RUSSIAN INFORMATION WAR AGAINST UKRAINE: EVOLUTION OF KEY TOOLS, METHODS, AND NARRATIVE DYNAMICS

Abstract

The article examines the evolution of the main means, methods and narrative dynamics in Russian informationwar against Ukraine, starting from the 2000s to the present in the context of the aggressor’s use of the key means and methods of information influence and the dynamics of key Russian narratives. It is shown that the information warwith the Russian Federation has several dimensions: the information expanse of Ukraine, the internal informationexpanse of the Russian Federation, and the global information influence, within which the Kremlin exercises itsmanipulative information campaign, closely combining misinformation with propaganda. Based on the results ofscientific and applied research in the field, the article analyses the evolution in the methods and means of informationmanipulation impact on Ukrainian society and the international community. The research demonstrates that beforethe start of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the main means of Russian propaganda influence were Internet resources,visual and audio media, news portals, cyber-hacker attacks on information systems and information holdings. Based on the analysis of the results of domestic investigation on the features of Russian information war against Ukraine in social networks, it is proven that social network platforms and messengers, blogs, misinformation networksand artificial intelligence technologies has been playing a key role in Russia’s information confrontation againstUkraine since the beginning and throughout the war. The article also considers the main changes in the structure of special measures in the Kremlin’s information campaign during the full-scale war in Ukraine. As for the methods ofinformation influence, their use is traditional during the period under study and has become more “sophisticated”over time, including psychological pressure, intimidation, propaganda, etc. Based on the analysis of key Russian narratives, it was concluded that before the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the main goal of Russian propaganda was to justify Russia’s military invasion in Ukraine, while during the war, the main goals are destabilization and disorientation within Ukrainian society.As for the European and US information expanse, the main areas of misinformation include the Russian armed invasion in Ukraine, undermining the Ukrainian international image, criticism and distortion of the image and actions of the Ukrainian authorities and the Ukrainian military. The article also outlines the main changes in thesystem of Russian propaganda influence on European countries and the USA, caused by the change in US policytowards Ukraine and Russia.Based on a comparative analysis of key Russian narratives from the 2000s to the present, the researchdemonstrates how the content of Russian narratives depends on the interests and goals of the aggressor state in the information expanses of Ukraine, European countries, and the USA. It is shown how key narratives of Russianmisinformation adapt to the current events and effectively influence the consciousness of certain people. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor Russian propaganda closely to counteract its influence effectively.