The international press as a tool of hybrid warfare in the russia-ukraine conflicto

Talya İşcan

SAP Netnography, 2026

Abstract: The role of the international press as an instrument of hybrid warfare is addressed in the context of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with an emphasis on the coverage by CNN and Russia Today (RT) during the escalation of the confrontation in the Donbas between 2022 and 2023. Based on the theoretical frameworks of framing, agenda setting, and propaganda, we examine how both media outlets construct narratives aligned with the geopolitical interests of their respective states. While CNN privileges democratic values and consolidates a narrative centered on Russian aggression, RT orients its coverage toward legitimizing Moscow's intervention and criticizing the West. Information is configured as a central strategic dimension of contemporary conflicts, where media coverage operates as symbolic devices designed to shape perceptions, justify military actions, and polarize audiences. The analysis incorporates comparative references to the cases of Syria, Korea, and Latin America, as well as the role of opinion makers and social media, problematizing the transformation of journalism into a tool of geopolitical confrontation and its implications for media ethics and international stability.

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cwf:netart:net2026291

DOI: 10.62486/net2026291

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