Читать книгу False Mirrors: The Weaponization of Social Media in Russia’s Operation to Annex Crimea - Andrey Demartino - Страница 5

The thesis about the importance of the information component as one of the key elements of the so-called new-type warfare became generally accepted after the annexation of Crimea and the occupation of the parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions by the Russian Federation in 2014. At the same time, studies in this field often rely on rather limited sources, tend to use overly theoretical approaches, and repeat the same facts and conclusions. Consequently, a wide range of practical techniques and methods of Russian information influence have not received sufficient attention.

This study investigates the techniques of using social media to fulfil aggressive foreign policy tasks, as exemplified by the Russian Federation’s operation to annex the AR of Crimea in 2014.

Analysing the level of information effectiveness of the “Crimean operation,” it is worth noting the synergy effect produced by combining the use of social media with the broader Russian anti-Ukrainian propaganda campaign. In this case, social media, which were trusted, and where the information received from other sources (primarily television) was verified, have played the role of a “false mirror,” which falsified the information. That, in turn, has produced the effect of double manipulation, via television and social media, thus creating the environment of lies.

Based on the analysis of the techniques for Russia’s information influence, this study offers effective countermeasures, which may be taken into consideration when formulating the national information policy in Ukraine and other states.

Keywords: the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the AR of Crimea, annexation, social media, the Russian Federation, hybrid warfare, new-type warfare, information operations, information influence, fakeaccounts.