Zelensky is winning the information war for now – but that could lead to a false sense of optimism in the long run

Russia’s narrative summary, disseminating tales of Ukrainian heroism, civilian sacrifices, and an ingenious messaging campaign around President Volodymyr Zelensky’s appeal, all play the part. important role in directing the narrative surrounding the war.

“Ukraine has promoted a clear and consistent narrative of the just struggle against the oppressor,” said Jill Goldenziel, a security consultant and professor at the Marine Corps College. Ms. Goldenziel, speaking in her personal capacity, said that “videos of President Zelensky assembling his army and Ukrainian soldiers on Snake Island vulgarly refer to a Russian warship in the face of with the attack that went viral and caught the attention of the West.”

Amplify the results of military resistance and enemy losses, humanize the Ukrainian side with photos of pets with their owners, people locked in bunkers, and sophisticated taunts at the invaders. strategies are equivalent to weapons of mass destruction.

It has helped lift morale in Ukraine and play well in the West. And Ukrainian humor has certainly captured the attention of many people around the world. For example, a video showing a Ukrainian driver inviting a convoy of armored vehicles to Russia after running out of fuel was among the videos that went viral on social media.

“Ukraine has also succeeded in disguising the legitimacy and legitimacy of its cause, publicizing potential war crimes and accusing Russia of genocide,” Ms. Goldenziel said.

To be able to grow such a business, there needs to be a process of planning at the strategic level rather than depending on personal preferences, something the administration of US President Joe Biden appears to have acted on. From the very beginning of Russia’s military build-up, Biden’s aides have used the tactic of eradicating information space to deprive the Kremlin of the ability to deploy narratives. Filling the void has stripped Putin of Putin’s most effective weapon: disinformation.

Russia claims, without evidence, that it is acting to end the “systemic destruction of the Donbas population” that has been taking place since the 2014 annexation of Crimea. claims that they are fighting “neo-fascism” and seeking to “denuclearize” Ukraine, whose president is Jewish.

In a recent statement, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, foolishly accused that “Russia is not starting a war, it is ending it”.

The US administration has flooded the media with intelligence detailing Russia’s moves, Putin’s plans for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and warnings to European allies. Europe. While it did not prevent Putin from invading, the tactic helped thwart a number of Russian plots, refuted the Kremlin’s claims, and neutralized the surprise element of the attack.

The Kremlin’s disinformation was further exaggerated after the giant tech companies decided to cut the wings of Russian state media RT and Sputnik and remove them from their platforms.

“Ukrainians have ‘successful’ in the information war against Russia because they are pushing for an open door. Every government in the West and every media to date that I can speak to has essentially recycled and amplified Ukrainian stories,” said David Betz, professor of war at King’s College London. know.

The war on the internet is supported by reports of fierce resistance on the ground, making it valid, despite warnings and the need to verify – or even protest – some Ukrainian propaganda statements.

“None of this matters, of course, without basic facts on your side. Zelensky is truly a remarkable leader. The Ukrainian resistance has shocked and inspired the world. Information warfare is not important if kinetic warfare is lost. And they haven’t lost yet,” Laura Edelson, a researcher at New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering, said on Twitter.

However, the effectiveness of Ukraine’s information warfare tactics may eventually reach the point where the West shoots itself in the foot. Critics argue that the heroic resistance that would stall Russia’s advance for weeks, or possibly months, could inadvertently instill in the West a false certainty of victory. probable of Ukraine.

In the end, the Ukrainians could win the war. But the flip side of an effective propaganda campaign, experts warn, is mixing facts with amplified assumptions and creating a false sense of optimism about the outcome of the war.

Rita Konaev, military and urban AI expert: “I can’t help thinking that the West is luring itself into a false sense of optimism because of Ukraine’s heroic defiance, which could inadvertently drag prolong this conflict with the false hope of an impossible scenario. war, said on Twitter.

Shaping the story is crucial in winning the information war. But real military victory was achieved on the ground. Propaganda should not confuse this assessment.