The relevance of entertainment media format in war conditions: ukrainian experience and historical analogies

This article examines the phenomenon of the preservation and transformation of entertainment content in Ukrainian media during Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The study analyzes the functional role of entertainment formats in maintaining the psychological resilience of the population, forming national identity, and mobilizing society during wartime conditions. Historical parallels are drawn with the experiences of other countries during military conflicts, particularly Great Britain during World War II, Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s, and Israel’s approach to media during conflicts. The research is based on a content analysis of Ukrainian television programs, online platforms, and social networks for the period from 2022 to 2024. The methodology encompasses a comparative analysis of wartime entertainment content across various historical periods and cultural contexts, as well as interviews with media professionals, psychologists, and sociologists, alongside audience behavior analysis during the conflict period. The study reveals that entertainment content assumes specific wartime characteristics, blending traditional entertainment functions with patriotic, informational, and psychotherapeutic elements. Four key functions of entertainment media content during war have been identified: psychological (providing emotional relief and stress reduction), socially integrative (creating shared cultural space and maintaining national unity), mobilizational (incorporating patriotic elements and supporting military efforts), and information (delivering current information through entertainment formats for audiences avoiding traditional news). The research reveals that Ukrainian entertainment media demonstrate a unique approach to balancing informational needs with psychological health maintenance requirements. Unlike historical analogues, the Ukrainian war occurs in the digital media and social networks era, creating new opportunities for entertainment content distribution and interactivity. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Telegram have become primary channels for creating and disseminating entertainment content among youth. At the same time, memes have acquired special significance as a form of psychological defense mechanism. The study confirms that entertainment media content plays a crucial role in maintaining societal resilience during war, serving as an instrument for preserving national identity, providing economic support to the cultural sector, facilitating the psychological rehabilitation of the population, and enabling international communication. The effectiveness of their functioning depends on the ability to find an optimal balance between entertainment and socially significant functions while adapting to technological challenges and maintaining high-quality standards under extreme conditions. The practical significance of the research lies in the possibility of using the obtained results to develop media policy recommendations during crisis conditions and prepare the media industry for work in extreme situations. The findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of the role of entertainment media in society during armed conflicts and provide insights for media professionals, policymakers, and researchers studying wartime communication strategies. Keywords: entertainment content, media, television, content analysis, communications during wartime.