Ukrainian Lessons
Speaker(s): Pomerantsev, P. (Senior Fellow, Johns Hopkins University); Butusov, Y. (Chief Editor, Censor.NET); Rybak, V. (Analyst & Project Coordinator, Internews Ukraine); Makaruk, M. (Speaker of the International Volunteer Intelligence Community, InformNapalm)
Date: 14 July 2022
Speaker Session Summary
SMA hosted a speaker session with Mr. Peter Pomerantsev (Senior Fellow, Johns Hopkins University), Mr. Yuriy Butusov (Chief Editor, Censor.NET), Mr. Vitalii Rybak (Analyst & Project Coordinator, Internews Ukraine), and Mr. Mykhailo Makaruk (Speaker of the International Volunteer Intelligence Community, InformNapalm) as part of its SMA EUCOM Speaker Series.
Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine was preceded by nearly a decade of Russian propaganda, claiming that Ukraine is Russian and that Ukraine is run by Nazis, and overall, perpetuating the dehumanization of Ukrainians. Journalists—especially Ukraine’s war-time journalists—are playing a crucial role in combating these Russian narratives and setting the groundwork for future legal trials relating to war crimes and sanctions. Disproving propaganda deeming Ukraine as a failed state and Russian territory is important for stopping Russia’s ability to define reality. Currently, the Kremlin believes that it can make claims that seem ridiculous to many Westerners but are widely believed in other areas of the world, Mr. Pomerantsev commented. It is important to note that these narratives have been used since 2015 and enabled Russia’s quick and complete annexation of Crimea as well. Mr. Rybak added that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could not have happened at such a massive scale if it were not for its aggressive and enduring propaganda campaigns.
These ongoing narratives include Russian justification of attacks on civilian targets, claiming they were military installations, Mr. Makaruk stated. Moreover, following Russia’s invasion, the jobs of journalists in Ukraine have changed. Mr. Butusov commented that journalists no longer only describe what is occurring around them, but they are now becoming active participants in the war. Ukraine also does not currently have a formal policy relating to wartime journalism, creating the need for the protection of journalists to be institutionalized as more are killed. Furthermore, how journalists capture information and evidence has important implications for future legal trials. Mr. Makaruk argued that journalists from Western countries did not cover enough of the hardships faced by displaced Ukrainian citizens in Europe, including the assault by pro-Russian groups that these groups experienced. The presenters argued that while more weapons from Western countries will help Ukraine fight a conventional war, more wartime journalists, better training for wartime journalists, and further cooperation with allies and partners will help disprove Russian propaganda. The presenters emphasized that targeting pro-Russian audiences both globally and in Russia is also paramount to undermining Russia’s false narratives.
Speaker Session Recording
For access to the recording of the session, please email Ms. Nicole Omundson (nomundson@nsiteam.com).
Natalie Gryvnyak
Natalie Gryvnyak is an experienced journalist and media producer in Ukraine, contributing to top international media such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and others. She is the founder of InFeatures Story Production, which creates multimedia content and promotes topics related to Ukraine and Eastern Europe for international audiences. Gryvnyak has created and produced numerous multimedia projects, media trainings, and documentaries, and has organized a network of media and communication professionals throughout Ukraine and Eastern Europe. Her initiative researches feature stories about the region, prepares news analysis and safety consultations, and works on topics related to new media, disinformation, and diverse storytelling formats. She is also a member of the international community of digital specialists, Digital Communication Network, and a consultant for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). She has over 16 years of experience in communications, business management, and journalism.
Peter Pomerantsev
Peter Pomerantsev is the award-winning author of Nothing is True and Everything is Possible: Adventures in Modern Russia and This is Not Propaganda: Adventures in the War Against Reality. He is a Senior Fellow at Johns Hopkins University, where he directs the Arena Program, a research initiative exploring contemporary propaganda and strategies to counter it. He has testified on the subject of information warfare before the U.S. Senate, Congress, and the UK Parliament, and he served as a Specialist Advisor to the UK Parliamentary Committee on Disinformation.
Yuriy Yevhenovych Butusov
Yuriy Yevhenovych Butusov is a Ukrainian journalist and the chief editor and creator of Censor.NET, the most popular Ukrainian news and socio-political Internet portal. He is also a columnist for the Dzerkalo Tyzhnia newspaper and reports from the front line. Butusov covers incisive social issues, conducts journalistic investigations, and has exposed numerous cases of corruption and crimes committed by members of the power elite. He currently reports on the war in Ukraine, including Russia’s aggression and military operations in Donbas.
Stas Kozljuk
Stas Kozljuk is a reporter and photojournalist working on the front line for Tyzhden magazine (Ukraine). He is also a member of the expert council at the Institute of Mass Information (IMI).
Vitalii Rybak
Vitalii Rybak is the chief analyst at Internews Ukraine and leads the organization’s efforts to counter disinformation. He works on projects funded by the European Union, USAID, and the International Renaissance Foundation. Previously, he wrote for The Ukrainian Week, one of Ukraine’s largest and most influential weekly magazines. Rybak holds a master’s degree in German and European Studies from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena.
Mykhalio Makaruk
Mykhalio Makaruk is a speaker for the InformNapalm volunteer initiative, which was founded in response to Russian aggression in Ukraine in March 2014. InformNapalm was started by journalist Roman Burko (Ukraine) and military expert Irakli Komaxidze (Georgia). Today, it unites the efforts of more than 30 volunteers from over 10 countries.
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