POLITICAL COMMUNICATION AND POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY PERSPECTIVES ON THE UKRAINE CRISIS: A FRAMING AND DISCOURSE ANALYSIS (2013-2025)

This study examines the political communication and political psychology dimensions of the Ukraine crisis during 2013-2025 through the perspectives of framing theory and discourse analysis. The crisis demonstrates that in a period of reshaping global power balances, interstate conflicts are conducted not only through military means but also through the control of information flows and manipulation of public perception. The research aims to reveal how Russia, Ukraine, and Western actors construct their political communication strategies through specific frames and discursive practices. The methodology encompasses content analysis of digital and traditional media materials, critical discourse analysis of leadership speeches and policy documents, and psychopolitical emotion-frame mapping of public responses. The central hypothesis posits that actors' discourses are systematically structured around security, legitimacy, and victimhood-based frames, which shape public perceptions through media and social media dissemination. Findings reveal that Russia transitioned from historical rights claims to security concerns; Ukraine shifted from independence emphasis to democracy discourse; while Western actors moved from international law-centered narratives to humanitarian framing. The study emphasizes the decisive role of political communication in shaping societal threat perceptions, emotions, and identity constructions, demonstrating the strategic importance of information superiority in modern conflicts. Consequently, discursive competition in the Ukraine crisis is identified as a central arena reflecting the structural transformation of international relations.