Well….what. % of the US population still believes the 2020 election was stolen?
That is. with an unfettered media. +-
Now take complete control of all media in Russia and arrest those who do not agree with the regime’s propaganda and you could convince the average Russian citizen of just about anything.
Especially if the actual truth is hard to swallow. People who are victims of a scam are usually in denial at first because admitting they were stupid enough as to buy into the scheme is painful. If you present them with another explanation that allows them to place blame blame on others they will climb onto that careening, brakeless bus for the trip off the cliff with the other suckers.