Fake leads, defamation and destabilization: how online disinformation continues to impact Russia’s invasion of Ukraine/ Magdalene Karalis

This article looks back at Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine through the perspective of online disinformation in open-source spaces. The pre-invasion phase highlights the use of false videos and narratives to justify aggression and the role Open-source investigations play in debunking them. The tactics Russia employed in attempts to dehumanise Ukrainians and paint them as unsympathetic victims with a focus on leveraging the narratives of corruption and Nazism. The article also addresses the diversionary tactics employed by Russia to steer attention away from its presence in Ukraine, emphasising the exploitation of Western hypocrisy and polarisation. Finally, the growing role of AI in disinformation campaigns is discussed, stressing the need for policy development to counteract its misuse. Overall, this article emphasises the importance of updated, proactive and resilient policy to counter Russian disinformation, enhance the resilience of credible open-source investigations, and promote digital literacy.