Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service has recorded the transition to an acute phase of the hostile information operation conducted by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The goal of this operation is not to dismantle Ukrainian statehood on the battlefield but in people’s minds—through the delegitimization of the Ukrainian government, the undermining of democratic institutions, and the imposition of an external political scenario resembling controlled capitulation. This operation is being carried out with the involvement of Russian special services—FSB, SVR, and the Main Directorate of the General Staff (GU GSh)—under the overall coordination of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation.
The Nature of the Hostile Operation
- Under the guise of "peacekeeping initiatives" and "analytical discourse," the following narratives are being pushed on Ukrainian and international audiences:
- The alleged loss of legitimacy of the Ukrainian government due to the lack of elections during martial law.
- The supposed need for a "temporary administration" under the auspices of the UN, the US, the EU, or even a "quartet format" involving Russia.
- The notion that Russia cannot sign a peace agreement with the Ukrainian government—an argument designed by the enemy to serve as a casus belli for altering Ukraine’s political course.
- These narratives are not just disinformation; they are part of a special operation aimed at coercing Ukraine into political capitulation under the guise of a "peaceful resolution."
Implementation Methods
The operation is being conducted through:
- Ostensibly Western or "neutral" media acting as proxies for Russian narratives. Among them:
- Magyar Nemzet, Magyar Hirlap, Pesti Srácok (Hungary): Promote ideas about Ukraine’s "inability to govern itself."
- Salon24.pl (Poland): Published a fake blog by an anonymous author "MarcinWi," which, under the guise of "expert analysis," supports the narrative of a "rift" between Ukraine’s military and political leadership.
- Réseau International (France): Spreads claims about Ukraine’s alleged inability to conduct military operations independently and a "deep strategic divide between the political leadership and the General Staff."
• Anonymous Telegram channels posing as "insiders" within the Ukrainian Armed Forces or political leadership.
• A coordinated wave of emotional videos on TikTok and YouTube, pushing narratives such as "The West no longer supports Ukraine," "We have been deceived," "Changes in power are needed," and calls for a new government "to bring peace."
• Mass dissemination of destructive materials with identical talking points across multiple platforms, including:
- Telegram: Strana.ua, Scott Ritter
- X (formerly Twitter): RothLindberg, DougAMacgregor
- Facebook: Florian Philippot, Fernand Kartheiser. This effort is supported by bot networks and accounts tied to pro-Russian structures in Europe and Latin America, which publish fake documents, statements, and "analytical notes" questioning the legitimacy of Ukraine’s authorities.
• Quoting pro-Russian "experts" with titles like "former diplomats," "independent political analysts," and "UN veterans" to push the narrative that "even the West needs a different Ukraine."
• Using Ukrainian figures accused of treason to legitimize these narratives—including comments and publications from individuals previously involved in pro-Russian political structures.
These activities are complemented by the infiltration of Kremlin narratives into the influence structures of Ukraine’s partner countries. This includes the organization of public "discussions" on topics such as the legitimacy of Ukraine’s leadership, the possibility of negotiations without Ukraine’s involvement, and the alleged "loss of trust" in Kyiv.
