By Richard Martin
Ukraine and Russia appear to have to diametrically opposite approaches to Information Warfare.
Ukrainian Information Operations
For consumption in Russia: See what your government is doing to your Ukrainian kin?
For consumption in Ukraine: Rally the people, armed forces, successes, how to pass on important information, leadership
For international consumption: Support us, we are fighting for YOU, and YOUR freedom, see what the Russians are doing?
The Ukrainian information strategy combines selective truth telling with the theme of Ukrainian heroism and resistance to Russian brutality tyranny and aggression.
Russian Information Operations
For consumption in Russia: Focus on internal IO to keep the people and forces onside.
For consumption in Ukraine: Sow panic, disinformation, misdirection, false flags, confusion, “we’re here to liberate you”
For international consumption: Generate distrust in ALL information, cynicism, nihilism
The Russian information strategy can be summed up as nihilistic. The idea is to sow the most fundamental doubts in the receiver’s mind about the reality of what they are seeing, reading, and hearing. It’s gaslighting on a massive scale. It’s basically about saying: “Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?”
© Richard Martin
Richard Martin was an infantry officer for over 20 years in the Canadian Army. He is currently an entrepreneur, strategic advisor, and information warrior focusing on extracting valuable information and signals from chaos and noise.