Empirical evidence of the dimensions of cognitive warfare in the Russia-Ukraine war

This article presents a systematic and empirical analysis of the operational dimensions of cognitive warfare observed in the Russia-Ukraine war. By mapping and synthesizing recent studies (2021–2025), key mechanisms such as action on cognitions, attention channeling, and attentional saturation, strategically articulated in disinformation and media manipulation campaigns, are identified and contrasted. Methods of content analysis, social networks, and comparative studies are used, with indicators extracted from digital platforms, official speeches, and media publications. The results show how cognitive warfare affects the perception, social polarization, deliberate capacity of exposed audiences, reinforcing the legitimacy of narrative frameworks and the securitization of political agendas. Taken together, the reviewed studies provide converging empirical indications consistent with conceptualizing cognitive warfare as a strategic, comprehensive, and multidimensional phenomenon. Although the corpus is asymmetrical and concentrates primarily on Russian and pro‑Russian operations, the findings help identify implications for resilience, media policy, platform governance, and defense doctrine in response to hybrid threat campaigns and grey‑zone operations.