Psychological aspects ofhybrid war between Russia and Ukraine

By V. Kravchenko
The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine is a spanking newapproach to
conducting of such campaigns, the key role in which plays the psychological
treatment of the opponent. This factor is paid practically the highestextent of
attention by Kremlin planners just because a properly planned psychological
pressure action on the local population eliminates the need for openuse of force,
being limited only to not numerous and prepared in advance sabotageunits. The
use of brutal force of image diplomacy on the prepared geospace nowallows not
only pursing an active hidden intervention in the East of Ukraine inDonetsk
and Luhansk regions, but also alienating separate territories, includingCrimea,
for own good, thus changing the balance of power in the region in itsfavor.
Among the means of psychological impact it is necessary to distinguishthose
aimed at external recipient, at internal Russian audience and at
indigenous population of the areas where the military aggression is in progress.
Let usconsider some essential examples of the factors concerning the listed
groups.Informational component of war is scarcely the key mean of
psychologicalimpact directed to all three target groups. If for external, say
European orAmerican addressees, is composed the image of "legitimate" actions
of the RussianFederation in Ukraine, including the example of "reunification of
Crimea and thecity of Russian glory Sevastopol with Mother Russia", with
giving arguments ofKhrushchev era and of "injustice of joining the Crimea to
the Ukrainian SSR in1954 "(deliberately forgetting the facts that with the joining
of the Crimea to theUkrainian Soviet Socialist Republic the Ukrainian ethnic
territories such asBelgorod, Voronezh, Kursk, Bryansk and Rostov regions, were
ceded to theRSFSR), the same arguments are absolutely valid for the Russian
audience,stimulating the public opinion in the right direction for Kremlin.The
same state of affairs is with the creating of the image of illegitimacy ofUkrainian
government that came to power by means of the "military coup" (that iswhy the
Russian media inserted the phrase "Kiev junta" to its own vocabulary), butin
reality in result of peaceful struggle of the Ukrainian people against
thearbitrariness of Yanukovych's ruling family and oligarchic clans on
themaidans.This example is used for all three groups of recipients, and when
in the West and inRussia is mainly formed the image of fascists, exceptionally
out of therepresentatives of Ukrainian authorities, and, partly, Ukrainians, living
in WesternUkraine and "honoring Nazi collaborationist Bandera" (for Easterners

and otherresidents of Ukraine in Russia is portrayed the image of "brotherly

people") forinternal audiences of territories in which the aggression is shown,
such propaganda, under the influence of its own internal factors (the reaction to t
heevents of the Maidan in particular) established the symbolism of identification
ofUkrainian with followers of Bandera (nationalists), followers of Bandera with
theFascists. Accordingly, Ukrainians with open Ukrainian standpoint in such
areas asthe Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions were started to be badgered
and evenhunted for. Being Ukrainian in Eastern Ukraine is sometimes lifethreatening.An important diplomatic instrument that Kremlin is trying to use for
its ownadvantage - Tribune of UN Security Council, where Russia in June 2014
onceagain gained the right to vote. And at the same time, despite the harsh
criticism ofRussias policy by Western countries (which, in turn, is actively used
for internalRussian audience, reinforcing the image of the enemy from the West
countries andthe U.S.), the permanent representative of the Russian Federation,
beamingconfidence because of his own ability to veto any negative decision, is
using the practice of accusation of Ukraine and the Western countries of the
escalation of thesituation and creating a climate of tension. Sometimes absurd
blaming rhetoric inthe manner of "you are fool yourself" corresponds with
modern diplomatic style ofthe Kremlin, where lies and distortion of facts are the
norm, even for the highest-ranking politicians such as President or Prime
Minister. Indicative in this respect isrejecting the accusations of Russian military
presence in Crimea and easternUkraine from Putin himself in March-April 2014.
Well, it is necessary to adapt tosuch unpredictability, when the words of the first
person
of
the
state
should
neverbe taken for granted, where the former "KGB" school continues to control
anddirect both internal and external policies of the state.Regarding the internal
propaganda it should be noted that for Russians livingin Russia, are step by step
renewed the clichs of external threat from the Sovietera days. Together with the
old methods, new symbols are put into circulation,such as "polite people" - the
members of sabotage units, military intelligenceofficers and agents of the
Foreign Intelligence Service of Russia, who "defend theinterests of Russians and
restore the power and prestige of Russia in contrast to thedominance of
American influence in the former Soviet Union countries". Theimage of
Sevastopol,as "the Russian city of glory, was successfully used tolegitimize the
Crimea as an integral part of the Russian Federation. Currently isused the
symbolism of Slavyansk city name - the center of terrorism in the Donbas,where
"Slavic unity revolted against the fascist Kyiv junta". There are attempts inthe
media to create a halo of Russian city from Donetsk.These factors of internal
treatment of the population of Russia partiallyfunction in the territory of
Ukraine, where aggression is continuing. Informationalvacuum contributes to
this - firstly separatists cut off television and radio broadcasting of Ukrainian
channels in Donbas, replacing them with Russian ones.The ordinary citizen of
Donetsk, not too versed in the intricacies of the politicalgame, is daily hurled by

tons of propaganda, that one, which is received byRussians in their homes. And
when during the first month the body and mind canstill do the mechanical
resistance to this flow of lies and disinformation, then after6 months of such
practice of zombification the goal is fully achieved. That is whyUkraine has no
time for swinging the antiterrorist operation, just not to losementally those stillUkrainians, who remain in the Donbas. Finally, such anaggressive informational
campaign of Russian media, constant provocation withthe threat of immediate
evacuation, missile shelling preparing, the destructions,which as if are made by
Ukrainian army, etc. greatly affect the emotional andneural state of the
population. Simply speaking, people, except for fear, are in aconstant state of
stress and emotional exhaustion, depression. This condition causes psychosis when rumors that seem to be verified, are spread, and even aformal
contradiction cannot calm people. Of course, this is done intentionally
andfurther contributes to destabilization.The prevailing symbol, that has a
psychological impact on the population ofthe Donbas, is the idea of assistance to
"brotherly people", "Russian (Slavic) unity"closely intertwined with linguistic
identity. Russian-speaking Ukrainian is ratherRussian, or at least an agent of
Russian influence, in the opinion of the Kremlin.Accordingly, long-term use of
the
rhetoric
of
protecting
the
Russianspeaking population professed by Moscow, nostalgia for the Soviet past and gra
ndeur, issupported by the local population. Russian-speaking Ukrainian will not
shootRussian, brother would not shoot brother (and it sometimes is true, as
family tiesare really strong).Such rhetoric dictates the tactics of warfare, when
terrorists-militiamen directed by GRU officers, shielding by mothers and fathers,
assaultmilitary units, where their children are. The tactics when pro-Russian
armedgroups use children and women in the capacity of cover for military
actions isknown. As separatists now fully control life run in the areas where the
anti-terroristoperation is conducted, they are able to freely organize provocations
firing the positions of Ukrainian army with mortar and anti-aircraft locations,
installed just inthe yards of multistoried apartment complexes, where civilians
live. All the recentterrorist actions show their wish to organize a mass murder of
civilians; it isdesirable with the hands of the anti-terrorist operation forces, that
reflects thenature of the new dirty and hidden war of Russia.The relatively
inefficient, but generally used method is the use of thereligious component of an
informational campaign, including the creation ofDonbas "Russian Orthodox
army". This army of "true Orthodox believers" (in fact,the poorest layers of the
local population, lumpen, which have nothing but trust)who by the idea of
Kremlin have to fight with other Ukrainians, who are drawnnearly as Catholics
(as (Greek) Catholicism is widespread in Western Ukraine) butreally - with the
same Orthodox believers. A frank failure in this religious promo-campaign is the
use of Chechen, Dagestani and Ossetian mercenaries and militias the shock
group of the "Vostok" battalion (which, incidentally, is not considered asa
military unit of the DPR, and acts as though independently) - who are

Muslims by religion.In the same way not very effective, but also one of used
factorsof psychological pressure is appealing to local Donbas stock phrases, whi
ch wereformed over the years of the Soviet Union. The use of such slogans as:
"Donbasdoes not drive deadhead beat the drum or "Donbass settles everything"
by therepresentatives of DPR and the LPR, is intended only to assure themselves
of theforce of regional identity. Instead, the negative psychological state of
majority ofthe population of the region, as already mentioned, negates the effect
of the use oflisted phrases.To sum it up, it is desirable to touch upon the issue of
firmness of psychological treatment of population, particularly in the Donbas.
Unfortunately, itwill be impossible to cure regions shattered nerves
for a year or two, even in eventof success of the anti-terrorist operation. For
people who are used to the shots andexplosions, used to the constant presence of
near threat from a man with a weapon(the matter concerns the population of
Slavyansk,
Kramatorsk,
Krasny
Liman
in particular) it will
be extremely difficult to return to normal life. The processes in psychology
of inhabitants of the region, who are accustomed to stability (which inthe days
of Ukraine became the synonym of Donbas) is inevitable, andunderstanding of it
is additionally depressing. The very factor is the main cause ofconsiderable
exodus of people out of Donbas, like towards Russia (caused byhysterical calls
of Russian media) and to the other currently safer regions ofUkraine. There is no
doubt that Russia will further continue testing the nerves ofUkrainian for
steadiness. Yet Ukrainians still should find "skilled medicine"against
psychological terror of "brotherly Russians" instead.