Ukrainian special forces are planning so-called “false flag” operations. The United States is considering chemical weapons attacks in the Eastern European country. NATO is preparing to attack Russia during the upcoming Winter Olympics.
These are some of the narratives the Kremlin is trying to mount against the West. Russia is stepping up its disinformation game with false claims amid rising geopolitical tensions between Moscow and Western capitals, according to a review of state-backed media content over the past 10 days, published by POLITICO.
The campaign – spread through Moscow-backed media outlets such as RT, local state broadcasters and fake social media accounts in many Western languages – coincides with a large-scale military buildup along the Ukrainian border and increased Western military aid to support Kiev.
Moscow's aim, according to three Western national security officials and five outside disinformation researchers, is to use the wedge issues to drive a wedge between Western countries over their support for Ukraine; counter NATO claims against Moscow; and create credible denial over possible atrocities including the possible use of chemical weapons.
"Their moves are about undermining support for US internationalism", said Bret Schafer, head of the information manipulation team at the German Marshall Fund Alliance for Securing Democracy, regarding the Kremlin's disinformation tactics.
"Russian state media messages are more effective in thwarting the West's geopolitical goals than in dividing Western states," he added.
In recent weeks, Western governments have been particularly vocal about Russian tactics online. Two Western security officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss their governments’ domestic strategies, said the response was partly successful, as Moscow has been successful in swaying public opinion on geopolitical issues in the past.
The US State Department published a “cheat sheet” seeking to explain the Kremlin’s lies online, while also criticizing Moscow for its “disregard for the truth.” In the European Union, the so-called East Stratcom team within the European External Action Service, which is tasked with monitoring Russian propaganda online, highlighted the Kremlin’s tactics, although the 27-nation bloc is still divided over how hard to push back against Russia.
The Kremlin, on the other hand, has denied the criticism, claiming that Western governments and media are spreading misinformation about the situation in Ukraine and that it is Moscow, not Washington or Brussels, that is advocating for a peaceful solution.
(Full article at Politico)