Enemy PSYOP: recognizing and countering information threats

In the era of digital technologies, information has become not only more accessible but also a powerful weapon. Fakes and manipulations have always existed, but modern tools enable their large-scale production, turning the information environment into a security threat.

The adversary deploys a full arsenal of communication technologies to shape the minds of both civilians and military personnel. These manipulative techniques are collectively referred to as PSYOP (Psychological Operations), which pose a significant threat to national security.

The Ministry of Defence explains the nature of PSYOP, their dissemination mechanisms, the adversary’s main narratives, and methods to defend against information attacks, helping to preserve critical thinking amid information warfare.

What is PSYOP?

PSYOP is the deliberate manipulation of information to influence the thoughts, emotions, feelings, and behaviors of a targeted audience. Unlike ordinary fakes, information and psychological operations are carefully planned campaigns with clear objectives, implementation phases, and expected outcomes.

The primary goal of enemy PSYOP is to incite panic, sow fear, undermine trust in government institutions, and influence citizens to make decisions favorable to the adversary. Information has effectively become a full-fledged component of hybrid warfare.

For example, during active combat operations, personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine frequently received provocative SMS messages such as: “Ukrainian soldier! Turn your tanks toward Kyiv before Kyiv destroys you!” 

At the same time, the enemy was launching social media campaigns alleging mass surrenders of Ukrainian units. The consequences of such operations can be devastating, ranging from causing panic among civilians to undermining the morale of military personnel.

What channels are used to disseminate PSYOP?

The effectiveness of PSYOP often stems from a comprehensive approach to disseminating manipulative messages. The adversary uses various communication channels to create the illusion of broad support and credibility for a particular idea or message.

Information may be disseminated simultaneously through:

• Television and official news portals;
• Social media and messaging apps;
• SMS messages to mobile phones;
• Audio broadcasts via loudspeaker systems;
• Comments from pseudo-experts and falsified documents.

PSYOP methods are constantly evolving. Among the latest tools is deepfake technology, which allows for the creation of highly realistic videos where a person’s face and voice are superimposed onto someone else. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, fake videos featuring Ukraine’s top leadership received millions of views before being identified as false by fact-checkers.

Special attention should be given to the families of service members, who may be in a vulnerable emotional state due to ongoing worry for their loved ones. Due to fear, they might unintentionally disseminate PSYOP messages or disclose sensitive information.

Why has the Internet emerged as the primary battleground for PSYOP?

The Internet environment creates ideal conditions for conducting information operations for several reasons. First, information spreads almost instantly online, enabling maximum reach in a minimal amount of time. Second, anonymity provides a safe space for manipulators, making it easy to create networks of fake accounts that appear credible. 

Social media algorithms also play a significant role by amplifying attention-grabbing content. Emotionally charged messages that elicit strong user responses rapidly rise to the top of news feeds, reaching a broad audience.

The vulnerability of digital systems is also a concern. By hacking reputable accounts or websites, the adversary gains the ability to spread disinformation through sources that users typically trust. 

Artificial intelligence has significantly simplified the creation of fake content. Contemporary neural networks generate texts, images, and videos that are increasingly difficult to distinguish from authentic ones. This technological revolution has made disinformation tools both more accessible and more effective.

How to identify enemy PSYOP?

Recognizing an information and psychological operation is challenging, as the enemy skillfully employs fakes and emotional triggers. However, analyzing common narratives can help uncover manipulation.

Messages targeting civilians often focus on the following:

• Narratives about imminent large-scale enemy offensives are spread to create panic;
• Narratives about catastrophic losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, aimed at creating a sense of inevitable defeat;
• Narratives of Ukrainian forces retreating from key positions is used to undermine patriotism, especially in temporarily occupied territories with limited access to information;

PSYOPs targeting military personnel focus on undermining motivation and morale through narratives such as:

• Untrustworthy or betraying command;
• Service conditions show no improvement;
• Futility of fighting.

A simple way to identify such PSYOP operations is to analyze your own emotional reaction to the information. If a message evokes strong negative emotions, ask yourself two key questions: What specific emotion is this message intended to evoke, and who benefits from such feelings?

How to protect against PSYOP?

The primary tool for countering PSYOP is critical thinking. When encountering emotionally charged information, consider the following:

1. Pause before reacting—emotional decisions are rarely well-considered;
2. Check the reputation of the information source and its authors.
3. Assess the relevance of the news and whether outdated context is being applied to new circumstances.
4. Identify the original source—absence of a clear source or anonymity should raise concerns.
5. Verify facts through command, official communication channels, or reliable sources.

To verify photo content, services like Google Reverse Image Search or TinEye can help trace the original source of images. For videos, the inVID browser extension can be used to verify authenticity.

What actions should be taken upon detecting a PSYOP?

A proper response to detected information operations helps prevent their further spread. The first and most important rule is to avoid engaging with manipulative content. Refrain from commenting, sharing, or even reacting negatively, as any interaction signals social media algorithms that the content is engaging, which helps it spread.

Instead, use the reporting tools available on most platforms to flag false content. Mass reporting speeds up moderators’ responses and can result in blocking the disinformation source.

Reports of systematic PSYOP operations can be sent to the Center for Countering Disinformation at the following email address: [email protected]. Be sure to include “PSYOP” in the subject line.

If a PSYOP targets you through personal messages, document evidence (screenshots, sender profiles) and inform your command or specialists from the communications department. On social media platforms, it is advisable to interact only with individuals you know personally and to keep your profile private if you are not engaged in public activities.

Remember that countering information operations is the responsibility of each and every one of us. Critical thinking, awareness of manipulation techniques, and trust in reliable information sources are key tools to disrupt the enemy’s plans to destabilize society.

Where to learn more about PSYOP?

To deepen your knowledge of countering PSYOP, we recommend taking the ‘Information Resilience’ course available in the Army+ app. The course lecturers examine real-life examples of information attacks and explain effective response strategies for complex information environments, including combat zones.