In addition to armed conflicts, the communication war between Ukraine and Russia is not weakening. franceinfo met a Ukrainian soldier in charge of broadcasting propaganda videos.
In Ukraine, a few days before the anniversary date of the Russian invasion, several battles are raging, those on the front, those also of communication. The two camps are in fact clashing with propaganda videos published on social networks. In the Donbass, a few kilometers from Bakhmout, franceinfo met a female Ukrainian army officer in charge of communications for an infantry battalion.
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Receiving us in this small house requisitioned by the soldiers a few kilometers from the front, Mariana, 28, apologizes. “I’m not wearing makeup”, she says. With her two little dogs that she hugs lovingly against her, one might think that Mariana has no place in this world of violence and death. Error. “I’ll show you the Telegram channel where we broadcast the videos, you’ll see”she says.
Propaganda videos
Mariana’s mission is to edit and broadcast on social networks videos shot on the front line by soldiers. “I want to highlight the work of our brigade and show that it is difficult for soldiers to fight with archaic Soviet armaments. We want to show that our response would be stronger with Western weapons.”
These propaganda videos are intended for foreign countries, even if it is mainly Ukrainians who consult them. “Look here, it’s the work of the artillery on the Russian positions. They are being targeted. Look, there are dead Russians everywhere”she describes.
“The most liked videos are those where we see the Russians killed instantly by shells. For example, the one where four Russian soldiers carry away a wounded man and crawl like rats.”
Mariana, communication officer in a Ukrainian battalionat franceinfo
These little films that flood social networks and make Mariana smile are also published for Russian soldiers, the aim being to demoralize them. In addition to videos, other messages are sent to Russians. “Today, for example, an artillery division must send them shells which, when they explode, scatter messages”, Mariana adds. These letters are sent “with instructions and phone numbers to explain how to get there”. “Sometimes it’s a drone that throws these letters, she details. You press a button and you see all these letters flying in the wind. “Above it is written that they can surrender, that we will welcome them in captivity according to the rules of the Geneva Convention.” Mariana assures that it works. Several Russian soldiers surrendered, she said, after receiving the letters.