Kremlin escalates information war against Ukraine, Europe – Center for Countering Disinformation

Sergey Kiriyenko, the First Deputy Chief of Staff in the Russian Presidential Administration, acts as the key coordinator for the future informational war.

The primary goal of these operations is to destabilize Europe, pushing it towards withdrawing support for Ukraine while backing politicians who challenge the nowadays EU structure and seek to change Europe’s course entirely.

“Euroskepticism serves as a foundation for dismantling European unity, creating conditions for Russia’s absorption and future annexation of the Baltic states, as well as lifting sanctions on Russia,” Kovalenko explained.

In Ukraine, Russian psyops will focus on sowing divisions between civilians and the military while inciting protests.

The operations are being carried out by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), the Main Intelligence (GRU), and the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR).

According to Kovalenko, the FSB is responsible for monitoring and “cleansing” Russia’s domestic information space, fabricating controlled opposition, and recruiting saboteurs inside Ukraine.

The GRU conducts influence operations in Europe through proxy groups, utilizing social media and online platforms to spread disinformation. Meanwhile, the SVR engages in diplomatic propaganda to push “alternative narratives,” recruit politicians, and spread false claims about terrorist threats, Ukrainian “terrorists,” and potential territorial divisions of Ukraine.

“An active information war will unfold between February and the summer of 2025, so keep your head cool,” Kovalenko warned.

On Feb. 21, Ukraine’s Military Intelligence (HUR) reported that Russian propagandists had been instructed to push “victory” narratives ahead of the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. According to HUR, the Kremlin aims to falsely declare its “triumph” over Ukraine and NATO by Feb. 24, 2025.