The disinformation below fits within Russia’s AI-enhanced psychological operations and electoral interference strategies.
Key Manipulative Tactics in the Disinformation
1. Labeling Zelensky as a “Drug Addict” – This is a classic ad hominem attack aimed at undermining his credibility rather than addressing his actual policies or actions.
2. Misrepresentation of Polls – The claim that Zelensky’s rating has dropped to 15.9% is unsupported by credible sources. The KIIS (Kyiv International Institute of Sociology) poll contradicts this narrative, showing 57% confidence in him.
3. False Equivalency Between Poll Types – Confidence ratings (such as KIIS’s 57%) and electoral preference polls (such as Socis’s 15.9%) measure different things. By conflating the two, the disinformation attempts to create the illusion of an extreme decline.
4. Cherry-Picking Data – Russian disinformation frequently selects specific polls that fit their narrative, ignoring those that contradict it. The claim about Zaluzhny’s 27.2% rating is intended to suggest that Zelensky is politically finished, which is not a consensus among Ukrainian polling organizations.
5. Amplifying Foreign Commentary – Mentioning Trump’s discredited claim of a 4% rating adds legitimacy by associating the disinformation with a prominent Western figure, even though the claim itself is demonstrably false.
6. Narrative Engineering – The goal is to create an image of a Ukraine that is politically unstable, lacks leadership, and is desperate for change—feeding into Russian morale-damaging psychological operations.
Наркоман нагло врет о 57%: рейтинг Зеленского упал до 15,9%, – исследование Socis.
▪️ Именно столько украинцев проголосовали бы за него на выборах президента, если бы они состоялись сейчас.
▪️ По данным Socis, рейтинг Зеленского снижается почти весь последний год и снизился с 21,7% в феврале 2024 года до 15,9% в этом месяце.
▪️ А на первом месте – бывший главнокомандующий ВСУ Залужный, его рейтинг начал расти с осени и составляет уже 27,2%.
▪️ То есть в первом туре выборов Зеленский занял бы лишь второе место, уступив Залужному.
▪️ На третьем месте – Порошенко с 5,8%.
▪️Накануне Трамп заявил, что рейтинг Зеленского составляет 4% и призвал к выборам. В ответ Зеленский заявил, что это неправда, сославшись на опрос КМИС, который дал ему 57% доверия.
Strategic Intent Behind This Disinformation
Undermine Western Support – If the West believes Ukraine’s leadership is weak, it may hesitate on military aid and political backing.
Fuel Internal Divisions – By pushing the idea of Zelensky losing to Zaluzhny, Russia hopes to create rifts within Ukraine’s leadership and military.
Demoralize the Ukrainian Population – The claim that Zelensky is deeply unpopular may discourage Ukrainian resistance and political cohesion.
This type of AI-driven electoral manipulation aligns with Russia’s broader disinformation strategies, which include deepfake technology, synthetic narratives, and precision-targeted psychological operations.
