Panel discussion “Russian policy and Donbas. War, disinformation and the West’s indifference” in Munich Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation
On 11 September, in Munich, the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center held a panel discussion on Russian disinformation in the West. The speakers discussed why the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2014 was called the “forgotten war” and how successful Russian disinformation campaigns were in Germany.
The event was held in cooperation with USCC partners in Germany – Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit, Thomas Dehler Stiftung and Ukrainischer Verein Augsburg e.V.
Discussion speakers:
Kateryna Matey, representative of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre in Germany;
Till Mayer, a journalist and photographer who has been documenting the war in the East of Ukraine since 2017.
The discussion was moderated by Konstantin Groth, PhD in History, Programme Officer at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom and the Thomas Dehler Foundation.
Since the occupation of the eastern part of Ukraine – Donetsk and Luhansk regions – in 2014, Russians have constantly tried to create the image of oppressed “separatists” in the temporarily occupied territories, who are being oppressed and robbed (the narrative of “Donbas feeding the whole of Ukraine”) by their own country. In reality, the top of the occupation government was taken over by the Russian military, and their troops were the first Russian troops on the territory of Ukraine.
Equally large-scale disinformation campaigns were aimed at “shifting” responsibility for the crimes committed to the Ukrainian side, such as the tragedy of the downing of the MH17 passenger plane (the crash claimed the lives of 298 people). This practice is typical for Russia, as evidenced, in particular, by the situation after the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station (USCC analysts have described in more detail the Russian disinformation campaign after the hydroelectric power station disaster).
Speakers of the panel discussion “Russian Politics and Donbas. War, disinformation and the West’s indifference”. Photo – USCC
Since 2014, Russian propaganda about often staged events has been massively spreading in European countries and taking root in the minds of local residents, preparing the ground for “accepting the occupation” of Ukrainian lands.
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, when many countries hosted Ukrainian refugees, the Russian network intensified its activities. The goal remains the same: to destabilize Western society.
Kateryna Matey is a representative of the USCC in Germany, an expert on Russian disinformation, deputy head of the NGO Ukrainischer Verein Augsburg e.V.
“Inaction in response to outright crimes can be costly for Western countries. Long before a full-scale invasion, Russia has already infiltrated European countries and is waiting for the right moment to strike. The hybrid war in the West is already underway,” said Kateryna Matey, USCC representative in Germany.
Russia’s political influence has translated into the promotion and funding of far-left and far-right organisations and parties in the West. In Germany, this is illustrated by the AfD party, which has been spreading pro-Russian narratives about the war in Ukraine among its electorate. For many years, party representatives have been regularly appearing on Russian channels in Germany and filming reports from the occupied territories of Ukraine, trips to which were generously funded by Russia.
Speakers of the panel discussion “Russian Politics and Donbas. War, disinformation and the West’s indifference”. Photo – USCC
Till Mayer, a journalist and photographer who has been documenting the war in the East of Ukraine since 2017.
“The war, both hybrid and armed, might not have started overnight if all civil societies had not been affected by constant Russian influence. It might not have come to war if the West had said in advance that if you invade Ukraine, they will immediately get everything they need, planes, weapons, to repel this invasion. Many people saw and said that this would happen, but for some reason no one listened and no one acted,” comments Till Mayer, a German journalist and photographer.
While Ukrainians are fighting on the frontline, the task of Western leaders is to protect their countries from Russia’s hybrid weapons by rooting out its agents of influence. To do this, every Russian agent in the West must become the object of public attention, political, media and public pressure.
We would like to express our gratitude to the partners of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center: Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit, Thomas Dehler Stiftung and Ukrainischer Verein Augsburg e.V. for their support of the event and participation in the Ukrainian struggle.