People misunderstand propaganda. The essence of propaganda is to "get the word out." It is like advertising. The most effective propaganda is sure to tell the truth that is favorable to the desired effect, and to pass over the truth that is not favorable to the desired effect. This, of course, happens all the time in our news media. But crude propaganda promotes falsehoods---which currently also happens all the time in our news media. The Russians are more sophisticated. It is a reasonable bet that what they report is true---if they report it at all.

I recently read The Goebbels Diaries for the period 1942-1943. What was interesting is that he had an acute insight into what kind of information the public "needed" (either for boosting morale or diverting attention) and adjusting the content or slant of the news accordingly. He did not dwell on what new lies needed to be fabricated. That didn't even cross his mind. In fact, he was constantly irritated at Nazi officials who were unwilling to be candid with their descriptions of the state of affairs.