Political Journalism as an Actor in Hybrid War: Challenges for Ukrainian Media

The article examines political journalism as an active subject of hybrid confrontation in the context of Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. The authors outline the analytical framework of the concept of “hybrid war” and its information dimension, detailing the role of communication strategies in influencing citizens’ consciousness. Particular attention is paid to the media as a tool for political mobilization, constructing meanings, legitimizing government decisions, and forming a collective identity in crisis conditions.The key mechanisms through which political journalism participates in creating narratives of resistance, supporting the morale of society, and countering hostile propaganda are revealed. The transformation of the functions of political journalism during the war is analyzed – from traditional relaying of facts to active participation in developing the discourse of information security and information defense.The study emphasizes that in the conditions of hybrid confrontation, Ukrainian journalists face a number of serious challenges: cognitive pressure, the risk of losing impartiality, balancing freedom of speech and the requirements of national security. Special attention is paid to the need to develop media literacy among both journalists and the audience, strengthening professional resistance to manipulation and critically important ethical dilemmas that arise in wartime.The impact of digital platforms and social networks as a key space of modern information warfare is considered, where traditional journalism is forced to compete with anonymous channels, disinformation campaigns and algorithmic content distribution systems. The conclusion is made about the need to integrate journalism into the strategy of state information policy.In conclusion, the article formulates practical recommendations for increasing the professional readiness of journalists to work in conditions of hybrid warfare: developing critical thinking, strengthening epistemological awareness, mastering the skills of strategic communication and ethical self-reflection. The material is of interdisciplinary importance for specialists in the fields of political science, journalism, social communication, security, and media education.