D3.3 I Case Study: Anti-European disinformation in Ukraine during the Euromaidan period and the full-scale war of Russia against Ukraine

Case Study: Anti-European disinformation in Ukraine during the Euromaidan period and the full-scale war of Russia against Ukraine

The GEO-POWER-EU project has published a case study examining anti-European disinformation in Ukraine during the Euromaidan period (2013–2014) and Russia’s full-scale invasion (2022–2024).

Using media analysis, public opinion data, and academic research, the case study traces how anti-European disinformation adapted to changes in Ukraine’s media landscape, shifting from television-centred, state-aligned messaging to decentralised, emotionally framed content circulating via Telegram, YouTube, TikTok, and other digital platforms. These narratives sought to undermine trust in European integration, portray the EU as exploitative or unreliable, and exploit regional, generational, and wartime vulnerabilities.

The findings highlight Ukraine’s increased resilience to disinformation following 2014, driven by institutional reforms, the growth of fact-checking initiatives, and significant advances in media literacy. At the same time, the study underscores ongoing challenges linked to unregulated digital platforms and anonymous information channels, pointing to the need for sustained national and EU-level efforts to strengthen strategic communication, support independent media, and reinforce societal information resilience.

📥 Download the full case study (PDF).

*Featured image: REUTERS