Information operations come to the fore
The West is creating information and propaganda structures whose activities are directly directed against our country. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke about this new threat during a recent business trip to the Central Military District. Why is such a high level of attention being paid to this new challenge to our security? What is the danger of the information war that the West is waging against us? Can this be prevented? To these questions, MK answered the editor-in-chief of National Defense magazine Igor Korotchenko.
Photo: mil. ru.
Shoigu raised the issue of the activities of information centers set up in the Baltic States and Poland and their anti-Russian activities during a meeting with engineers and workers of the Krasnoyarsk ballistic missile plant. “ Today, information has become a kind of weapon. A center for propaganda strategy was set up in Riga, and centers were set up in Tallinn and Warsaw. An information weapon is created there, which is introduced and distributed throughout our country. In particular, these centers spread many rumors; these structures are not based on the best “tastes”, the minister said.
He talked about the technology of work of such information centers. They study the information space with us, watch who writes what, select those who are more suitable for them with more ideological attitudes, and then invite them to study and pay scholarships. According to Shoig, graduates of such centers are “ stamped every quarter“.
Help MK
NATO's bloc leadership has created a special infrastructure for a subversive ideological war against Russia & ndash; centers of strategic propaganda in Poland and the Baltic States. They are entrusted with the tasks of constantly monitoring the socio-political and information situation in the Russian Federation, coordinating information operations in the area of responsibility, as well as finding and recruiting Russian citizens ready to carry out paid anti-state propaganda work on social networks and electronic media.
The West is expanding the network of such centers and increasing their funding. Why confront Russia with information war? Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine, a member of the public council of the Russian Ministry of Defense, is thinking about this.
– That's just one element of confrontation. The contribution is placed on all components: diplomatic, military-political, military pressure. However, information operations become extremely important in conditions where direct military methods are ineffective or full of resistance.
Information operations & mdash; it's a targeted shot & nbsp; with the expectation that both public consciousness and attitudes in the minds of individuals may be subject to change. As an element of hybrid warfare and due to the digital age, information operations are coming to the fore today.
In any case, it is a war that is already going on. If we say “ hot & # 39; & # 39; phase includes the use of tanks, missiles, troops, information operations & mdash; this is a war that is already waging. Infrastructure was created for this, specialists were trained and money was allocated. This is a war for the mind & nbsp; with regard to the impact on specific countries, social classes. In this respect, information operations are gaining colossal importance. That is why the West is paying such attention to this segment.
– Even according to the list of centers provided by Sergei Kuzhugetovich, we see that in the immediate vicinity of Russia, in the Baltic and Eastern European countries, there is a relatively efficient and well-developed infrastructure of influence and operations. creating & nbsp; including the destabilization of the socio-political situation in our country. Using social networks & mdash; it is also one of the elements of the activities of the Western information and cyber structures discussed by the Minister of Defense.
Reference MK
One of NATO's main subversive bodies to Russia is the Center for Excellence in Strategic Communications (StratCom), based in Riga, Latvia. The company was founded in 2015. StratCom deliberately acts against state institutions of the Russian Federation and the Russian media. The center produces about ten volumetric “ research & # 39; & # 39; anti-Russian materials. The institution employs 32 people from 12 European countries. By 2020, the organization's budget has grown to & nbsp; EUR 5 million.
– First of all, it is necessary to understand that this segment of the impact on us and our society needs to be defended. This means that & nbsp; Awareness of this threat is essential, including on the part of our citizens and military personnel. We need military and political training, education.
We must inform you that such work against us takes place 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This means that we must have the appropriate infrastructure to fight.
On the other hand, we must understand that yes, there may be situations where it is necessary to really block information only on Runet attacks on us and affect the population.
We have seen that these methods have been implemented in recent history, by the way. Let us remember, for example, the Second Karabakh War. Azerbaijan has proved its effectiveness in this regard. First, leading Armenian sites were attacked. This caused a degree of shock in Armenia in the first days of the outbreak of hostilities.
At the same time, Azerbaijan has introduced certain measures to tighten control over the flow of information that has become public property from the combat zone.
These are the right decisions. They have shown their effectiveness. They became part of Azerbaijan's victory in the Second Karabakh War.
We basically have to look at these things pragmatically. Of course, taking into account the Russian reality. I repeat, we must understand that under certain conditions, for example in an attempt to massively destabilize the situation in the country or influence the mind, attacks on the most important government agencies' websites, we may also have to resort to certain restrictive and supportive measures, protect the national Internet segment and perhaps i transition to runet work & nbsp; offline. We know that such protective measures are already being considered, and appropriate work is underway.
We also need to look at new forms and methods of impacting information and operations so that we can analyze, understand how to deal with it and really prepare for it.
MK Help
Another NATO strategic propaganda center against Russia is operating in Warsaw. It is the Central Psychological Action Group (Centralna Grupa Dzialan Psychologicznych) of the Polish Armed Forces, which is part of the Special Operations Forces. Tasks – information and psychological impact on soldiers and the enemy population in order to achieve political, military and propaganda goals.
– This suggests that the leadership of the Ministry of Defense understands the risks and threats that are relevant to our countries today. This is definitely the right orientation. Here we can recall the new strategy of national security, where great attention is also paid to the issues of information countermeasures and protection.
This means that the Russian leadership, analyzing ongoing processes, understands & nbsp; the importance and, to some extent, the dangers of these things. And the fact that we are focusing on this means that certain steps will be taken along the entire vertical of the system of state and military administration and will find out & nbsp; organizational and technical implementation.
Help MK
The NATO Center for Excellence in Cyber Defense (CCDCOE) was established in Tallinn, Estonia. It performs the tasks of technical support of information operations of Western structures against Russia.