Information Warfare

Behind every Russian missile is a barrage of lies. Another European election targeted by the Kremlin manipulations. As Russia’s missiles continue to rain down on Ukrainian cities, the Kremlin’s propaganda machine churns out cynical cookie-cutter denials in an attempt to dismiss civilian massacres in Ukraine. Meanwhile, we are witnessing a familiar pro-Kremlin information manipulation campaign targeting upco-ming Poland’s presidential elections in May. These coordinated campaigns reveal the true nature of the Kremlin’s playbook. Russia’s ballistic missile strike on Sumy’s city centre on 13 April that killed at least 35 civilians, including two children, and wounded 117 others during Palm Sunday religious celebrations was not an isolated incident, or a mistake, but part of a deliberate pattern. As the horrific tales out of Sumy began reaching international audiences, Moscow’s propagandists immediately started to spread varied lies: that Russia had targeted a meeting of Ukrainian military commanders, a medal ceremony, or a meeting between Ukrainian and Western forces. They followed the same pattern of lies as they did after striking a restaurant in Kryvyi Rih on 5 April.

The Kremlin exports ‘Russian culture’ to expand its soft power, but under the veneer of culture it hides imperialistic exceptionalism, absorbing other cultures as Russia’s own, appropriating artists form subjugated peoples and eroding their national identity. Clichés about countries, their cultures, and their histories influence the way we see and judge the world. For that reason, soft power is globally important. Yet, history is more complex than clichés. For example, Russian culture is part of European culture. But it is also the product of an empire composed of multiple influences and talented people of many nationalities, not just Russian. The myth of the Russian soul is still strong in Western countries despite being a blurry and at times specious concept. For example, the 2009 US film Cold Souls(opens in a new tab) purported to describe how large, expressive Russian souls are different from small Western souls. In this telling, a Russian soul is pure, with an infinite capacity to suffer and experience feelings fully. But under the veneer of seeming moral depth and poetic pining, the idea of the ‘Russian soul’ also hides a facet of toxic, imperialistic exceptionalism.

Belarusian authorities are involving more children and teenagers in their propaganda activities to legitimise state policies and praise Lukashenka. Censorship, repression, and ideological indoctrination are increasingly shaping the information landscape in both Russia and Belarus. In recent months, this trend has accelerated in Belarus when it comes to ideological indoctrination and the promotion of militaristic rhetoric among Belarusian minors. The exploitation of minors for state propaganda purposes has become a recurring phenomenon.

Moscow seeks to play up the bait of potential US-Russia business relations and deflect frustration over Russia’s continued attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine. While parts of the world are focussed on tariffs and global trade, another set of events is playing out in Russia’s war against Ukraine. It is also about future prospects and deserves some attention, especially after recent talks over the past few weeks about partial ceasefires with various caveats. Let us cut through the haze and doubletalk. There was no effective ceasefire. Russia put up many conditions for accepting the US-sponsored proposal which Ukrainian President Zelenskyy had accepted. Some of Moscow’s remarks questioned when a ceasefire should come into effect while others questioned which kind of targets to exclude.

Foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) operations rely on a vast, interconnected network – the FIMI galaxy. It is comprised of both overt and covert chancels across multiple platforms to spread, recycle, cross-promote and hide the true origins of manipulative content. Foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) operations are a complex and multi-faceted challenge which, as evidenced by Russia’s relentless FIMI operations in the context of its war against Ukraine, must be considered as a serious security issue. Therefore, the European External Action Service has endeavoured to analyse FIMI, develop a collective response, and offer a practical approach to the exposure and attribution of information manipulation operations.

As Georgia’s path to Europe stalls, mass protests erupt—and with them, a storm of disinformation. Pro-Kremlin outlets are exploiting the chaos aiming to steer the nation away from its European course and back under Moscow’s influence. The Georgian Dream (GD) party’s decision to suspend EU accession negotiations until 2028 has fueled massive protests across Georgia. These demonstrations – ongoing since allegations of electoral fraud marred the October 2024 parliamentary elections – have been met with repeated and violent police crackdowns. Authorities have used excessive force on protestors, politicians, and media representatives. Confronted with growing resistance to GD’s shift away from EU integration, pro-Kremlin outlets in Georgia have pushed disinformation campaigns to discredit pro-European protesters, downplay police violence, and portray Georgia’s Western allies as instigators.

The 3rd EEAS report provides unique insights into how modern manipulation works. We are launching a series of articles to enhance our collective awareness and understanding. On 19 March, HRVP Kaja Kallas presented the 3rd EEAS Report on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) Threats. This latest report focuses on how to expose FIMI operations, building upon the 1st report (how to analyse) and the 2nd report (how to respond) to create a more comprehensive framework for countering FIMI. EuvsDiSiNFO provided a curtain-raiser for the 3rd report in its article of 19 March, ‘Behind the curtain: a novel analytical approach to FIMI exposure’. The report is comprehen-sive, resulting from careful analysis of a large sample of data (covering 505 incidents and 38,000 channels) collected over a year.

Russia blames the EU for prolonging the war – while its own bombs rain down on Ukraine. Classic Kremlin logic. Kahl’s actual point? He warned that a negotiated end (or pause) to Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine probably would not put an end to Russia’s aggressive tendencies and might even lead it to re-focus its energy on Europe. You know, the whole hybrid warfare, cyberattacks, election meddling thing. However, the narrative being pushed by pro-Kremlin outlets suggests this is just a facade, implying that the EU is more interested in prolonging the suffering than supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty. Because doesn’t it make perfect sense that the EU’s goal would be to keep Europe locked in a never-ending war, rather than working toward a peaceful resolution? This false narrative is really about deflecting attention from Russia’s own deliberate decision to launch a full-scale invasion and its subsequent war crimes. It is easier to point the finger at the West and say, ‘They want the war to continue!’ than, you know, acknowledge that Russia is the one who started it and keeps it going.

The Kremlin continues to use manipulative language in its narratives, as seen in a recent readout … From diplomatic deception to puppet master fabrications, the Kremlin manipulation playbook may evolve on the surface but its fundamentals remain unchanged. The Kremlin continues to use manipulative language in its narratives, as seen in a recent readout … From diplomatic deception to puppet master fabrications, the Kremlin manipulation playbook may evolve on the surface but its fundamentals remain unchanged. On Tuesday, 18 March, Putin and US President Trump had a telephone conversation discussing a potential 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. A proposal that Ukraine had already endorsed during US-Ukraine talks in Jeddah. The Kremlin published a readout of Tuesday’s call which offers a masterclass in information mani-pulation. The carefully crafted manipulative Kremlin narrative deceitfully positions Putin as a ‘rational peacemaker’ while effectively turning the ceasefire offer down yet again and embedding multiple long-standing propaganda narratives about Ukraine.

The European External Action Service (EEAS) has released its third report on foreign information mani-pulation and interference (FIMI) threats. Like previous reports, the latest iteration of the report is based on carefully collected data of observed FIMI activity, to identify and analyse the key trends in 2024. Building on the guidance provided by last year’s report on moving toward collective response, the 3rd report on FIMI threats introduces a novel element to analyse foreign information manipulation and interference – the FIMI Exposure Matrix, which was applied to analyse a sample of 505 FIMI incidents involving some 38 000 channels engaged in information manipulation. EU H R Kaja Kallas presented the report and stated clearly that the threat of FIMI is global and must not be underestimated, because ‘the aim [of FIMI] is to destabilise our societies, damage our democracies, drive wedges between us and our partners and undermine the EU’s global standing.’