Authors

Alyona Hurkivska¹;  ¹ Södertörn University, Sweden

Discussion

The fragmentation of reality, reinforced by social media, provoked discussions about a “new generation” in informational warfare development. So-called “post-truth” environment amplifies ingrained biases, which are played upon by the antitheses of democracy. However, the weaponisation of information and its distribution channels are not a novelty in warfare. Since H. Lasswell, analysts of “previous generations of warfare” have examined propaganda within cognitive and informational dimensions of war, identifying techniques and core principles to affect the foe.

Technological advancements related to weapons play a determining role in categorizing the “generations” of warfare. In 2023, Ukrainian General V. Zaluzhnyi identified the integration of AI in combat as marking of the onset of the new generation of warfare. On the “informational battlefield,” we observe an evolution where AI aids in creating, building up argumentation, and dissemination of narratives.  It considerably simplifies the ability to develop old propaganda technologies. 

ussian war in Ukraine is a battlefield where modern warfare shows future (at least technological) trends that have potential to be used and developed in forthcoming conflicts. But being a war of the future, it uses narratives of the past. The aggressor takes advantage of propaganda techniques perverting the past (“transfer”) to justify the invasion, drawing similarities from ideological approach of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Russian narratives form a central component of the informational dimension of this war. 

Before and after the restoration of its independence, Ukraine was under systematic attempts of ideological sway by Russia. This article explores the evolution of narratives spread by Russian propaganda associates in Ukraine before and after the second invasion (February 24, 2022.) Using qualitative content analysis, the study focuses on social media "Telegram," analyzing its propaganda-spreading channels. The selected channels are categorized based on their all-Ukraine or regional agendas, allowing an assessment of propaganda’s multifaceted strategies according to target audience.

Unpacking not only an outer shell of narrative, but also its underlying core, research findings shed light on modern propaganda techniques and patterns. It brings up findings on how propaganda is challenging society’s attributes – identity, national unity, political culture, legitimacy of government, trust, defence capability. The case of Ukraine enables the author to summarise a propaganda playbook adapted for modern conflict implications.

Key words: propaganda, Russian war in Ukraine, informational warfare, narrative, public opinion.