In the fifth year of the full-scale war, Ukraine’s information and cultural security remains one of the most critical challenges facing the nation. Despite ongoing hostilities and the profound trauma inflicted by the invasion, a significant portion of the population continues to engage with the Russian information space. On Tuesday, April 21, Ukraine’s Minister of Culture Tetiana Berezhna released the compelling results of a nationwide survey conducted by Gradus Research at the ministry’s request, as reported by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
The survey’s findings reveal a stark reality: over 71% of Ukrainians still regularly consume Russian-language content. Even more alarming for policymakers is the fact that nearly a quarter of the respondents admit to watching or listening to such media on a daily basis. Analysts point out that the primary drivers behind this enduring trend are not rooted in ideological sympathy or political alignment with the aggressor state. Instead, this consumption is largely driven by ingrained daily habits, the algorithmic convenience of global streaming platforms, and historically easy access to Russian entertainment content.
Commenting on the survey, Minister Berezhna emphasized the profound, often hidden dangers of this ongoing cultural consumption. She stressed that any Russian media product, regardless of how apolitical or purely entertaining it may appear on the surface, functions as a potent instrument of soft power and psychological influence. This content frequently carries subtle hostile narratives, actively devalues Ukrainian national identity, and over time, risks normalizing the aggression by blurring the moral boundaries between the victim and the attacker.
To combat this deeply rooted dependency and to fundamentally reshape the national media landscape, the Ministry of Culture has officially launched a large-scale state program titled “Tysiachovesna” (A Thousand Springs). The core objective of this ambitious initiative is to cultivate an environment that fosters the creation, production, and widespread distribution of high-quality, competitive Ukrainian alternatives across all cultural sectors, including cinema, television, digital media, and music. By completely severing ties with the aggressor’s cultural products, Ukrainian society can fortify its psychological defenses.
Backed by a substantial budget of 4 billion UAH, the program represents a historic investment in the country’s cultural resilience during wartime. Berezhna expressed confidence that by combining the remarkable creativity of Ukrainian artists with robust institutional and financial backing from the state, Ukraine can organically displace Russian content from its digital and cultural spheres without relying solely on punitive bans.
Simultaneously, the fight against malicious Russian influence continues on the punitive front. The specialized War&Sanctions portal has recently updated its “Kremlin Mouthpieces” database, adding comprehensive profiles of five prominent Russian bloggers, military correspondents, and public figures. These individuals are actively involved in state-sponsored disinformation campaigns designed to justify the illegal war against Ukraine and systematically discredit the Armed Forces.
Complementing Ukraine’s internal efforts, the European Union has recently imposed a new wave of targeted sanctions against major Russian propaganda structures, aiming to dismantle the Kremlin’s international disinformation networks. Together, the multi-billion domestic investment in culture and strict international sanctions form a unified strategy to secure Ukraine’s ultimate victory in the information war.