Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, has stated that the country’s main advantage in the ongoing information war is its unique internal “immunity to lies” and robust horizontal connections. He believes that consolidating the efforts of the government, media, experts, and the IT sector is crucial for creating a unified mechanism for developing protective tools and counteractions.
“We must not wait for threats but act proactively through clear operations in the media space,” Budanov emphasized, highlighting that public trust is the “most important currency” and the ability to withstand any informational turbulence is essential for the state, military, and media to function cohesively.
Context
- According to the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) under Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, the Kremlin plans to spend nearly 246 billion rubles ($2.93 billion) on television propaganda between 2026 and 2028. They noted that the media apparatus is a key tool for maintaining control, enabling Russian society to endure hardships and support the aggressive policies of President Vladimir Putin, which are damaging to Russia itself.
