Tag

Information Warfare

All articles tagged with #information warfare

world1 month ago•19 min saved

Ukraine Targets Seaborne Fuel Lines as Kremlin Struggles with Narrative and Mobilization Decisions

ISW’s July 9 assessment says Moscow is struggling to present a cohesive narrative after the Trump denial and Kyiv’s battlefield gains, downplaying the Patriot licensing deal while signaling openness to talks; an anonymous Russian general warns that seizing Donbas by end-2026 is unlikely and mobilization could be considered, as Putin remains committed to a war of attrition. Meanwhile Ukraine expanded long-range strikes against Russian energy infrastructure and seaborne fuel shipments to occupied Crimea, hitting oil depots in Stavropol and Tver, a Bataysk terminal, and other fuel facilities, while Ukrainian forces reported downstream drone/missile activity and continued to intercept large portions of Russia’s strikes; there were no confirmed ground gains on July 9.

via Institute for the Study of War|

#drone-strikes #information-warfare #logistics

world2 months ago•24 min saved

Russia’s Massive Drone-Missile Blitz Hits Kyiv, Dnipro, and Kharkiv

Russia launched a massive overnight drone and missile campaign on June 14–15 against Ukraine, hitting Kyiv, Dnipro, and Kharkiv with about 70 missiles (including Zirkon, Iskander-M, and Iskander-K/Kh-101) and roughly 611 drones; Ukrainian forces claim to have shot down most weapons, but casualties reached at least 11 killed and 53 wounded, with 140,000 Kyiv residents left without power. Cultural sites were damaged, prompting UNESCO condemnation, and a Kharkiv double-tap strike killed five first responders. ISW assesses the strikes reflect Moscow’s strategy to break Ukrainian resolve while deploying sophisticated information operations to exaggerate gains in places like Kostyantynivka. Zelensky offered to meet Putin at the G7, but Moscow remained non-committal. Ukraine’s own long-range strikes against Russian energy infrastructure continue to cause shortages inside Russia and in occupied areas, contributing to a drawn-out conflict with no rapid breakthrough in Donetsk’s Fortress Belt.

via Institute for the Study of War|

#civilian-impact #information-warfare #missiles-drones

world2 months ago•18 min saved

BBC ties arson attacks on UK PM’s home to Russian operatives via fake online groups

A BBC investigation links arson attacks on properties connected to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to a Russian-led operation run through fake online groups such as Direct Action UK and the Takbir Foundation. A Telegram handler nicknamed EL, possibly Evgeny Lyukshin, allegedly recruited a Ukrainian builder and others for money and propaganda, while UK authorities privately view Russia as behind the attacks; the trial centered on a financial motive and did not publicly identify the mastermind.

via Yahoo|

#arson-attacks #bbc-investigation #information-warfare

world3 months ago•19 min saved

Fragile Ceasefire Persists Amid Mutual Accusations and Limited Front-Line Moves

The May 9–11 ceasefire in Ukraine remains fragile as both sides accuse the other of violations while fighting persists at a limited tempo. Zelensky says Russia carried hundreds of ground assaults, artillery strikes, and thousands of drones from May 9–10, while Moscow claims Ukraine conducted its own extensive strikes; NASA FIRMS shows activity dipping but not stopping. Putin hints the war could end soon with no concrete plan, and Zelensky rejects Russian claims about POW-exchange sabotage, noting lists for 1,000 POWs exist with the United States as guarantor. On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces have advanced in Borova, Slovyansk, and western Zaporizhzhia, while Russia maintains limited offensives and shifts emphasis toward Orikhiv. Russia continues long-range drone activity and infiltration tactics, and its information warfare apparatus—using AI-generated footage and clampdowns on pro-war voices—intensifies to shape the narrative.

via Institute for the Study of War|

#ceasefire #drones #information-warfare

world4 months ago•19 min saved

Lego AI Slop and the Blackout War: How Iran Leveraged Meme Propaganda

During the Iran war, Tehran’s regime flooded state media with on-the-ground footage while a broad internet blackout hampered verification; it pushed AI-generated 'Lego' slop and other memes to shape global opinion, even as authentic images from Minab and other strikes circulated, illustrating how online propaganda and censorship can influence perceptions alongside battlefield events.

via The Verge|

#ai-generated-content #information-warfare #internet-blackout

world4 months ago•14 min saved

Iran’s Online Propaganda Engine: How a False F-18 Downing Went Global

The NYT explains how Iran orchestrated a rapid, cross‑platform information operation to push a claim that an American F‑18 was shot down near Chabahar, using IRGC and state media posts, embassies on X, Russian outlets, and influencers to amplify the narrative across X, Telegram, TikTok and more within about 69 minutes—well before CENTCOM denied the attack—showing how online ecosystems can spread propaganda before official verification.

via The New York Times|

#information-warfare #iran #irgc

world5 months ago•27 min saved

Russia gears up Fortress Belt offensive as drone warfare and recruitment expand

ISW assesses Russia has likely begun artillery and drone-based battlefield preparation for a spring–summer 2026 offensive against Ukraine’s Fortress Belt in Donetsk Oblast, with shelling near Kramatorsk and Kostyantynivka and a continuing battlefield-air-interdiction campaign. Moscow is expanding recruitment for its unmanned-systems forces in universities while cracking down on pro‑war information space figures. The report notes a Russian drone incident near the Charles de Gaulle and alleged white-phosphorus usage in Kostyantynivka, though civilians remain in the area. Ukrainian forces have made some local advances and oil-depot strikes amid broader energy infrastructure damage, as Russia pursues a multi-axis, costly campaign.

via Institute for the Study of War|

#battlefield-air-interdiction #donetsk-oblast #fortress-belt

world8 months ago•14 min saved

Evolving Front Lines and Territorial Demands in Ukraine Conflict

The article discusses the evolving and increasingly complex nature of mapping Ukraine's front line in the ongoing conflict with Russia, highlighting how open-source maps and social media are crucial in understanding battlefield dynamics, especially as the front becomes more porous and contested, with both sides using maps for propaganda and strategic purposes.

via The Kyiv Independent|

#front-line #information-warfare #mapping

world10 months ago•27 min saved

Russia's Military Strategies and U.S. Pressure in Ukraine Conflict (Oct 15-16, 2025)

Russian and US leaders discussed potential peace efforts in Ukraine, while Russia continues its military operations, including drone strikes and information campaigns to influence European and global perceptions, with Ukraine receiving increased military support from Western allies.

via Institute for the Study of War|

#information-warfare #putin-trump-talks #russia-ukraine-conflict

world11 months ago•19 min saved

Ukraine Denies Russian Summer Offensive Successes Amid Heavy Losses

The Kremlin is intensifying a multi-pronged information campaign to deter Western support for Ukraine and undermine European peace efforts, amid slow Russian territorial gains and high casualties. Russian officials and milbloggers are exaggerating battlefield successes and issuing threats, while Ukraine continues military operations in various sectors, including drone strikes in Crimea and offensive actions near Novopavlivka and Toretsk. The conflict remains complex with ongoing military and informational battles, and significant Russian military casualties reported.

via Institute for the Study of War|

#information-warfare #military-operations #russia

international-relations2 years ago•3 min saved

"Putin's Nuclear Threats: A Dangerous Game of Political Influence"

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a new nuclear threat against the West, with experts suggesting that his recent saber-rattling may be aimed at swaying American voters against supporting Ukraine. Putin's warnings come amid ongoing assistance for Ukraine from the US, with experts speculating that he is attempting to create conditions that would lead to a reduction in US aid to the country. While military professionals and international relations experts remain skeptical of Putin's threats, there are concerns that the average American voter may be influenced by his nuclear rhetoric, potentially impacting US support for Ukraine.

via Yahoo News|

#american-voters #information-warfare #international-relations

disinformation2 years ago•3 min saved

"Russia's Covert Campaign: Exploiting Celebrities on Cameo to Discredit Ukraine's Leader"

Russia has been covertly purchasing personalized video messages from US celebrities on the Cameo app and manipulating them to make it seem like the celebrities are disparaging Ukraine's leader, Volodymyr Zelensky. Celebrities such as Elijah Wood, Mike Tyson, John McGinley, and Kate Flannery have had their videos repurposed to falsely denigrate Zelensky. The manipulated videos were then spread through Russian social media and featured by government-controlled news organizations. The Kremlin's use of fake celebrity cameos is a new weapon in its information war with the West.

via Boing Boing|

#celebrities #disinformation #information-warfare

technology2 years ago•5 min saved

Russian Disinformation Campaign Exploits Celebrities in Cyber Attacks

Russian actors have manipulated Cameo videos featuring celebrities like Elijah Wood and Mike Tyson to appear as if they are criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to Microsoft research. The altered videos were shared on social media and reported on by Russian government-owned or controlled outlets. The videos often show the celebrities talking to "Vladimir" and suggesting he seek help for substance abuse, but are edited to make it seem like they are addressing Zelensky. This tactic is part of Russia's evolving disinformation efforts, which now include using popular video platforms. Cameo has stated that such videos violate their community guidelines and will be removed.

via WIRED|

#cameo-videos #celebrities #information-warfare

disinformation2 years ago•5 min saved

"Russian Disinformation Campaigns Target American Celebrities for Manipulation"

Russia has employed a new tactic in its information war with the West by using fake celebrity cameos in social media posts and Russian news coverage critical of Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky. Celebrities such as Elijah Wood, Mike Tyson, and others were unknowingly featured in videos that falsely accused Zelensky of having substance abuse problems. The videos, repurposed from the Cameo app, were part of Russia's efforts to denigrate Zelensky and build support for the war at home while stoking opposition abroad. This campaign, along with another involving posts on Facebook and X, highlights Russia's adaptability and persistence in justifying its actions in Ukraine.

via The New York Times|

#celebrities #disinformation #information-warfare

international-politics2 years ago•11 min saved

Percepto's Battle Against Russian Disinformation in French-Speaking Africa

Israeli company Percepto International, specializing in disinformation-for-hire, discovered a wide-ranging Russian disinformation campaign aimed at destabilizing Burkina Faso and other democratically-elected governments in the Sahel region of Africa. Pro-Russian fake news sites, social media groups, and influencers were used to spread propaganda and undermine Western influence. The campaign has resulted in the toppling of governments in five former French colonies, with new leaders in Mali and Burkina Faso being overtly pro-Russian. French troops have been replaced with Russian mercenaries in Mali and the Central African Republic. The case highlights the growing business of disinformation-for-hire and the challenges faced by Western governments in countering such campaigns.

via The Washington Post|

#burkina-faso #disinformation #information-warfare