Ukraine Launches Cognitive Warfare Initiative
Ukraine is escalating its fight against Russia by launching a new cognitive warfare campaign, spearheaded by renowned drone pioneer Maria Berlinska. The initiative, named Victory Neurones, aims to combine strategic communications, cyber warfare, and psychological operations to undermine Russian morale and support for the war.
Kiev Summit Sets New Battlefield: The Mind
At a recent summit in Kyiv, military and civilian leaders gathered to discuss the next critical phase of the conflict: the battle for minds. Berlinska, founder of the Victory Drones foundation, argued that wars begin and end in people’s heads, not in trenches. She called for experts to radically reshape the information domain.
Key Goals: Weaken Russian Support, Block Mobilization
The primary objectives include eroding Russian public backing for the war and disrupting Moscow’s potential conscription efforts. Berlinska emphasized that drone technology alone cannot secure victory, especially if Russia launches mass mobilization. To hold the front, Ukraine would need to neutralize 8 to 10 Russian soldiers for every Ukrainian loss—a ratio unsustainable without cognitive warfare.
Asymmetric Approach: Exploit Russian Weaknesses
Ukrainian intelligence and defense officials, including SBU Deputy Chief Major General Yevheniy Khmara and Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, fully endorse the plan. Fedorov noted that Ukraine has caught up in electronic warfare and drone tech, but must now surpass Russia’s expertise in information warfare. Experts warned against simple counter-deception, as refuting lies can amplify them.
Civil-Military Collaboration: Unlikely Alliances
The strategy includes unprecedented coordination between civil society and intelligence agencies. Berlinska recalled taking writer Serhiy Zhadan and Nobel laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk to SBU headquarters—once feared, now a partner. A new Cognitive Warfare Center within the Defense Ministry will fund and scale these operations, aiming to make Russians feel the war’s consequences directly.
Rethinking Russian Culture: A Weapon for Survival
Maria Kucherenko, director of the Kyiv Strategic Intelligence Institute, urged Ukrainians not to reject Russian language and culture outright, but to study them deeply to find asymmetric leverage. She stressed that Ukraine cannot win a symmetric war and must exploit Russia’s weak points through targeted influence.
Kaynak: Hürriyet
