Russia is a special information operation: no matter how you fall for its chaos scenario

The Russians will try to sow a split in Ukrainian society this winter / Collage 24 Channel / Getty Images / Getty Images

Russia began the war against Ukraine long before 2014 with targeted information aggression. The occupiers are making progress in this area throughout the global communication and content space.

Therefore, Ukrainians need to be as prepared as possible for challenges in the information space. Aleksey Buryachenko, a political scientist and executive director of the International Association of Small Communities, told Channel 24 in more detail about how to counter this and distinguish between hostile IPSOs.

How to counter disinformation during war

Buryachenko explained that the occupiers do not have success on the battlefield, so they are increasingly trying to come up with “victories”, but changing the focus to information – to launch IPSO into Ukrainian society.

It is not for nothing that Ukrainians are being warned that the coming winter will be the most difficult in the history of independence. According to intelligence data, Russia is stockpiling missile weapons to attack Ukrainian energy infrastructure as cold weather sets in.

Imagine: winter, sub-zero temperatures, rocket bombings, interruptions in light, heat and water. Then all families will have the same questions: “how to stay warm, how to survive, how to boil water?” And against the background of this, when communication is turned on, we will receive huge waves of information attacks that will play on our fears, destabilization and the very difficult circumstances in which we will find ourselves,” the political scientist emphasized.

Already now we need to develop algorithms and talk with loved ones in order to maintain a stable situation. Any news that depresses or pleases us needs to be checked from at least three sources.

“Let us remember how we confronted the enemy in the first months of a full-scale war, when absolutely all special operations failed. Now we must show the same level of consolidation and responsible behavior, in particular in social networks, and in real life,” said Alexey Buryachenko.

What can Ukrainians expect in winter?

• Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said that Ukraine faces the hardest winter in history. According to the military, the winter of 2023-2024 may be more difficult than the previous one, because the enemy has not changed his plans, however, he has become smarter.
• GUR representative Vadim Skibitsky explained that the Russians are waiting for the cold to then launch a large-scale attack on Ukraine. While the weather is warm in the Kremlin. accumulating missiles. So far, almost 900 units are known. And these are not only Caliber or Soviet missiles, but also modern Iskanders, as well as hypersonic Kinzhals.
• Vladimir Zelensky said that Moscow is seeking to sow division in Ukrainian society, creating chaos within the country, in order to ultimately remove him from office. Moscow's plan is code-named “Maidan-3”.