Explaining complex things in simple words: West's readiness for confrontation with Russia, RF and man-made disasters, Ukrainian media sphere

The Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security pursues efforts to provide a brief explanation to foreign audiences on the current topics of particular interest as regards Ukraine.

WEST'S READINESS FOR CONFRONTATION WITH RUSSIA

Russian dictator Putin threatens to strike countries that help Ukraine.

  • Putin's Russia is a hostile to the West state, seeking above all to destroy European and Euro-Atlantic unity and subjugate independent countries.
  • Aggression against Ukraine is not an exception to the rules, but one of the manifestations of Russia's broad attack on the democratic world. Putin will not be satisfied only with Ukraine, in the event of success.
  • The aggressor always disguises himself as a victim. And this time, the Kremlin declares that it is forced to ‘’answer for the weapons supply for Ukraine.’’ However, the root cause of hostility toward the West is not aid to Ukraine, but the inner essence of ruscism.
  • ‘’Russia's victory will cost the West more than the current support for Ukraine’’ – said Boris Pistorius, German Defence Minister. The aggressor can be pacified, but peace cannot be bargained from him.
  • For now, the Kremlin's nuclear blackmail is a bluff. But the threat of the Russian Federation preparing for war with the West in a few years should be taken seriously. You should not entertain yourself with illusions – the threat will not disappear if you ignore it.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND MAN- MADE DISASTERS

On June 6, it will be one year since the Russians blew up the Kakhovka HPP dam, destroying the power plant, and reservoir, and flooding the settlements of the Kherson region.

  • The undermining of the Kakhovka HPP dam on June 6, 2023, was a deliberately committed war crime by Moscow, which led to a humanitarian and environmental disaster, huge material losses and loss of life.
  • Man-made and humanitarian disasters are Russia's tactics in the war against Ukraine. Attacks on hydroelectric dams, power plants, residential buildings, nuclear, chemical and mining facilities, all these are carried out to turn Ukraine into an unliveable place.
  • Focusing on the destruction of Ukraine, Putin's government stopped caring about the safety of its own population: in Russia itself, cities freeze in winter, flood in spring, and fires rage in summer. Putinism is a dictatorship-disaster.
  • The Russian crisis threatens not only Ukrainians and Russians, the whole world suffers from it in one way or another, from the Global South – a hostage of the Kremlin's ‘’Hunger Games’’ – to Western countries against which the Russian Federation is waging a hybrid war.
  • Today, the Russian government, led by the usurper Putin, is inadequate and incapable of being a partner for negotiations and concluding long-term agreements.

UKRAINIAN MEDIA SPHERE

On June 6, the Journalist's Day is celebrated in Ukraine.

Ukrainian journalists are an active part of civil society and guardians of freedom of speech and democracy.

  • According to Reporters Without Borders, in 2024, Ukraine rose 18 positions in the world ranking of freedom of speech, getting 61 places among 180 countries. Despite the war, we are in a group of such countries as the United States, Poland, Italy, Bulgaria, and Japan.
  • Ukrainian journalism suffered great losses from Russian aggression. Since 2014, 83 media workers have died. Due to the destruction and occupation, more than 200 publications were closed. Talented journalists leave the profession, filling the ranks of the Defence Forces.
  • Despite this, Ukrainian journalists, often risking their own lives, reveal the truth about the war to the world. Ukrainian media are among the world leaders in fact-checking and countering propaganda and disinformation.
  • Ukrainian media have adapted to the conditions of war and voluntarily accept restrictions dictated by security considerations and defence interests. They have found and maintain a fine balance between independence and responsibilityю

Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security