{
  "id": 16020303,
  "title": "The Kremlin Is Waging A War For Public Opinion In The West: How Russian Propaganda Works",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/the-kremlin-is-waging-a-war-for-public-opinion-in-the-west-how",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-22T08:42:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "UATV English",
    "slug": "uatv-english",
    "url": "https://uatv.ua/en/the-kremlin-is-waging-a-war-for-public-opinion-in-the-west-how-russian-propaganda-works/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Kremlin is engaging in a campaign to shape public opinion in Western countries through extensive propaganda efforts. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia's information attacks are becoming increasingly aggressive and could impact the security of Western nations. Russia allocates significant resources to propaganda, spending as much on it as it does on weapons to fight the war in Ukraine. The Russian government has long been engaged in hybrid warfare with Europe, including targeting Italy, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany.\n\nThrough television, the internet, and social media, Moscow aims to interfere in the domestic politics of various countries, sway public opinion, and influence citizens' choices. Russian propaganda has inundated media platforms, the internet, and social media, making it difficult for people to discern the truth. The Kremlin's main narratives include alleging President Zelenskyy's unwillingness to end the war, Kyiv's excessive financial demands on the EU, and alleged secret agreements between the US, Russia, and China. These narratives aim to shift responsibility for the war onto Ukraine and weaken support from European allies.\n\nIn response, European countries are implementing measures to counter Russian propaganda. They are blocking Russian TV channels, denying access to Russian segments of social media, and closing Russian diplomatic offices on EU territory. Additionally, there are efforts to work more actively with Russian society, including on its own soil. Nevertheless, blocking Russian content alone is not sufficient to counter the Kremlin's information operations effectively. For a comprehensive strategy, the West needs to shift from defensive measures to a more proactive approach that includes working with Russian society.",
  "summary": "Russia is waging a hybrid war against Europe and trying to influence political processes far beyond Ukraine's borders. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of this. In Kyiv, officials note that Moscow's information attacks are becoming increasingly large-scale, with consequences that could threaten the security of Western countries. UATV English reports on how the Kremlin is trying to influence…",
  "key_points": [
    "Kremlin waging war for public opinion in West through propaganda",
    "Russia spends as much on propaganda as weapons in Ukraine war",
    "European countries blocking Russian TV, social media, diplomatic offices"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Moscow’s massive investment in information warfare elevates propaganda to a strategic priority equal to military spending, forcing Western nations to reconsider their defensive measures against hybrid threats.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}