Information wars as a threat to the information security of Ukraine

Abstract The study gives definitions of information war (information warfare) and related terms, such as cyberwar and others, indicates the purposes, objects, subject matter, and subjects of the concepts under consideration. The author also considers the features of strategic information warfare conducted by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the stages in the development of information war, and the classification of its types and methods. The approaches of scientists who studied certain aspects of information warfare were analyzed, based on their work relevant conclusions were drawn and the conceptual basis of the paper was formed. Independently, the definition and characteristics of the concept of cyber warfare inextricably linked with information warfare are given. Methods for solving the problems arising during the information war are introduced, ways of ensuring the information security of the state are provided. Information war in this study is considered as methods and means of presenting information to form the point of view needed by the organizers of information propaganda and the corresponding public opinion in a certain group of people. The author made an in‐depth analysis of the regulatory and legal instruments in force for counterfeiting information warfare and protecting the Ukrainian people from it, pointed out the deficiencies of such documents, and gave recommendations for their further advancement. Recommendations are given to improve the current information awareness among Ukrainians, the directions of the state policy in this field are suggested and ways to ensure the stability of the national information security system of Ukraine are provided.