BRIEF: Campaigns attributed to Russia have been targeting Ukrainians regarding the counter-offensive
Spravdi • April 28, 2023
The Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security (CSCIS) reports that Russia has been using advertising to get its message to Ukrainians.
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Summary
Campaigns attributed to Russia have been targeting Ukrainians regarding the counter-offensive and prospects of winning the war. Pro-Russia messages claim Russia was forced to initiate war and is gaining momentum on the battlefield.
Messaging
The key messages were:
- Ukraine lost the battle for Bakhmut;
- The Ukrainian army does not want to fight; soldiers surrender en masse;
- Ukrainians want peace with Russia; the authorities are interested in continuing the war;
- The West has turned its back on Ukraine, does not trust the Ukrainian government due to total corruption, does not believe in the victory of Ukraine, and will no longer help with weapons;
- Ukraine cannot defeat Russia; resistance will only lead to new victims;
- Mobilization is a threat to Ukrainians; it must be avoided;
- The Ukrainian offensive is doomed;
- The government gets rich while Ukrainians suffer from the war.
Medium
This primarily took place through online advertising.
Source
The Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security was established in 2021 under the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine as one of the mechanisms for countering disinformation through the joint efforts of the state and civil society.