Kiev International Institute of Sociology

Laboratory of sociological assistance to information security

Between February 14 and February 24, 2015 Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) conducted the nation-wide public opinion poll. The survey was conducted in 108 settlements in all regions of Ukraine, (except the Autonomous Republic of Crimea) according to the random sample, which is representative for adult population of Ukraine (aged 18 and over). Totally 2013 respondents were interviewed face-to-face during the field stage. In Donetsk and Luhansk regions the poll was conducted both in territories controlled by Ukraine’s government forces, and territories controlled by separatist forces.

Statistical sample error (with probability of 0.95 and design-effect of 1.5) does not exceed 3.3% for indicators close to 50%; 2.8% for indicators close to 25%; 2.0% for indicators close to 10%; 1.4% for indicators close to 5%.

Russia's information warfare against Ukraine helped Russia to reach success in annexation of Crimea, to gain support for those actions from its population and to provoke the war in Donbass.

Information warfare is of the same importance for defense of Ukraine's unity and independence as military actions. It is unknown what is more effective in this struggle. It could be that providing a part of resources, spent on the war, not for mobilization, weapons and equipment, but for defense from Russian propaganda, would be more efficient way to save the lives of our military men than direct financing of weaponization.

Effective action on countering Russian propaganda in Donbass can reduce the number of people who enroll into separatist forces, and also deprive the aggressor of the opportunity to involve the people from other eastern and southern regions of Ukraine into the confrontation.

And if to succeed in dispelling some myths shared by the Russia people, and to decrease support of Putin’s actions among the citizens of Russia, it would significantly weaken the Russia’s abilities to escalate military actions. 

The idea of creating Russian Propaganda Efficiency Index (RPE)

• It is impossible to conduct counterpropaganda without estimation of its effectiveness. The efficiency of counterpropaganda can be measured as the reduction of Russian propaganda efficiency per unit of expenses. That is why the index of Russian propaganda efficiency is needed.

• Index of Russian propaganda efficiency, which we offer, can become a tool for evaluation of Ukraine’s counterpropaganda measures in different regions and among different social groups.

• Under efficiency of Russian propaganda in Ukraine we mean the spread of supporting main ideas of Russian propaganda among citizens of Ukraine, or among people in different regions.

The idea is to select such statements of official Russian propaganda, which are trusted by more than 80% of Russian citizens, in other words – statements which proved their effectiveness in Russia and on occupied territory.

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