Russia uses the entire spectrum of informational influence against Ukraine, Europe, the USA, as well as within its own country. To spread fakes, disinformation and manipulative materials, the kremlin uses all information resources – from state media to anonymous platforms and accounts around the world.
☝️ Informational and psychological special operations (PSYOP) – a set of measures for the distribution of specially prepared information to influence people’s emotions, feelings, and behavior, thereby shaping public opinion in the right direction. Disinformation, propaganda, cyber attacks, exaggeration of certain information or downplaying of other information are among the elements of PSYOP. Modern units of psychological operations of the USSR are the main instrument of russia’s military aggression on the territory of Ukraine, which is conducted in the form of a “hybrid war”.
According to the duration of the russian PSYOP, they are divided into short-term and long-term.
The goals of short-term special operations are limited to commenting in a favorable direction for the kremlin on key events for the russian federation. Commemorative dates are a special “point” of the russian ideology. On the eve of May 9, August 24, and February 24, “PSYOP-makers” like to intimidate Ukrainians with “blows of unprecedented force.” Although the possibility of a massive attack does exist, these “horror stories” are designed to cause panic among the population of Ukraine and disbelief in the victory of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The goals of long-term PSYOP remain constant psychological pressure on Ukrainians with the aim of undermining trust in the Ukrainian government and leveling international support. An example of long-term PSYOP is attempts to gain an advantage in cyberspace. According to a report by the Google Threat Analysis Group (TAG), compared to 2020, in 2022 russia increased hacker attacks on Ukraine by 250%, and on users in NATO countries by more than 300%. In particular, cybercriminals conduct phishing mailings in order to intercept credentials of Ukrainians. Or they “hack” the accounts of military personnel and public figures and post propaganda and appeals to Ukrainians to surrender there.
Let’s recall some high-profile russian PSYOP.
At the beginning of the aggression, a vivid example of PSYOP can be called a fake around signs on roads and buildings. In messengers and social networks, information was spread with calls to paint over them, because these marks allegedly help the enemy guide missiles through satellites. Later, it turned out that these designations are used in geodetic surveying and have nothing to do with military operations. The “throw-in” about marks was made in order to plunge Ukrainians into an uncomfortable psychological situation, to sow panic and fear. And this PSYOP worked well then.
On the eve of May 9, 2022, “PSYOP-makers” claimed that “moscow is preparing “bloody fireworks” for Ukrainians on May 9, “putin will declare war and mass mobilization,” “putin will launch a tactical nuclear or chemical attack on Kyiv.” In fact, the events at the front were so disappointing for the kremlin that due to the loss of 199 planes and 158 helicopters, russia canceled the aerial part of the parade on May 9, allegedly due to “weather conditions”.
Russian occupiers use rocket attacks on critical infrastructure facilities to undermine the fighting spirit of Ukrainians and sow panic in society. To do this, the russians exaggerate the number of missiles fired, the consequences of the damage and spread gossip “about the evacuation of government officials.” Effective countermeasures by Ukrainian anti-aircraft defenses are gradually destroying the purpose of this PSYOP.
At the end of July, the russian PSYOP tried to disguise the vile execution of the Ukrainian defenders of “Azovstal” in Olenivka with informational “throw-in” about the alleged shelling with HIMARS MLRS from the territory of Ukraine. And the purpose of the special operation was to intimidate Ukrainians and force the authorities to negotiate on favorable terms for russia. Thanks to this PSYOP, the russians were able to shake Ukrainian society in a certain way, emotions reigned in social networks and there was enough criticism of the authorities, which allegedly failed to exchange the defenders of Azovstal.
On the eve of the anniversary of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the occupiers launched another PSYOP that “an attack from the territory of belarus will soon take place.” In fact, the threat from belarus has not disappeared, but today there are no signs of the creation of a powerful group on the territory of belarus, which borders Ukraine. From this series, there is also a fake that russia will allegedly resume the “air offensive” and start a “big war” in February, which was spread even by the Western media.
Other PSYOP (speculations on the topic of arms theft, hunger, nuclear threat, discrediting mobilization, etc.) are currently trying to undermine the stability of Ukrainian society.
❗️Countering the russian PSYOP is an important task not only for law enforcement officers, but also for ordinary citizens. During the war, every Ukrainian should treat the received and disseminated information carefully and trust, first of all, official Ukrainian sources, professional journalists, and Ukrainian and international mass media with an impeccable reputation.
