We leverage our team’s extensive in-country experience and our ongoing work on the ground to ensure that the truth about Russia’s war in Ukraine is always shared with global leaders, decision-makers, and the general public.
The Russian government has used systematic information manipulation and misinformation as an operational tool in its assault on Ukraine.
The spread of false and misleading information by the Russian government and its allies has prompted responses from the Ukrainian government, allied governments, and international organizations, providing valuable lessons on how to counteract and avoid sharing misinformation.
Social media has changed the way news spreads, and how the Ukraine war was chronicled, experienced, and understood. The internet is more accessible to everyone in the world.
Currently, 75% of Ukrainians have access to the internet, while 89% of the population is covered by at least 3G mobile technology. In stark contrast, during Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2014, only 4% of Ukrainian mobile subscribers had access to 3G networks or faster, and just 30% of the Syrian population was online during the war in Syria in 2015. These disparities underscore the significant impact that the widespread use of technology has had on the dissemination of information during modern warfare.
Today, the internet is more accessible to everyone in the world. Social media has changed the way news spreads, and how the Ukraine war is being chronicled, experienced, and understood.
The Russian government's use of misinformation has been highly effective within Russia itself, where censorship of war-related news and state control over most media have limited the dissemination of accurate information.
Despite the prevalence of misinformation, Russian media have faced limitations on their operations and have suffered reputational damage in many Western and developed countries. However, they have found more success spreading their propaganda in many developing nations, notably through the sympathetic coverage provided by Chinese state media. This coverage has included repeated instances of censorship of war news and dissemination of Russian fake news and misinformation.
Images, articles, and videos are spreading quickly on social media. Some information and content from the Ukraine war is created with the intention to manipulate or deceive, and sharing such posts without scrutiny can inadvertently contribute to the spread of war propaganda. To avoid this, here are the things to look out for:
Use our checklist to avoid and combat misinformation surrounding the Ukraine crisis:
Visit our News & Features for all the updates from Ukraine Rises.
Another facet of the misinformation spread is sensationalized headlines. To combat misinformation, we recommend:
President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky:
“…our truth lies in the fact that this is our land, this is our country, our children, and we are going to defend [it all]… Glory to Ukraine!”
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