INFORMATION WARS AS A TOOL OF HYBRID AGGRESSION: THE UKRAINIAN EXPERIENCE

The article analyzes information wars as a tool of hybrid aggression, using Ukraine’s experience as a case study. The research focuses on identifying the main methods and means of conducting information warfare employed by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, analyzing the impact of information attacks on public consciousness and national security, and determining effective strategies to counter disinformation and propaganda. The methodological framework of the study is based on theories of information security, communication, and hybrid warfare. A multidisciplinary approach is applied, combining philosophical, political, sociological, and analytical methods. Systematic analysis is used to identify the structure of information aggression, comparative analysis to evaluate Ukraine’s experience, and content and discourse analysis to study propaganda narratives. This approach allows for a comprehensive examination of the mechanisms of information warfare, its impact on society, and strategies for resistance. The article examines the phenomenon of information warfare as a component of the Russian Federation’s hybrid aggression against Ukraine. Special attention is given to the strategic use of manipulative technologies aimed at undermining national unity, discrediting state institutions, and demoralizing the population. The impact of disinformation on public consciousness and its consequences for Ukrainian society in wartime conditions are analyzed. The study explores the mechanisms of spreading anti-Ukrainian propaganda, which employs simulacra and distorted realities to influence the international community. The necessity of societal consolidation, the development of critical thinking, and the formation of an effective state strategy to counter information threats are emphasized. The conclusions of the article may be useful for shaping national information security policies and international initiatives to counter hybrid threats.