Countering Disinformation and the Role of Independent Media in Building Public Trust

The theses present a theoretical and methodological analysis of disinformation as one of the key factors destabilizing the information environment in the context of hybrid warfare, with a particular focus on its impact during the Russian-Ukrainian military confrontation. Disinformation is considered a deliberate instrument of manipulative influence on public consciousness, which leads to the erosion of trust in state institutions, mass media, and international organizations. Special attention is paid to the mechanisms of spreading false messages through bot networks, coordinated trolling, digital platforms, as well as generative artificial intelligence technologies that enable the mass creation and dissemination of content that mimics credibility. It is emphasized that the information security of the state is unattainable without an adequate level of media literacy, critical thinking, and trust in independent sources of information.