Information weapons within the interstate struggle in the XXI Century

Ivan Ablazov; Oleksandr Demenko; Oleksandr Leonov; Sergii Mokliak; Serhii Khamula

doi:10.34069/AI/2022.52.04.29

Ivan Ablazov Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine named after Hennadii Udovenko, Ukraine. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6293-8043
Oleksandr Demenko State Institution “Institute of World History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine” https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1144-0576
Oleksandr Leonov Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman, Ukraine. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1759-3845
Sergii Mokliak Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine named after Hennadii Udovenko, Ukraine. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5255-8941
Serhii Khamula National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Ukraine. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0825-7674

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34069/AI/2022.52.04.29

Keywords: information weapons, information warfare, hybrid warfare, cyberattack, political warfare.

Abstract

In particular, information weapons and social media weapons have become a weighty and decisive factor in warfare. Moreover, military conflict models increasingly use information as a weapon in virtual space. The article aims to analyze the peculiarities of the use of information weapons in interstate struggle on the example of empirical assessment of the use of disinformation methods against Ukraine in 2021-2022. Methodology. The study used the methods of cases and content analysis of reports and analytical bulletins of the Centre for Counteracting Disinformation of Ukraine to assess the use of information weapons, in particular the spread of disinformation in the information space of Ukraine. The reports and analytical bulletins from December 3, 2021, to February 21, 2022, were used for content analysis. Results. The main types of misinformation that are spread in the Ukrainian information space are: 1) misleading a particular person or group of people (even an entire nation); 2) manipulation, and 3) creation of the desired public opinion.

We determined the main characteristics of fake news (unknown source, manipulative headline, emotional coloring, lack of reference to the head, value judgments). Based on the analysis, trends in the dissemination of false, manipulative information are identified.

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Author Biographies

Ivan Ablazov, Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine named after Hennadii Udovenko, Ukraine.

Professor, candidate of political sciences, associate professor, Professional Development Training Center, Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine named after Hennadii Udovenko, Ukraine.

Oleksandr Demenko, State Institution “Institute of World History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine”

Scientific secretary, candidate of political sciences, associate professor, State Institution “Institute of World History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine”

Oleksandr Leonov, Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman, Ukraine.

Senior lecturer, Law Institute, Department of Political Technology, Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman, Ukraine.

Sergii Mokliak, Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine named after Hennadii Udovenko, Ukraine.

Professor, doctor of political sciences, professor, Information Resources Center, Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine named after Hennadii Udovenko, Ukraine.

Serhii Khamula, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Ukraine.

Professor, candidate of technical sciences, associate professor, Institute of Special Communications and Information Protection, Special Department, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Ukraine.

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