STRATCOMCOE reports on Russian influence operations

The Rīga-based NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence (STRATCOMCOE) has a new report out on the subject of Russian information influence operations, produced in collaboration with the Ukrainian Centre for Strategic Communications.

According to STRATCOMCOE's own description:

"This report examines Russian Information Influence Operations targeting audiences in Ukraine and neighbouring regions, including Ukrainian civilians and defence forces, civilians in nearby states, and European pro-Kremlin groups. The analysis draws primarily on data from the Ukrainian Centre for Strategic Communications (CSC), complemented by recent government and civil society reporting.

"The aim is to test and refine the Information Influence Attribution Framework (IIAF) by applying it to real-world Russian campaigns, in a context where EU sanctions on Russian state media, the Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) policy framework, and the Digital Services Act (DSA) are raising evidential standards for attribution. As Information Influence Operations increasingly involve both governmental and civil-society actors, the report focuses on clarifying practical evidential thresholds and confidence levels that can withstand prospective legal and regulatory scrutiny," says STRATCOMCOE.

In the foreword, two of the authors, Ben Heap and Mykola Balaban emphasise the practical potential of the research saying:

"Attribution here is not only about identifying responsible parties; it seeks to empower Ukraine and its partners to challenge hostile narratives, expose sources of manipulation, and undermine adversary legitimacy. By assembling robust evidence, decision-makers can hold malign actors accountable and justify proportional responses, ranging from public exposure to legal and diplomatic action."  

The report is available for free download or to read online here.