Ukraine Communications Group (UCG) is set to launch a new informational campaign during the Paris Olympics targeting countries of the global south, Tomasz Chłoń, a foreign ministry plenipotentiary told FakeHunter, a state-sponsored website combating fake news online.
The Communication Group for Ukraine (UCG) began its activities in June 2024, with the main goal of supporting Ukraine against Russia’s aggression by combating Moscow’s disinformation and promoting accurate reporting of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“We want to use the Paris Olympics to craft a message that will reach countries in the Global South,” Chłoń said.
According to the government official, countries in Africa especially, but to an extent in South America as well, are much more susceptible to Russian propaganda due to several factors including risk awareness, level of education, critical thinking, differences in the education system, and history.
“In Africa, because of the history of the continent and its countries, it is easier to penetrate with a lying narrative accusing Western countries of neo-colonization aspirations,” Chłoń said.
He added that it is much easier for Russians to reach official channels of communication with the public, not only in African countries but also in some European countries such as Hungary, the Western Balkan nations, and Slovakia.
One of Ukraine Communications Group’s messages will be to introduce the people watching the Olympic games to Ukrainian athletes who could potentially take part in the games but are unable to do so because of injuries caused by Russian aggression. Instead, they will compete in the Paralympic Games.
Another idea includes “statements by well-known athletes, sports stars who are active on behalf of Ukraine and are symbols of support for the Ukrainian cause just like Iga Świątek,” Chłoń said.
Furthermore, the group plans to “reach out to influencers, people from the Global South who have a real impact on shaping public opinion in their countries.”
Chłoń pointed out that UCG’s message differs “depending on a number of factors” such as the situation in a given country, the democratic state of a country, or “whether the society of a given country is susceptible to disinformation.”
He added that the message sent out should also account for some countries seeing helping Ukraine as a burden on their own economies. This is why it is important to showcase universal values such as the fight for freedom and defending one’s family from an aggressor.
“We want to use the Paris Olympics to craft a message that will reach countries in the Global South,” Chłoń said.
According to the government official, countries in Africa especially, but to an extent in South America as well, are much more susceptible to Russian propaganda due to several factors including risk awareness, level of education, critical thinking, differences in the education system, and history.
“In Africa, because of the history of the continent and its countries, it is easier to penetrate with a lying narrative accusing Western countries of neo-colonization aspirations,” Chłoń said.
He added that it is much easier for Russians to reach official channels of communication with the public, not only in African countries but also in some European countries such as Hungary, the Western Balkan nations, and Slovakia.
Campaign ideas
One of Ukraine Communications Group’s messages will be to introduce the people watching the Olympic games to Ukrainian athletes who could potentially take part in the games but are unable to do so because of injuries caused by Russian aggression. Instead, they will compete in the Paralympic Games.
Another idea includes “statements by well-known athletes, sports stars who are active on behalf of Ukraine and are symbols of support for the Ukrainian cause just like Iga Świątek,” Chłoń said.
Furthermore, the group plans to “reach out to influencers, people from the Global South who have a real impact on shaping public opinion in their countries.”
Chłoń pointed out that UCG’s message differs “depending on a number of factors” such as the situation in a given country, the democratic state of a country, or “whether the society of a given country is susceptible to disinformation.”
He added that the message sent out should also account for some countries seeing helping Ukraine as a burden on their own economies. This is why it is important to showcase universal values such as the fight for freedom and defending one’s family from an aggressor.
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