Radio in the Crosshairs: Disinformation and Suppression in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
World Radio Day, a UNESCO-designated celebration of radio’s enduring power and reach, serves as a stark reminder of the medium’s vulnerability to manipulation and weaponization. While radio remains a vital source of information, particularly in remote areas, it has become a battleground in the ongoing information war surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This article examines how Russian state-controlled radio disseminates disinformation about the EU and how occupying forces exploit radio frequencies in Ukraine to silence independent voices and amplify Kremlin propaganda.
Despite television being the primary news source for most Russians, radio retains a significant audience, especially in areas with limited internet access. State-owned stations like Vesti FM, ‘Radio of Russia,’ and Mayak blanket nearly all of Russia, reaching even those beyond the reach of television and the internet. This extensive coverage provides fertile ground for the dissemination of pro-Kremlin narratives. These narratives often portray the EU as weak, divided, and subservient to the United States, mirroring disinformation themes prevalent in other pro-Kremlin media.
Monitoring of Russian state radio reveals a consistent pattern of disinformation. Shows like Soloviev Live on Vesti FM feature commentators who depict the EU as powerless and on the brink of collapse, emphasizing internal divisions and predicting a bleak future for Europe. They promote the narrative that countries like Hungary, which pursue closer ties with the US, are charting a more independent and successful course. These narratives are coupled with nuclear fearmongering, with commentators warning of the potential for “total annihilation” of Ukraine should negotiations with the West fail.
This portrayal of a declining and powerless Europe is a recurring motif in pro-Kremlin media, echoing on radio shows like Formula Smysla. These broadcasts claim that Europe is desperately clinging to American security guarantees due to its own military inadequacies, framing the EU as a non-entity in global affairs. This narrative seeks to diminish the EU’s standing on the world stage and to suggest that future security negotiations will be conducted solely between the US and Russia, excluding European leaders.
Beyond targeting the EU as a whole, Russian radio programs also attack individual member states. Shows like Evrozona on Vesti FM accuse Baltic states of aggression against Russia, citing their decoupling from Russian energy and their acquisition of Western military equipment as evidence of warmongering. Even legitimate actions, such as Denmark’s increased inspections of aging Russian oil tankers, are twisted into narratives of “economic piracy” and portrayed as hostile acts against Russia. This consistent reframing of legitimate actions as Western aggression reinforces the Kremlin’s portrayal of itself as a victim.
The strategic importance of radio becomes even more apparent in the occupied territories of Ukraine. In these areas, where power outages and disrupted internet access are common, radio often becomes the only reliable source of information. While Ukrainian radio broadcasts offered a lifeline of hope and connection to residents of occupied regions, Russian forces quickly moved to jam these broadcasts and seize control of radio stations. They have established a network of pro-Russian stations, like Za! Radio Melitopol, to saturate these areas with Kremlin propaganda. This control over the airwaves allows Russia to exert significant influence over the information landscape in occupied territories.
Russia’s information dominance strategy extends to the manipulation of radio frequencies. Ukrainian frequencies have been illegally reassigned to Russian-controlled broadcasters, such as Radio Crimea. This practice violates international regulations, specifically the ITU Charter, which requires the approval of the legitimate national authority – in this case, Ukraine – for such frequency assignments. This disregard for international norms underscores the Kremlin’s determination to control the flow of information in occupied territories, even at the expense of established international protocols.
The cumulative effect of these actions is the creation of an information environment where independent voices are silenced and replaced by state-sponsored propaganda. Even in areas with unreliable electricity and internet, Kremlin narratives remain pervasive, reaching the most vulnerable populations. This control over the information landscape allows Russia to shape perceptions, manipulate public opinion, and maintain its grip on occupied territories. World Radio Day, therefore, becomes not only a celebration of radio’s power but also a sobering reminder of its susceptibility to misuse in times of conflict.
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