Facts and Falsehoods: The Role of Media and Disinformation in the War in Ukraine

The war that Russia is waging in Ukraine is being fought not only on battlefields but also in the information space, where it began well before conventional hostilities. As the conflict escalated, so did Russia's disinformation campaigns aimed at destabilizing Ukraine and influencing public opinion worldwide. Disinformation, still underestimated as a tool of influence, can distort the perception of reality among audiences, affect societal morale, and prompt Ukraine's international allies to reconsider their support.

Below, we outline the disinformation mechanisms employed by Russia, destabilizing narratives, the role of social media, institutional responses, challenges for media and journalists, and international cooperation in cybersecurity.

1. Disinformation Mechanisms Used by the Parties to the Conflict

Russian StrategiesRussia conducts extensive disinformation campaigns using social media, artificial intelligence, and automated accounts ("bots"). Platforms such as Twitter, Telegram, and Facebook are employed to disseminate massive volumes of messages supporting the Russian narrative, including false information about military successes or alleged provocations by Ukraine. Russian "troll farms" use popular hashtags, such as #UkraineWar, to steer the narrative in favour of Moscow, misleading audiences and suggesting that the supposed "liberation" of Ukraine aligns with the desires of its residents.

The U.S. government has responded to these activities by seizing over 30 internet domains linked to Russian disinformation campaigns and blocking access to propaganda-spreading accounts. In late October, the UK imposed sanctions on three Russian agencies and high-ranking operatives for organizing disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining democracy in Ukraine. The sanctions targeted agencies such as the Social Design Agency, Structure National Technologies, and Ano Dialog. Individuals sanctioned include Ilya Andreevich Gambashidze, Nikolay Aleksandrovich Tupikin, and Andrey Naumovich Perla, accused of distributing false posts, forged documents, and deepfake content as part of the "Doppelganger" network.

The Kremlin systematically spreads false information about alleged provocations by Ukraine to justify its military actions. For instance, narratives about "attacks" on Russian border regions, which lacked confirmation from independent sources, were widely propagated by pro-Russian media. Analyses reveal that Russia's strategy often involves the use of "malinformation" – true information presented in a misleading context. Such actions aim to fuel tensions between Ukraine and its allies.

Russia also persistently undermines the legitimacy of the Ukrainian government and promotes narratives portraying Ukraine as a threat to regional stability. According to monitoring organizations, Russian disinformation campaigns frequently accuse Ukraine of fascism and depict it as a destabilizing state. For example, manipulated footage portraying Ukrainians in an unfavourable light is used to reinforce anti-Western attitudes among audiences in regions like Africa and Latin America.

Ukrainian Counter-Propaganda EffortsUkraine actively combats disinformation by building societal resilience through educational campaigns and collaboration with international platforms and organizations that help monitor and block accounts spreading pro-Russian propaganda. Initiatives such as StopFake verify information and respond swiftly to emerging false narratives. With support from fact-checking institutions and cooperation with Western media, Ukraine effectively counters attempts at destabilization.

Ukrainian authorities regularly inform citizens about disinformation techniques and ways to recognize them. These efforts often target young people through social media and include educational campaigns explaining the dangers of disinformation. Ukraine’s collaboration with international organizations and media platforms enables it to reach global public opinion, especially in the West.

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