On 28 July 2020, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of  Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine established the Lublin Triangle – the tripartite cooperation format based on the traditions and historical ties of the three countries. In 2021 the L3 countries signed a Roadmap setting the key directions of expanding the trilateral cooperation, including joint strategic activities to counteract hybrid threats and disinformation. Joint efforts in countering disinformation and strengthening resilience are among the key aims of the cooperation, guided by an agreed Joint Action Plan of the L3 countries to Combat Disinformation for 2022-2023.

On 6 December 2022, three non-governmental organisations from Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine, namely the Civic Resilience Initiative, Kościuszko Institute and Detector Media, presented in Brussels during the EU - Ukraine Forum on Countering Disinformation a joint in-depth report highlighting the challenges emanating from Russian disinformation and propaganda activities in the Lublin Triangle countries. This report is the embodiment of the direct and close cooperation between L3 partners.

Background

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on the 24th of February 2022 opened a new chapter for Russian propaganda and disinformation targeting Lublin Triangle countries. Ukraine is at the epicentre of Russian disinformation and propaganda that directly supports the events on the battlefield. Lithuania and Poland supporting Ukraine politically and militarily, are also under constant information attacks from the Kremlin. Despite that, all three countries are showing vital signs of resilience to Russian propaganda.

Key Findings

Thus, the Civic Resilience Initiative, Kosciuszko Institute and Detector Media have joined efforts to identify the challenges and building blocks of resilience to Russian disinformation in Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine.

To outline the best case practices in combating disinformation, first, they looked into the similarities and differences of the main narratives and messages targeting Lublin Triangle countries. Second, they explored the main sources of disinformation and its patterns. Third, they evaluated measures taken to combat disinformation.

Within the analysis, several goals of Russian propaganda and disinformation in the Lublin Triangle were identified:

●        targeting citizens’ beliefs in the future by spreading negative messages;

●        undermining trust within groups and between groups;

●        discrediting international cooperation and solidarity.

Russian propaganda and disinformation targeting Lublin triangle countries share a lot of similarities. However, resilience to it in all three countries is also based on common principles.

First, there is a clear understanding that Russian malign information activity threatens national security. Understanding, acknowledging and facilitating the threat work as a first shield to Russian propaganda. Moreover, bringing those responsible for propaganda and fake news to account sends a clear signal that no one has the right to exploit the freedom of speech, incite hatred, call for violence or spread genocidal rhetoric.

Second, a multi-dimensional approach when it comes to combating Russian propaganda and disinformation is highly practised within Lublin Triangle countries.

Third, multistakeholder perspectives. Lublin Triangle countries have outstanding cooperation practices between the state, business, media, and civil society.

Fourth, measurable indicators for evaluating whether the specific propaganda messages impact citizens' decision-making need to be addressed.

Recommendations

The report presented a number of recommendations addressed to all stakeholders, international organisations and donors, civil society, and media. These recommendations include:

●        Raising awareness, which is the cornerstone of resilience to Russian malign information campaigns;

●        Nominating a critical coordinating body responsible for strategic communication both in the country and abroad;

●        Developing or strengthening a comprehensive real-time monitoring system;

●        Engaging in practice and know-how sharing with other countries and partners that are highly exposed to Russian disinformation;

●        Encouraging international and multilateral political dialogue on uniting efforts to combat disinformation;

●        Implying a transparent and measurable evaluation system to track the effectiveness of the efforts to build resilience to disinformation.

The full report can be found here. 

About NGOs

The Civic Resilience Initiative (CRI) is a Lithuanian non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in 2018 in Vilnius, Lithuania, by a group of experts based all around Europe. CRI focuses its activities on increasing the resilience of Lithuanian and other societies of the region through the means of engaging education. This organization aims to increase resilience in security, media literacy, disinformation, cyber, civil and grass-root activities and empower civil societies to actively engage in educational activities.

The Kosciuszko Institute is a Polish non-governmental and non-profit think tank. Its mission is to act in the interest of the socio-economic development and security of Poland as a proactive member of the European Union and NATO. As a leader among Polish non-governmental organisations, the Kosciuszko Institute runs a range of national and international projects devoted to digitalisation and multifaceted aspects of cybersecurity and disinformation. The Kosciuszko Institute is the originator and organiser of the European Cybersecurity Forum – CYBERSEC, an annual conference dedicated to the strategic aspects of cyberspace. Throughout its projects and expertise in the EU regulatory landscape in technology governance and commitment to the strengthening of transatlantic cooperation, the Kosciuszko Institute is covering i.a., the subjects of disinformation, 5G deployment, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, Cloud Computing or Blockchain, as well as fostering growth of the Polish ICT market.

Detector Media is a Ukrainian civil society organisation that enhances resilience to disinformation, promotes media freedom and empowers quality journalism. For almost 20 years, the Detector Media team has been leading research and facilitating expert discussions and outreach activities in Ukraine's media field. Since 2013, Detector Media has focused on identifying and exposing Russian hostile information influence, particularly using all elements.

 

Łukasz Jasina
MFA Spokesperson