Welcome to RUCARR seminar 27 October!

Alyona Hurkivska: "Contextual Dependence of Disinformation: Have Russian Propaganda Narratives Changed after the Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine?"

Abstract

This presentation outlines interim results of the postdoctoral project Countering Russian Disinformation: Information Resilience in Wartime and Beyond, funded by the Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies. It presents the draft article, “Contextual Dependence of Disinformation: Have Russian Propaganda Narratives Changed after the Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine?” The study examines Russian propaganda and disinformation narratives targeting Ukrainian audiences between 2019 and 2025. The data include content from pro-Russian Telegram channels with national and regional agendas, as well as a channel in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories. Using qualitative content analysis of inductively coded posts from five channels, the study argues that the transition to full-scale warfare did not alter the general repertoire of (pro)Russian harmful narratives. Instead, the narratives adapted to context. National and regional channels' narratives maintain continuity, while occupation-focused channels exploit coercive physical environments to intensify hostile messaging. The results suggest that Russia’s influence strategy (including disinformation) has remained consistent after the full-scale invasion. However, it has recalibrated its tactical combinations and contextual adaptation to sustain its objectives.

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