TTLV: The role of digital platforms in the information warfare waged by Russia during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER'S THESIS

1. Student's full name: Tran Bao Son 2. Gender: Male

3. Date of birth: January 4, 1999

4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Decision No. 5626/QD-XHNV dated December 29, 2023, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, recognizing the student.

6. Changes in the training process: None

7. Thesis title: The role of digital platforms in the information warfare waged by Russia during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

8. Major: Journalism (Research-oriented); Code: 8320101.01

9. Scientific supervisor:

- Dr. Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang, Institute of Journalism and Communication Training, University of Science

- Dr. Tran Van Le, Dai Nam University

10. Summary of the thesis results:

This study clarifies the capabilities and role of digital platforms in information warfare through a systematic study of the role of digital platforms (with a specific case study of Telegram) in the information warfare waged by Russia in the conflict with Ukraine from 2022 to the present.

It is asserted that digital platforms are not merely communication tools, but powerful institutions involved in creating, coordinating, and amplifying discourse in modern information warfare. Digital platforms have become indispensable strategic tools; Russia has demonstrated its ability to effectively exploit the unique characteristics of each platform (Facebook, Twitter/X, Telegram, YouTube, TikTok) to maximize the reach and impact of its information campaigns.

Clarify the core operating mechanisms: algorithmic amplification, automation/coordination (bots, coordinated accounts), and cross-platform/multilingual distribution to expand reach and increase campaign resilience.

Identifying a multi-layered propaganda model (bot/troll layer - semi-official layer - official layer) that creates a sense of "spontaneous public opinion" while supporting "information flooding" tactics, creating chaos and eroding trust in official sources, Russia has built a comprehensive, multi-layered information warfare system capable of operating effectively at various levels (strategic and tactical), closely integrating psychological warfare, influence campaigns, and cyberattacks.

Analyzing Telegram as a unique networked public space where official, semi-official, and unofficial information converges, it contributes to the formation of a digital media front running parallel to the military front.

Digital platforms simultaneously performed two roles: offensive (targeting the Ukrainian public, Western public opinion, and other regions) and information defense (building internal information control systems).

Assessing the impact on journalism and political-media communication: platforms are gradually taking on the role of "gatekeepers," increasing the dependence of journalism on infrastructure/algorithms and driving a shift from a linear communication model to a multi-dimensional interactive network.

The article points out the challenges and limitations of Russia's information warfare operations, including strong reactions from Ukraine and the West, the ban on broadcasting Russian state media channels, and the control of global digital platforms by Western technology corporations.

Based on its findings, the thesis offers lessons and recommendations for Vietnam in building its capacity to respond to information warfare, emphasizing the strengthening of "information resilience" and crisis communication capabilities in the digital environment.

It is asserted that digital information warfare is a multifaceted challenge with far-reaching implications for national security, international order, and the very nature of democracy in the digital age.

11. Practical applications:

- The research findings can serve as a reference for management agencies, press and media organizations, and related units when developing policies, communication strategies, and responses to information manipulation and fake news in cyberspace.

- Suggesting directions for implementing education and communication programs to strengthen society's "information resilience"; supporting the training of strategic communication and crisis communication capabilities in the context of digital transformation.

12. Future research directions:

- Expand the scope of data and survey platforms to enable cross-platform comparisons and assess differences by audience group/language space.

- Incorporate additional quantitative methods on large-scale data to test and quantify the amplification mechanism and the degree of coordination.

- Further research into public reception, impact on the press (platform-dependent), and effectiveness of response/countermeasures in the Vietnamese context.

13. Published works related to the project: None

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Tran Bao Son 2. Sex: Male

3. Date of birth: 04 January 1999 4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Admission decision number: 5626/QD-XHNV dated December 29, 2023 by the Rector of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

6. Changes in academic process: None.

7. Official thesis title: The role of digital platforms in Russia's information warfare during the Russia–Ukraine conflict (2022–2025).

8. Major: Journalism (research-oriented) 9. Code: 8320101.01

10. Supervisors:

-Dr. Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang, School of Journalism and Communication, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

-Dr. Tran Van Le, Dai Nam University.

11. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

Clarified the capabilities and role of digital platforms in information warfare through a systematic study of digital platforms (with a specific case study on Telegram) in the information warfare conducted by Russia during the conflict with Ukraine from 2022 to present.

Affirmed that digital platforms are not merely communication tools, but power institutions that participate in constructing, coordinating, and amplifying discourse in modern information warfare. Digital platforms have become indispensable strategic tools; Russia has demonstrated the ability to effectively exploit the unique characteristics of each platform (Facebook, Twitter/X, Telegram, YouTube, TikTok) to maximize the reach and impact of information campaigns.

Elucidated the key operational mechanisms: algorithmic amplification, automation/coordination (bots, coordinated accounts), and multi-platform - multi-language distribution to expand coverage and enhance campaign resilience.

Identified the multi-layered propaganda model (bot/troll layer - semi-official layer - official layer) that creates a sense of "spontaneous public opinion", while supporting "information flooding" tactics that generate confusion and erode trust in official sources. Russia has built a multi-layered and comprehensive information warfare system capable of operating effectively at different levels (strategic and tactical), closely integrating psychological operations, influence campaigns, and cyber attacks.

Analyzed Telegram as a distinctive networked public space where official, semi-official, and unofficial information converges, contributing to the formation of a digital communication front parallel to the military front.

Digital platforms have performed dual roles simultaneously: offensive (targeting Ukrainian public, Western public opinion, and other regions) and defensive information operations (building internal information control systems).

Evaluating the impact on journalism and political communication: platforms are gradually assuming a "gatekeeping" role, increasing journalism's dependence on infrastructure/algorithms and driving a shift from linear communication models to multi-dimensional interactive networks.

Identified the challenges and limitations of Russia's information warfare activities, including response responses from Ukraine and the West, the banning of Russian state media channels, and Western tech corporations' control over global digital platforms.

Based on these findings, the thesis offers lessons and recommendations for Vietnam in building capacity to respond to information warfare, emphasizing the strengthening of "information resilience" and crisis communication capabilities in the digital environment.

Confirmed that digital information warfare is a multidimensional challenge with profound implications for national security, international order, and the nature of democracy in the digital age.communication capacity.

12. Practical applicability:

- The findings can inform policy and strategic communication planning for Vietnamese stakeholders (government agencies, media organizations, and relevant units) in preventing and responding to information manipulation online.

- They also support the design of public communication and media literacy initiatives aimed at improving societal “information resilience”, as well as training for strategic and crisis communication in the digital environment.

13. Further research directions:

- Expand the empirical scope to additional platforms to enable cross-platform comparison across languages ​​and audience segments.

- Combine large-scale public data with quantitative approaches to test and measure amplification and coordination mechanisms.

- Examine audience reception, journalism-platform dependence, and the effectiveness of countermeasures in the Vietnamese context.

14. Thesis-related publications: None.