NARRATIVE MODELS AND MULTIMEDIA TOOLS FOR STORIES ABOUT THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR IN ONLINE MEDIA

Abstract

The article analyzes the transformation of the modern Ukrainian media space under the conditions of full-scale war and substantiates the expediency of considering war storytelling as a tool for forming collective memory and the state's information resilience. Particular attention is paid to the functioning of online media in the context of human-centered event coverage, where statistical data on combat operations are transformed into personalized narratives that allow for maintaining audience engagement and minimizing “news fatigue.” The goal of the article is the theoretical understanding and structural-functional classification of war storytelling models in the modern digital environment, using leading media platforms as examples. The methodological basis of the study is qualitative content analysis and discourse analysis of media texts using an interpretative approach, which allows considering journalistic materials not only as information products but as forms of social interaction, ethical mediation, and psychosocial support. The comparative method is applied in the work to identify differences between empathic, mobilization, and archival strategies for representing the war experience. The empirical base of the research consists of a representative sample of 289 materials from the online media “Hromadske,” “Ukrainska Pravda,” and “Suspilne” for the period 2022–2025. The analysis covers video reports, interactive long-reads, and multimedia projects documenting the experiences of military personnel and civilians. The scientific framework of the study is complemented by the concepts of “trauma-informed journalism” and international standards for reporting in hot spots, which allows for comparing the practices of domestic media with global trends in digital journalism. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the identification of typological models of the war narrative: “media as a witness,” “information-analytical hub,” and “national archivist,” as well as in proving the effectiveness of cross-platform content adaptation for retaining audience attention. It is substantiated that involving several media platforms with different editorial approaches ensures the validation of statistical data and allows for forming a holistic picture of the mediatization of war. It is proven that the integration of multimedia engagement tools (infographics, video testimonies, audio quotes) strengthens the social impact of the media and contributes to the formation of national identity through the shared experience of trauma. The conclusions emphasize that the work of online media with war stories is an example of the transition from rapid reporting to strategic communication aimed at strengthening social solidarity. It is stated that the model of “pure” direct speech without excessive journalistic interpretation is the most authentic means of recording the reality of war. Prospects for further research are related to the analysis of the evolution of genre models in the long term and the study of the impact of multimedia storytelling on international support for Ukraine