The Digital Frontline: The Psychological War in Ukraine and How It Was Fought (February – August 2022)

Within minutes of the invasion of Ukraine by the soldiers of Russia, a digital front emerged. The Western digital ecosystem mobilized to support communications infrastructure, the safety of displaced people, and the management of state-sponsored propaganda. The response was industry-wide, involving synchronized actions by YouTube, TikTok, X (Twitter), Meta (Facebook), and Snapchat in coordination with government intelligence in Ukraine and other nations. Simultaneously, Russia and their allies engaged in attacks on digital infrastructure and psychological war on the Ukrainian people that was equally well planned and executed via “false flag” narratives to create confusion, hopelessness, and fear. Meanwhile tech companies maintained safe infrastructure for communication, worked to dispel and block propaganda directed internally at Ukraine and Western nations, facilitated community and familial communication, protected identities, “pre-bunked” propaganda, facilitated housing and safe travel for forcibly displaced persons. In this chapter we outline the strategy and counter strategy on what came to be known as the Digital Front. We will discuss key actions including propaganda targeted at the internally displaced and Western policy-makers. Additionally, we will discuss the strategy and coordination to support psychological safety of a wide range of groups including forcibly displaced persons, soldiers, first responders, and parents along with their children. Much of this book chapter relies on threat intelligence reports, government press releases, and platform communications during the period spanning the outbreak of the war.