Ukraine’s intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budan, has issued a stark warning about an escalating Russian disinformation campaign in the context of the upcoming Zapad-2025 military exercises. These simulations, which will be held in late September, aim to test the coordination between Russian military units and are expected to involve thousands of troops and advanced weaponry. Budanov emphasized that the exercises will be accompanied by a coordinated information warfare strategy, designed to challenge the narratives of Ukraine and its allies.
“Russia is preparing a major disinformation operation to influence public opinion and create confusion around the drills,” Budanov explained in a recent statement. He highlighted that the cognitive influence tactics will likely include the spread of false information, deepfake technologies, and the manipulation of social media platforms to sow discord. “We are seeing an increase in the sophistication of these operations, and it’s crucial that our information infrastructure remains resilient,” he added.
The intelligence chief’s warning follows a series of recent reports about the growing influence of Russian state media and internet trolls in shaping public discourse both within Ukraine and among European allies. Analysts suggest that the disinformation campaign will be closely monitored by NATO and EU officials, who are concerned about the potential for misinformation to undermine the credibility of military operations and political narratives. The situation is seen as a critical test of information resilience in the region, with implications for the broader conflict in Eastern Europe.