The Russian culture ministry is blaming a pirated version of the Barbie movie for weakening nationwide values

• A pirated version of the "Barbie" movie made its way to Russia, and officials there aren't happy.
• The Russian Culture Ministry wants to shift from Western values towards "traditional" Russian ones.

As Russian citizens struggle to maintain morale during the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Culture Ministry is taking a shot at the "Barbie" movie as a representation of hated Western ideologies.

Multiple offices and politicians are criticizing the "Barbie" movie for not promoting "traditional Russian values" — a vague phrase that seems to refer to patriotism and general conservatism — per the BBC.

Although "Barbie" was not released in Russia due to wartime sanctions against it, the movie is being screened as one of many in a thriving illegal film market, per the Guardian.

In an interview between BBC reporter Steve Rosenberg and Russian Parliament member and convicted spy Maria Butina, Butina said she wanted Barbie dolls banned from Russian schools, and again emphasized the importance of the unclear "traditional" values.

"How can you talk about values as a representative of a country that has invaded its neighbor?" Rosenberg asked.

"Well, you know we have a different position on that," Butina replied.

But what comprises appropriate, patriotic entertainment, then, free of Western values?

The BBC report highlighted one concert in Russia where "paratrooper pop stars" wore military uniforms and sang about the country's strength with lyrics such as, "We will serve the Motherland and crush the enemy."

Despite Russian government claims, though, Western entertainment is certainly not the largest problem the country is facing right now.

This month, in addition to the war, the Russian economy is facing a severe labor shortage and significant inflation hikes, which President Vladimir Putin said makes planning "impossible" for Russian businesses.