Fatigue, Betrayal, and Triumphalism: The Psychological Dimensions of Russian Propaganda Against Ukraine and the West

Russian aggression against Ukraine is multidimensional and from the outset has gone beyond classic military assault. In addition to battlefield operations, the Russian Federation conducts systematic and coordinated actions in the information domain, which constitute an integral element of waging war.

These actions are not solely of a propaganda nature but are a tool for exerting psychological pressure on the civilian population, destabilizing the state structures of Ukraine and undermining international support for the country that is the victim of aggression. Information operations cannot be treated as a side effect or a secondary measure to kinetic actions, since Russian propaganda is designed in a purposeful and systematic manner, and its main goal is to influence the emotions and attitudes of recipients. In particular, its objectives are to reinforce fear, hopelessness, a sense of betrayal and cynicism, as well as to build triumphalist narratives on the Russian side. These emotions are used as a tool to weaken societies' capacity for resistance, solidarity and long-term engagement.

Also important is the fact that Russian information operations are differentiated depending on the target group. Messages that are directed at Ukrainian society, whose morale and trust in state institutions are to be undermined, are different than those meant for public opinion in Western countries in order to erode political and social support for further assistance to Ukraine, and different still than those for Russian society, where propaganda serves to legitimize aggression and muster domestic support.

In the context of future legal reckoning, these activities require special attention. Information operations conducted by the aggressor state may constitute part of a broader system of repression against civilians and violations of international humanitarian law and human rights. It is essential to analyze them to achieve a full understanding of the nature of Russian aggression and build a comprehensive accountability architecture that encompasses not only crimes committed using military force but also those carried out through systematic information and psychological influence.

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