Treadstone 71 Analysis of the Study: Information Operations in the Russia-Ukraine War
Treadstone 71 recently reviewed the paper "Information Operations in the Russia-Ukraine War – 24 January 2023" by
Dr. Ahmed Daifullah Algarni, Vice President of the International Institute for Iranian Studies (Rasanah)
The title assumes a neutral position to the war when the war was clearly a Russian invasion of a sovereign nation. The title sets the stage for the rest of the paper.
The text attempts to create a comprehensive overview of information warfare tactics and objectives, mainly focused on Russia's actions in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war. The paper touches on various components of information warfare, including psychological operations, media manipulation, and disinformation campaigns.
Credibility Assessment
- Russian Involvement in Information Warfare: The text's claim that Russia has been deeply involved in information warfare for decades, returning to the Soviet era, is accurate. Russian tactics often include "reflexive control," aimed at influencing adversaries' decision-making processes.
- Enfeksiyon Operasyonu: The mention of Operation "Secondary Infektion" and the disinformation campaign during the Cold War surrounding HIV/AIDS being a bioweapon is historically verified and well-documented.
- Ongoing Info-War Campaigns: The text claims that between 2014 and 2018, Russia ran disinformation operations targeting Western countries, particularly Ukraine. The listing is consistent with reports from various intelligence agencies and cybersecurity firms.
- Objectives of Russian Information Warfare: The objectives listed, such as dampening Ukrainian morale and sowing discord among Western allies, are consistent with assessments from international analysts.