Ukrainian Crisis

« First and foremost, the media, with its various means and pillars, plays an important role in the life of contemporary societies, as it has become the main source for transmitting news and information.

In the political field, especially in the field of foreign policy, as most researchers point out that the media may turn into a means in the hands of decision-makers in order to pass their messages in the field of foreign policy.

On the other hand, public opinion has become influential in foreign policy through its influence on the decision-maker, public opinion has become a significant force in the international arena, as one of the important factors affecting foreign policy through its influence on the state in the directions it adopts in its relations with countries, to become their role in arranging priorities adopted by the state at home and abroad.

The importance of the role played by the media and the extent of its impact on public opinion has increased significantly after the spread of digital media and social media, until it became the most important tool within what is known as the fifth-generation wars.

Of course, the Russian-Ukrainian war was not an exception to this development. Rather, it was a vivid embodiment of how the media was exploited and employed as a main means of managing war and conflict between the Russian and Western sides, as the latter supports Ukraine. In this context, this raises an important problem that is embodied in the following question: What influence did the media and public opinion have in the division between Russia and the West over the Ukrainian crisis? How much have they been impacted by or affected by government authorities? For decades, the media has been a major tool for managing wars and conflicts, whether as a means of mobilizing and recruiting, instilling the spirit of heroism and motivation in the soldiers and people of the country to which it belongs, or as a means of psychological warfare, falsifying facts and weakening the morale of the soldiers and people of the enemy country.

Despite the allegations that the Western media adopted standards of integrity, objectivity and impartiality, its coverage of this war showed a clear bias in dealing with its course.

This media was also distinguished by its selectiveness in publishing what serves the directions of those in charge of it, and the exclusion of any opinions that try to present the matter from the Russian point of view in terms of the reasons, motives and justifications for this war, which the West certainly bears part of the responsibility for igniting it by not seriously considering Russia’s fears of NATO expansion eastward.

On the other hand, the Russian media plays the same role, by portraying the war raging in Ukraine as a “special military operation” and not a war and accusing the West and holding it responsible for this Russian operation, which the Russian media describe as necessary to stop NATO’s expansion to the east and reduce the security threat to the alliance.

And showing the aspects of the Russian superiority in the war while covering up Moscow's great losses in it. In fact, government authorities did not remain passive but intervened directly in this regard, as independent journalists in Russia face increasing pressure as the government censor's media and journalistic content covering the Russian war on Ukraine.

The latest of which was the Russian parliament's issuance of a text that includes prison sentences and heavy fines for anyone who publishes "false information" that can reach 15 years if "false information" leads to "serious consequences" for the Russian armed forces.

The way media is exploited directly affects public opinion, which in turn influences foreign policy as the opinions of people living within a democratic country are reflected in the government's policy, including its foreign policy.

The processes by which these views influence government policy include direct elections, opinion polls, and representation of public concerns through the media.

In this context, a recent poll conducted by the Russian Center for Public Opinion showed that 70. »