Russia launches information special operation against Ukraine amid wave of protests — Foreign Intel Service
Photo: protests against draft law No. 12414 (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The Russian regime has launched a large-scale information operation against Ukraine, using the theme of anti-corruption protests. Russian federal media, as well as Kremlin-controlled outlets, bloggers, and influencers in Western countries, have been engaged in covering these so-called "protests," according to the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine (SZRU).
It is noted that all Russian intelligence agencies immediately activated their paid foreign agents. Kremlin propaganda is portraying changes in Ukraine's anti-corruption legislation as an "anti-American coup" and as "measures to minimize Western influence within Ukraine’s political system."
At the same time, propagandists are spreading narratives about a "deep crisis" in Ukrainian society. To lend credibility to these claims, the Russians are taking comments from Western diplomats, politicians, and journalists out of context and distorting them.
"These messages are presented as evidence of Western countries’ disappointment in Ukraine’s reforms, suggesting the threat of potential sanctions and the loss of visa-free travel for Ukrainians. To amplify the effect, video content from protest events is manipulated and distorted," the report says.
The Head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Oleh Ivashchenko, warned Ukrainians against playing into Russian propaganda and emphasized the need for national unity, as the threat from Russia continues to grow.
"We must remember that the main source of danger is Russia. Failing to conquer our country militarily, it now seeks to sow discord and undermine Ukraine from within. The aggressor has used and will continue to use any pretext to destroy our unity and discredit Ukraine — especially on the international stage," he said.
The Foreign Intelligence Service also noted that the increased use of manipulative and disinformation tools by the Russian regime is being observed not only in Ukraine. European intelligence agencies have also warned of heightened Russian propaganda activity in the information space of Western countries.
Russia exploits protests in Ukraine for its own purposes
Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) has confirmed that Russian intelligence services and propagandists are closely monitoring the situation surrounding protests in Ukraine against the controversial law that curtails the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP). The enemy may resort to provocations.
The Center for Countering Disinformation also stated that Russia is already distorting the meaning of the rallies. Russian propaganda is even using Photoshop and fabricating images from the protests, attempting to portray them as directed specifically against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
On July 22, the Verkhovna Rada passed a law that significantly reduces the powers of NABU and SAP, while expanding the authority of the Prosecutor General. Against this backdrop, Ukrainians in several cities took to the streets in protest.
