THE WALL STREET JOURNAL’S NARRATIVE ON UKRAINIAN DRONE ATTACKS ON RUSSIAN MILITARY AIRFIELDS: LANGUAGE STRATEGIES, INTEGRATION OF MULTIMEDIA TOOLS

Abstract

The article presents the linguistic strategies of textual narrative used by the international English-language publication The Wall Street Journal which the editorial staff uses to cover the events that took place on 1 June 2025, when Ukrainian drones attacked four russian military airfields and destroyed a large strategic segment of the terrorist country’s military power. It articulates how The Wall Street Journal constructs its narrative, in particular through the use of lexical units, rhetorical figures, and stylistic devices that influence the reader (or listener, in the case of the audio version of the materials). The study also focuses on multimedia integration – an analysis of the functional capabilities of visual and audio interactive tools: video, audio, photos, interactive inserts, and the use of the AI multimedia product OpenAI, a company with which the American publication has a cooperation agreement.These multimedia tools are considered as new trends in the presentation of military realities between Ukraine and russia in international journalism. The study of language strategies and multimedia material as a reinforcement of the textual narrative outlines and interprets the influence of American media on the international perception of the war. In the context of linguistic strategies, dominant framing techniques have been identified, such as the nomination of facts using lexical markers such as «bold attacks», «the biggest blow», etc.; the metaphorisation of combat operations: «knockdown for the enemy»; constructions with confirmation through quotes from key figures – authoritative sources (Volodymyr Zelensky, Vasyl Malyuk), discursive strategy, creation of the image of an archetypal hero (head of Operation Spider Web Vasyl Malyuk). The use of video, infographics, interactive AI elements created by the WSJ-OpenAI app and edited by the editor, audio versions of materials, photos and infographics from other media outlets (Associated Press, Reuters, ISW AEI, etc.) was evaluated.