Russian Propagandists Must Be Held Accountable for Their Crimes Against Ukraine

At the initiative of the Center for Countering Disinformation under Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council and with the support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Internews Network, Internews Ukraine investigated the impact of Russian propaganda on the worldview of Russians, including servicemen.

FULL TEXT OF THE STUDY IN UKRAINIAN

The study's authors were Dr. Nataliia Kondratenko and Dr. Marharyta Zhuravlova. They analyzed episodes of Russian propaganda TV shows, content from pro-Kremlin Telegram channels, as well as interviews with Russian prisoners of war, and intercepted telephone conversations had by Russian soldiers with their relatives back in Russia.

Based on these materials, the experts established:

1. the role of Russian propagandists in preparing for the war with Ukraine;
2. the narratives and linguistic markers used on Russian television between 2014 and 2023;
3. how the propagandists' messages influenced the worldview and actions of Russian military personnel.

Key Findings of the Study

1. 70 to 88% of the content of the TV shows studied was anti-Ukrainian propaganda, which is systematically disseminated through modern channels (social networks, Telegram channels, web platforms, etc.)
2. Russian television has been promoting specific narratives and linguistic markers about Ukraine since at least 2014. The researchers identified the three most common anti-Ukrainian narratives in Russian propaganda:

• "Ukraine is an aggressor state/terrorist/Nazi/authoritarian;"
• "Ukraine does not exist as a state/is a failed state;"
• "The Ukrainian government is illegitimate."

3. Russian prisoners of war repeat messages "from the television" as if they were their own opinions. They remain loyal to the Kremlin's narratives even after receiving truthful information.
4. Propagandists successfully influence public opinion using several tools: information isolation, constructing a system of interconnected narratives, using a specific glossary of terms, and emotional pressure on audiences.

Punishing Propagandists: Creating a Legal Framework

Russian propagandists on television and Telegram played an essential role in preparing for the war against Ukraine. They incited the Russian population, made up stories about "Nazis," and called for genocide. Therefore, they must share responsibility for the war along with other perpetrators.

In recent world history, there have been cases of propagandists being tried for war crimes. For example, after the genocide in Rwanda, several well-known media figures were sentenced for inciting mass killings and crimes against humanity. This shows that punishing Russian propagandists is also possible, but requires additional legal instruments.

To bring Russian propagandists to justice, Ukraine needs to amend its legislation on countering information aggression. Currently, it does not have provisions to qualify Russia's actions as information terrorism, information attack, or dissemination of disinformation.

Therefore, Internews Ukraine at the initiative of the Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defence Council and with a team of lawyers, has developed a draft law that provides for criminal responsibility for spreading disinformation. It covers propaganda, "information terrorism," and other similar tactics used by Russia against Ukraine.

Adopting such a law could help bring propagandists to justice both within Ukraine and internationally. A clear definition of crimes of propaganda for war in Ukrainian legislation will make it possible to document specific cases, collect evidence, and pass sentences. This could also create a basis for charges in international courts.

Media Literacy — A Shield Against Disinformation

Russian state media can influence not only its own citizens. According to surveys, in 2023, one of every 12 Ukrainians used Russian news resources. This threatens both individual information security and national security.

Media literacy in Ukraine needs to be increased to protect the population from the influence of propaganda. After all, being informed means being armed. Experts explain in this article how to protect against Russian manipulations.