STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION IN UKRAINE’S INFORMATION WARFARE

Abstract

Information has become a decisive strategic resource in modern international relations, transforming power competition and national security paradigms. Hybrid aggression launched by the Russian Federation against Ukraine since 2014 has demonstrated how manipulation of information seeks to undermine democratic governance, destroy national cohesion, and weaken support for international alliances. In this context, strategic communication has become a crucial instrument of democratic defence, ensuring the protection of information sovereignty, resilience of citizens, and effectiveness of crisis governance. This article examines the evolution of Ukraine’s strategic communication system during 2014– 2025, identifying transformations in institutional coordination, public messaging, media literacy initiatives, and international partnerships. Special attention is paid to the theoretical debate between «information warfare» and «public diplomacy», highlighting the risks of reducing communication to militarized messaging that treats audiences as targets rather than citizens. The findings demonstrate that Ukraine is shaping a new model of communication for democracies under attack: combining security measures with transparency, dialogue, and public engagement. The methodological basis of the study includes content analysis of official communication strategies, international reports, and academic discourse, supplemented by the examination of practical initiatives implemented during wartime. This approach allows for a comprehensive assessment of how strategic communication contributes to national resilience, counters disinformation, and builds trust in public institutions. The article also defines key challenges for the next stage of Ukraine’s recovery, including the need to balance operational secrecy with public accountability, to improve coordination among state and civil actors, and to integrate strategic communication into long-term democratic development. Ultimately, the research argues that Ukraine’s experience forms an important reference for strengthening strategic communications of states facing external aggression and hybrid threats.