Temporary occupation of Crimea and the attempt to implement the “Russian spring” project: the role of destructive information influences

The article defines the content and nature of destructive influences in the information space during the temporary occupation of Crimea and the attempt to implement the “Russian spring” project in 2014. It outlines the methods of forming pro-Russian sentiments in Ukraine based on the ideological framework of the “Russian world” and identifies the population groups most vulnerable to destructive informational influences. The role of destructive informational influences in preparing and implementing the aggressive plans of the Russian Federation against Ukraine is highlighted. The purpose of the study is to characterize the destructive informational influences of the Russian Federation against Ukraine in 2014 during the temporary occupation of Crimea and the attempt to implement the “Russian spring” project. The scientific novelty lies in outlining, for the first time, the means of destructive informational influence by the Russian Federation at the onset of the modern Russian-Ukrainian war and identifying countermeasures, considering the conditions of information dissemination in Ukraine and the level of media literacy among its population. Conclusions. The author establishes that the ideological basis of destructive informational influences at the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war was the concept of the “Russian world,” which implied loyalty primarily to the leadership of the Russian Federation and the policies it pursued. It is highlighted that the population groups most vulnerable to hostile informational influences were older generations, whose socialization occurred primarily during the Soviet era. One of the outcomes of the information war against Ukraine was the temporary occupation of Crimea, which occurred with extremely limited armed resistance from Ukraine. The informational support for the “Russian Spring” relied on “socio-economic,” “political,” and “military” destructive components. However, the means of information warfare failed to ensure the implementation of the “Russian spring” project, which aimed at bringing southern and eastern Ukraine under the control of the aggressor. It was found that the value orientations of Ukrainian citizens became a significant obstacle to the realization of the enemy’s aggressive plans, which led to the use of regular army units to expand the zone of temporary occupation.