Semantic Intelligence (Cemint) as a New Paradigm of Cognitive Security in Ukraine

Abstract

The article presents the concept of Semantic Intelligence (Cognitive & Strategic Semantic Intelligence) as a new paradigm of Ukraine’s cognitive security and a key instrument for countering hybrid and cognitive threats of the 21st century. Semantic Intelligence is defined as a systemic activity aimed at detecting, analyzing, interpreting, and forecasting semantic structures and value codes that shape public consciousness, influence collective behavior, and determine the strategic orientation of state development.

It is substantiated that in the modern “war for consciousness,” traditional intelligence models (OSINT, HUMINT) do not provide a deep understanding of cognitive processes, since they operate with facts rather than with their underlying meanings. In contrast, Cognitive & Strategic Semantic Intelligence functions at the level of archetypes, value structures, and perceptual models that define political stability, psychological resilience, and national identity.

The article reveals the fundamental principles of Semantic Intelligence — systemicity, foresight, cognitive resilience, and ethical responsibility — and proposes a three-level model: analytical (detection of semantic signals and patterns), prognostic (modeling semantic influence scenarios), and project-based (creation of counter-codes and unifying meanings).

Practical examples of semantic intrusions — from symbolic substitutions in public space to cognitive manipulations in digital platforms (TikTok, Telegram) and ideological cults as micro-models of programmed consciousness — demonstrate the need to institutionalize Cognitive & Strategic Semantic Intelligence as a central element of Ukraine’s national cognitive security. The results confirm that its development enables the transition from defense to semantic leadership, where consciousness and meaning become the primary resources of national sovereignty and strategic development.