gather detailed testimonies that support both public storytelling and future war-crimes prosecutions. This prevents evidence from disappearing, as it often did in past conflicts.
- Ukraine’s identity has strengthened: Despite attacks on language, culture, and sovereignty, Ukrainians have become more unified and civically focused since 2014 and 2022.
- Child deportations reflect a totalitarian mindset: Russia aims to reshape a nation by separating children from families, re-educating them, and breaking cultural continuity—tactics drawn from past totalitarian regimes.
- Disinformation now aids war crimes: Before bombing a hospital or POW camp, Russian operators spread false claims to justify the strike. These “pretexts” may become part of future legal cases.
About Peter Pomerantsev
Peter Pomerantsev is a senior fellow at Johns Hopkins University and a leading thinker on propaganda, narrative, and political identity. He is the award-winning author of How to Win an Information War and Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible. His work examines how stories shape societies—and how authoritarian regimes weaponize media to control populations.
Pomerantsev’s research includes extensive time in Ukraine, Russia, and Europe. His current work at The Reckoning Project helps document Russian war crimes and preserve evidence for future legal accountability.
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Why It Matters
Wars may end on paper, but accountability rarely does. The Ukraine conflict illustrates how modern warfare blurs the line between combat, propaganda, and crime—and how peace deals can leave victims without closure.
Pomerantsev argues that courts, evidence, and legal standards remain among the last institutions capable of anchoring truth when political narratives diverge from reality. Without them, alleged war crimes risk becoming unresolved footnotes rather than prosecuted facts.
Episode Resources
- The Reckoning Project
- How to Win an Information War
- Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible
- GovExperts Insights Archive
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