Hybrid CoE Working Paper 13: The Kremlin’s messaging on Ukraine: Authorities and “media” hand in hand

The Russian military build-up along the Ukrainian borders is being accompanied by an information offensive. This Hybrid CoE Working Paper analyzes that offensive and its evolution in the second half of 2021. The paper looks at public statements by high-level representatives of the Russian government, considers whether there is an increase in Russian information activities targeting Ukraine, and analyzes the narratives of these information activities. According to the analysis, the messaging of the highest Kremlin representatives and of the Russian “media” seems to run in unison and there seems to be some level of organization in the current communication campaign.