The Russian Federation is ramping up its funding for propaganda, significantly increasing investments in the information war, despite plans to reduce military spending in the 2026 budget. According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, these actions indicate a shift in priorities for the aggressor state, as it is unable to achieve victory on the battlefield.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Increase in propaganda spending
The Russian state budget for the next year includes a 54% increase in funding for information campaigns. This occurs against the backdrop of cuts to military expenditures, which, as noted by the Ukrainian diplomat, is evidence of a reorientation of armed aggression towards the information sphere.
“This clearly indicates the priorities of the aggressor state: unable to win on the battlefield, they are primarily relying on disinformation,” said the Minister of Internal Affairs.
Andriy Sybiha emphasized that words and information are becoming powerful weapons in modern diplomacy. This is why Ukraine is strengthening the protection of its information space, developing resilience against hostile propaganda to effectively counter Russian aggression in this area.
Manipulation and political indoctrination in occupied territories
British intelligence has previously highlighted Russia’s actions aimed at forcibly indoctrinating Ukrainian youth in temporarily occupied territories. Organizations controlled by the Russian authorities, including “Yunarmiya” and “Movement of the First,” are training children in military skills and imposing pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian ideology on them. Russian educational structures use a vague definition of “extremism” to justify such programs.
In particular, the methodological materials from the Russian Ministry of Education for 2022 mention “Glory to Ukraine” as allegedly a manifestation of “extremism.” This indicates systematic propaganda and attempts to discredit Ukrainian patriotic slogans through the educational system in occupied territories.