Destruction of Critical Thinking as a Tool of the Aggressor’s Cognitive Warfare

Abstract

The article examines the instruments and technologies of influence aimed at undermining the critical thinking of Ukrainian citizens in the context of the Russian Federation’s military aggression. The purpose of the study is to analyze the mechanisms through which the aggressor seeks to subjugate public consciousness, deprive it of the ability for rational analysis, and increase the effectiveness of manipulative impacts. The research demonstrates that this is not a matter of random information attacks, but rather the systematic activities of entire institutions financed from the Russian state budget and operating within a unified propaganda ecosystem. The key technological tools are outlined: bot farms and automated social media accounts that create the illusion of massive support for pro-Russian narratives; networks of Telegram channels and “war correspondents” that disseminate disinformation in a synchronized manner; deepfakes and synthetic content that blur the line between truth and fabrication; the use of generative artificial intelligence for the mass production of fake texts and images. Particular attention is given to cyber operations involving the hacking of information resources, targeted advertising that exploits algorithmic echo chambers, as well as the activities of pro-Kremlin media (RT, Sputnik, RIA Novosti), coordinated with semi-official channels and bloggers. Additional cultural and social practices of influence are identified: the use of the film industry as an instrument for promoting imperial narratives and glorifying war; the dissemination of Russian content in post-Soviet countries to sustain a “common information space”; the funding of pro-Kremlin activists and organizations that legitimize required narratives in local societies; and the manipulative involvement of international scholars and experts whose authority is exploited to support fake claims and disinformation plots. As a result, a multi-level system is formed that undermines trust in state institutions, mass media, and Ukraine’s partners, creating an atmosphere of disorientation, paranoia, and social apathy. The conclusions confirm that Russia’s information war is systematic and multi-channel, and represents a direct threat to Ukraine’s national security, as it aims at the long-term destruction of critical thinking as a fundamental cognitive capacity of society.