Information Manipulation by the Russian Federation in the War Against Ukraine: Challenges to Societal Informational Stability

Abstract

The widespread use of information technologies in all areas of public life has become one of the defining features of modern society. Digital tools shape social, economic, political, and cultural development. When used responsibly, they create new opportunities for progress. However, when exploited by an aggressor state, they can become powerful instruments of manipulation and destabilisation. In the context of russia’s war against Ukraine, information technologies have been actively used as a weapon within a broader strategy of hybrid warfare.

This research provides a comprehensive analysis of the manipulative information strategies employed by the russian federation against Ukraine. It examines the nature and key characteristics of these practices and their impact on the informational stability of Ukrainian society. Particular attention is given to the main forms of disinformation, including fabricated stories (fakes), coordinated propaganda campaigns, psychological influence techniques, and the use of social media platforms and chatbots.

The study highlights the tools that are designed to undermine public trust in state institutions, political leadership, international partners, and civil society initiatives. Their broader consequences include the spread of panic, the weakening of critical thinking, the polarisation of public opinion, declining trust in media sources, and the creation of distorted narratives that serve the strategic interests of the russian federation.

The methodological foundation of this study is grounded in an integrated set of general scientific and specialized methods that facilitated a comprehensive examination of the manipulative technologies employed by russia in its war against Ukraine. The study applies a systematic analysis of scholarly sources to elucidate the theoretical foundations underlying the conceptualization of manipulative technologies and to assess their impact on the information resilience of Ukrainian society. To ensure coherence and logical structuring of the collected data, the method of generalization was applied, enabling the synthesis and systematization of relevant findings. Furthermore, the comparative method was utilized to examine selected types of manipulative technologies and to identify the specific features of their influence on societal information resilience.

The scientific novelty of the study lies in its comprehensive analysis of the impact of manipulative technologies on the information resilience of Ukrainian society. The study provides a theoretically grounded substantiation of information resilience as a critical factor in counteracting destabilizing information influence and hybrid threats, thereby contributing to the further development of scholarly discourse on information security in the context of contemporary armed conflict.

The article emphasises the need for effective and long-term countermeasures. These include strengthening critical thinking skills, promoting media literacy, practising information hygiene, and developing a coherent state policy aimed at reinforcing informational resilience. Countering manipulative information operations should be treated as a core element of Ukraine’s national security strategy. A comprehensive approach, combining legal, educational, technological, and institutional measures is essential to ensure sustainable resistance to information aggression.