{"id":32780,"date":"2022-03-31T13:45:55","date_gmt":"2022-03-31T18:45:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.imsa.edu\/acronym\/?p=32780"},"modified":"2022-03-31T13:45:55","modified_gmt":"2022-03-31T18:45:55","slug":"the-war-in-ukraine-disinformation-memes-hacktivism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.imsa.edu\/acronym\/2022\/03\/31\/the-war-in-ukraine-disinformation-memes-hacktivism\/","title":{"rendered":"The War in Ukraine: Disinformation, Memes, & Hacktivism"},"content":{"rendered":"

Disinformation has complicated the war in Ukraine from the start. Russia has turned its efforts towards diverting people\u2019s, attention\u2014particularly its own citizens\u2019\u2014from what it calls a \u201cspecial operation<\/a>\u201d in Ukraine. The bulk of the Russian media either downplays the invasion or twists it into a service in Ukrainian interest. Still, the false information has not come without retaliation from both within and without. A handful of Russian media outlets that contradict the Kremlin narrative, and Ukraine has been quick to use social media platforms to advocate for itself. As the Kremlin cracks down on the spreaders of \u201cknowingly false information<\/a>\u201d and the fighting in Ukraine continues, disinformation becomes increasingly pervasive.<\/p>\n

War in Ukraine & The Russian Media <\/b><\/h2>\n

Russian news outlets have employed a variety of means in denying the existence of war in Ukraine. \u201cDon\u2019t call it a war\u201d is a common one. Tight with the Kremlin, popular Russian news sites (Gazeta<\/i> and Lenta<\/i>, for example) simply do not mention war<\/a>. They refrain from using the word itself and similar terms like \u201cattack\u201d and \u201cinvasion.\u201d Gazeta<\/i>, for instance, has broadcast and published daily updates<\/a> on the Russian \u201cspecial operation\u201d in Ukraine. Lenta<\/i> goes a step further: its March 4th homepage<\/a> makes no reference to any special operations, and though it does feature headlines about Ukraine, these vilify the country (\u201cUkrainian sailor detained in Russia on suspicion of calling for extremism<\/a>\u201d) and appear among innocuous headlines such as \u201cShark meat found in pet food<\/a>,\u201d or those claiming that it is Russia that is the victim of foreign disinformation (\u201cRozkomnadzor (the Russian state censorship agency) blocked Facebook in Russia\u201d<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Russian Media on \u201cHelping\u201d Ukraine<\/i><\/h3>\n

On both sites, turning the war on its head is a common theme. Russia is, as they present it, either helping Ukraine, or the victim of Ukraine. As far as the former goes, Lenta<\/i> recently posted an article<\/a> about Russia\u2019s \u201cdemilitarization and denazification of Ukraine.\u201d The outlet cites Vladimir Putin\u2019s announcement that a \u201cspecial military operation\u201d would be conducted in the country and links to another article<\/a>, which explains that this operation is \u201cto protect Donbass.\u201d<\/p>\n

Donbass, a separatist-controlled region in southeastern Ukraine, is occupied by Russian forces. Maria Zakharova, Russia\u2019s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, wrote via Facebook post<\/a> that the Ukrainian government has been carrying out a \u201csystemic extermination\u201d of the people of Donbass, and that \u201cRussia did not start a war, it is ending it.\u201d To stoke the anger further, Russia has falsely claimed<\/a> that the US is planning chemical attacks in the area.<\/p>\n

The US State Department<\/a> counters these arguments. It writes that there is no evidence of \u201cany ethnic Russians or Russian speakers being under threat from the Ukrainian government,\u201d and further, citing Human Rights Watch<\/a>, that there are reports that Ukrainians in Russian-occupied areas \u201cface suppression of their culture and national identity and live in an environment of severe repression and fear.\u201d<\/p>\n

Russia\u2019s Legislative Fight against \u201cDisinformation\u201d <\/i><\/h3>\n

To counter what it considers disinformation, Russia has taken constitutional action. On March 3rd, the State Duma Committee on State Construction and Legislation approved an amendment that will hold Russians legally accountable for \u201cpublic dissemination of knowingly false information about the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.<\/a>\u201d Punishment includes fines of up to five million rubles and imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years.<\/p>\n

Additionally, the Committee recommended the adoption of a bill<\/a> that will hold anyone who calls for foreign countries to impose sanctions against Russia criminally liable. Proposed punishments are a fine capped at 500,000 rubles, \u201crestriction of freedom,\u201d and imprisonment for up to three years.<\/p>\n

The head of the Duma Security Committee also suggested<\/a> that criminal liability be introduced for \u201cdistorting the purpose, role, and tasks of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, as well as other formations during special military and other operations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Russian Independent Media<\/i><\/h3>\n

Although the majority<\/a> of Russia\u2019s population gets their news from prominent sites like Gazeta<\/i> and Lenta<\/i>, independently run outlets do exist. Take, for example, the Nobel-winning Novaya Gazeta<\/i>: Novaya <\/i>makes its rift with sites like Gazeta <\/i>and Lenta<\/i> clear in its March 1st newsletter<\/a>, which begins, \u201cWe share the anti-war statements of our Editor-in-Chief Dmitry Muratov and Syndicate 100<\/a>, the coalition of independent Russian media outlets led by Novaya.<\/i>\u201d Novaya<\/i> reiterates its position throughout the newsletter, writing that it will publish issues in Russian as well as Ukrainian in the hopes of reaching a Russian audience and adding one \u201clast thing: Only an anti-war movement [of] Russian citizens can save life on this earth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sites and channels like Novaya <\/i>have faced mounting difficulty as Russian media censorship intensifies. One such channel, the liberal Ekho Movsky<\/i> was pulled from the air by the Prosecutor General\u2019s Office, which alleges<\/a> the station \u201cdistributed materials calling for extremist activities and false information about the actions of the Russian military.\u201d On the day of the Committee\u2019s meeting, Ekho Movsky<\/i>\u2019s Board of Directors decided to liquidate its radio channel and website once and for all.<\/p>\n

The Prosecutor General\u2019s Office also blocked the website of the TV channel Dozhd. <\/i>Additionally, the Roskomnadzor forced Novaya Gazeta, Mediazona, Dozhd, <\/i>and other news outlets to remove material \u201cbecause they called what was happening in Ukraine a war.<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n

In an interview with the New Yorker<\/i><\/a>, <\/i>Muratov spoke of Novaya<\/i>\u2019s plans moving forward. \u201cWe\u2019ll keep working for as long as we can,\u201d he said. But, he adds, \u201cI think we\u2019re in for a very difficult period. That\u2019s because we did not heed the state\u2019s recommendation to incorporate the official point of view in our assessment of events.\u201d He continues, explaining that Novaya <\/i>gets its information on Ukraine from correspondents located in the country: \u201cI am very worried about our journalists working in the war zone and in the border areas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, Novaya <\/i>and other outlets continue to defy the Roskomnadzor\u2019s instructions. They use the words \u201cwar,\u201d \u201cinvasion,\u201d and \u201cattack,\u201d and gather information from sources beyond those approved by the Russian government, refusing to back the narrative that Russia\u2019s presence in Ukraine is in the country\u2019s interest.<\/p>\n

Ukraine\u2019s Digital Response <\/b><\/h2>\n

As many Russian news outlets pedal disinformation, the Ukrainian media has launched a digital counterattack. Much of this has come from state accounts via social platforms like Twitter and Facebook, but the country has also enlisted an \u201cIT Army.<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n

State Memes & Twitter Appeals
\n<\/i><\/h3>\n

To begin with the memes, recent posts include March 1st\u2019s \u201cTwo leaders, two worlds\u2026Freedom will prevail<\/a>,\u201d which was followed by a comparison of Putin and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zeleksnkyy, using the metrics \u201cfamily,\u201d \u201cmilitary,\u201d \u201cdiplomats,\u201d and \u201cplace.\u201d  For \u201cfamily,\u201d a picture of a smiling Zelenskyy beside his wife and kids opposes a suited Putin, his back to the camera, walking along a grey wall on an empty street. \u201cPlace,\u201d similarly, is for Putin the text \u201cUNKNOWN BUNKER,\u201d while Zelenskyy is shown on the streets of beleaguered Kyiv.<\/p>\n

A February 23rd meme<\/a> shows Hitler gazing intensely into a diminutive Putin\u2019s eyes, smiling approvingly and cupping the Russian president\u2019s cheek. In the bottom right corner reads the text \u201cOfficial website.\u201d Ukraine replied to itself: \u201cThis is not a \u2018meme\u2019, but our and your reality right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

In terms of appeals, @Ukraine addressed @IRCR <\/a>(International Committee of the Red Cross), asking the organization to \u201chelp [Ukraine] establish humanitarian corridors to bring aid and evacuate civilians.\u201d The account also retweeted the invitation<\/a> of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, for foreign nationals to join Ukraine\u2019s International Legion of Territorial Defense.<\/p>\n

As above, @Ukraine retweeted another of Fedorov\u2019s messages, this one to Elon Musk: \u201cwhile you try to colonize Mars\u2014Russia try to occupy Ukraine!… We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand.\u201d Starlink is a project of Musk\u2019s that aims to provide people anywhere on earth with high-speed internet access\u2014granted, that is, that they possess a separately purchased terminal, made by SpaceX. Musk replied<\/a> to Fedorov, \u201cStarlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route.\u201d When asked by the Atlantic<\/i><\/a> how many terminals are currently active in Ukraine, SpaceX did not respond.<\/p>\n

Other @Ukraine Tweets include \u201c@Russia = barbaric<\/a>\u201d and \u201cTag @Russia and tell them what you think about them<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

IT Army<\/i><\/h3>\n

On February 26th, Fedorov announced<\/a> the creation of the IT Army: \u201cWe have a lot of talented Ukrainians in the digital sphere: developers, cyber specialists, designers, copywriters, marketers. We continue to fight on the cyber front.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prior to the Army\u2019s formation, independent hacktivists were involved in countering Russia as well. The hacktivist group Anonymous tweeted<\/a> on February 24th that \u201cThe Anonymous collective is officially in cyber war against the Russian government.\u201d The group has claimed credit<\/a> for a number of moves against Russia, including cracking into the Russian Ministry of Defense database, bombarding and bringing down various government websites, and playing pro-Ukraine content on Russian state TV channels.<\/p>\n

Composed of more than 175,000 volunteers, the IT Army itself has assigned<\/a> tasks to its forces through the messaging platform Telegram. These tasks have included bombarding Russian and Belarusian sites and reporting YouTube channels that they believe \u201copenly lie about the war in Ukraine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zelenskyy\u2019s Speeches<\/i><\/h3>\n

While @Ukraine has been active on Twitter and the IT Army has targeted disinformation, Zelenskyy has used Facebook to connect with Ukraine and the world at large. The tone is set by his profile background image: A Ukrainian flag is pictured beneath a turbulent sky, alongside the text \u201c#stoprussia\u2026UKRAINE IS DEFENDING EUROPE AND THE WORLD.\u201d On his account, Zelenskyy has regularly posted video updates of the days\u2019 fighting in Ukraine.<\/p>\n

Zelenskyy has also recorded an address<\/a> intended particularly for the Russian people. In a February 23rd video, he appeals to the \u201cpeople of Russia\u2026not as president\u2026 As a citizen of Ukraine.\u201d He warns of “a huge war on the European continent,\u201d comparing Russian advances to a \u201cflame.\u201d \u201cYou are told,\u201d he says, \u201cthat this flame will bring freedom to the people of Ukraine. But the people of Ukraine are already free.\u201d<\/p>\n

In his address, Zelenskyy tells the Russian people that they are the victims of disinformation. \u201cUkraine in your news and Ukraine in reality are two completely different countries.\u201d He continues that \u201cwe are different, but that is not a reason to be enemies\u201d and asks for peace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Disinformation has complicated the war in Ukraine from the start. Russia has turned its efforts towards diverting people\u2019s, attention\u2014particularly its own citizens\u2019\u2014from what it calls…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":576,"featured_media":32781,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2724,1],"tags":[3450,1668,2662,2204,1156],"coauthors":[3434],"class_list":["post-32780","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-worldnews","tag-cybersecurity","tag-russia","tag-social-media","tag-ukraine","tag-world"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.imsa.edu\/acronym\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32780","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.imsa.edu\/acronym\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.imsa.edu\/acronym\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.imsa.edu\/acronym\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/576"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.imsa.edu\/acronym\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32780"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/sites.imsa.edu\/acronym\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32780\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33014,"href":"https:\/\/sites.imsa.edu\/acronym\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32780\/revisions\/33014"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.imsa.edu\/acronym\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32781"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.imsa.edu\/acronym\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32780"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.imsa.edu\/acronym\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32780"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.imsa.edu\/acronym\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32780"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.imsa.edu\/acronym\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=32780"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}