Abstract
The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia provides many examples of using media, including technologically new ones, to conduct information warfare. The article focuses on the issue of the importance of digital media in the context of war in eastern Ukraine and socio-political protests (2013/2014) that preceded the armed conflict. This article analyzes the methods of instrumental usage of digital media by Russia as the dominant entity in conducting aggressive information warfare against Ukraine as well as civic actions on the Ukrainian side aimed at counteracting Russian propaganda. The results show that, in the times of the mediatization of war, different entities tend to actively use both traditional media present in the digital space and social media. In addition, this work systematizes the conceptual apparatus related to the discussed issues. The article is based on the analysis of case studies (mainly Russian RT and Ukrainian, social initiative StopFake), content analysis, analysis and criticism of literature, and examination of source studies. The article complements the current debate on the conflict between Ukraine and Russia by highlighting the role of digital media in the context of information warfare and by showing that digital media, especially social media, can be a platform adopted not only by state actors, but also for citizens.
Highlights
The crisis in Ukraine that has continued from 2014 until today, referred to as the international geopolitical struggle and simultaneous-Aleksandra Galus, Yuliia NesteriakŚSP 4 ’19 ly an armed conflict and humanitarian crisis (Pantti, 2016, p. xii), shows how important digital media can be
The research goal presented in the article is to analyze the role played by digital media in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and socio-political unrests preceding the beginning of the war in the east of Ukraine
On the basis of arguments set out in the article we may consider that we have proved the hypothesis which assumes that digital media are used by both political decision makers as an element of information warfare and citizens who through their activity – especially in the area of social media – take part in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict
Summary
The crisis in Ukraine that has continued from 2014 until today, referred to as the international geopolitical struggle and simultaneous-. The research goal presented in the article is to analyze the role played by digital media in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and socio-political unrests preceding the beginning of the war in the east of Ukraine. Another goal is to gather concepts pertaining to the subject. The practice of the Russian information warfare combines traditional tools (e.g. subversive campaign activities of Cold War) with modern technology (e.g. investment in digital media focusing on Russian and foreign audiences or use of Internet forums and social media to spread pro-Russian narration) A counterweight to the above, the Ukraine Today channel was established in 2014 with the aim to “counteract the information warfare fought in Ukraine by the Russian propaganda media after the invasion”
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