Telegram is the only resource that allows Russian propaganda to be somewhat flexible and adaptable – Romaniuk

Photo credit: National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting

The Telegram messenger is the only resource that allows Russian propaganda to be at least somewhat flexible and adaptable.

Oksana Romaniuk, executive director of the Institute of Mass Information, said this during the November 8 webinar titled "New Dimensions of Russian Propaganda. Special Information Operations on Telegram", organized by IMI. 

"Telegram is the only resource that allows Russian propaganda to be at least somewhat flexible and adaptable. Russian propaganda has a verticle structure; it is formulaic and dry. Especially compared to Ukraine, where, the moment anything happens, many different responses, opinions, memes flood in at once. Instead, Russia has clear channels for spreading information, and they are strictly controlled. Telegram gives the impression of dynamic and up-to-date content, so it is an easier way to influence Ukrainians who are not used to information being presented in such an unlively manner," she said.

Romaniuk said that before launching an offensive against Ukraine, Russians created dozens of Telegram channels which posed to post news from the Ukrainian cities and villages they planned to occupy.

"There have also been cases when locals who owned Telegram channels would sell them to the occupiers. Now propaganda and disinformation are being spread through these channels as well," she added.

Moreover, Romaniuk noted, Russian propaganda is becoming more and more aggressive, so IMI is trying to classify it. Namely, this includes genocidal rhetoric – a rhetoric that embraces attacks on civilian sites, abduction of children, sacralization of war; signs of an aggressive war, such as fakes and manipulations about Ukraine planning to invade other countries; calls for violation of territorial integrity or regime overthrow – straight up crimes.

"This is the scope of disinformation that warrants a response at the level of criminal law and an international tribunal," she added.

We remind that in October, IMI launched a series of publications on the Russian propagandists' media crimes in order to gather information that will help bring them to justice. The first material of the series is dedicated to the head of the Russian state television company RT, Margarita Simonyan, who is well known for her calls for the annexation of Ukrainian territories and incitement to armed aggression against Ukrainians.