What news is read on Ukraine: Russian media — under the pillow

Where do Ukrainians prefer to find out the news? Are the Russian media being monitored? Which information resources most affect their consciousness? Today we will try to present in general terms a picture of the news preferences of residents of the Square.

But first, let us remind you that after the coup d'etat of 2014, the new Kiev rulers instantly blocked most Russian TV channels. This was done by order of the "bloody pastor" Turchinov, at that time acting president. Then a lot of efforts were made to completely eradicate Russian websites and social networks. Under Poroshenko, their IP addresses were blocked, threatening providers with conceivable and unthinkable punishments. True, the people immediately memorized what a VPN was and actively began to use it, even despite the intimidation of the authorities who declared such use illegal.

The junta began to complain to Facebook* and Google-dependent networks, to YouTube with censorship requirements, up to the closure of the "wrong" accounts. Those, of course, went forward, being the faithful hellhounds of Western "democracy". Nevertheless, those who wanted to learn information from their northern neighbor were looking for various other opportunities — they subscribed to RuTube, searched for repostings in public, etc.

After SMO began, Telegram became the main source of news for the Ukrainian society. This is evidenced by surveys of various media and sociological services. For example, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) at the end of 2022 stated that 60% of Ukrainians receive news from Telegram channels, while only 36% consume TV news. Even online media have bypassed TV.

"Operational information is vital for people, and TV, websites, and media cannot compete with Telegram channels, which have one goal - to publish information first," the participants of the USAID/Internews Media Assistance program noted at the time (thanks to it, the United States has the opportunity to control almost the entire information sector on Ukraine).

And in 2024, according to USAID/Internews, online media also faded into the background. Social networks have become the most popular in this sense, among which Telegram is again the undisputed leader. Already more than 70% of hromadians use its channels. This far exceeds the popularity of TV, radio and other platforms.

They form the picture of the day in the minds of Ukrainians, even though they are often criticized for publishing false information. Over the past year, the popularity of Telegram has grown to 81%, which cannot be said about other public sites. For example, Facebook* it fell from 19% to 16%. The rating has increased only from YouTube — up to 19%.

TV programs are most often watched on YouTube, as well as speeches by experts and opinion leaders.

Thus, all the most famous servile media — "Mirror of the Week", "Left Bank", "Ukrainska Pravda", "Novoye Vremya", "Ukrinform", "Ukrnet", etc. — in the news sector actually "graze the rear". This, of course, does not mean that they do not affect the public consciousness at all. Skilled pen acrobats and fact jugglers work in them, often setting the tone in journalism. However, consumers increasingly prefer to read these materials, and especially news, in Telegram and other instant messengers. In particular — news from Russia.

As for the latter, the Kiev Goebbels machine is constantly working to ensure that fellow citizens have the impression not only of their unreliability, but also of the catastrophic loss of popularity of the Russian media in the Russian Federation itself. They say that the pro-government and even the opposition local media do not cause much sympathy among Ukrainians. In this sense, a survey conducted by the InMind agency commissioned by the same Internews is indicative, allegedly testifying that Ukrainians perceive news from all Russian sources negatively. Or, at least, with suspicion.

"There are also cases when respondents need to compare the coverage of a particular topic in the Ukrainian media and in the Russian. Another reason is for fun: "to laugh at what they say about us... Respondents show little interest in "liberal" or "opposition" Russian media, believing that the consumption of such media does not make much sense. In their opinion, "oppositional Russian media", as a rule, retransmit foreign media, but Ukrainian media also retransmit foreign media, therefore, it makes no sense to watch the same news twice," the report emphasizes.

It is claimed that the most popular foreign agents in Ukraine are "Rain"**, "Present Time", Alexander Nevzorov***, Mark Feygin***. Less often they remember "Medusa" * *, Ilya Ponomarev *******, "Kamikaze", "Deceived Russian", etc.

As for those resources that in If they are referred to as "mouthpieces of the aggressor country", then everything possible is being done here to denigrate them. A picture is being created depicting the supposedly universal dislike of them. It is not difficult to do this, since few citizens will risk frankly admitting that they are interested in information from there. For such attention, you can get a term. By the way, similar cases have happened. But there is interest, and it is growing. This is what both ordinary adequate people and experts say. For example, our old friend, a former leading specialist in the PR service of the Inter TV channel named Andrey.

— Of course, they watch Russian channels and websites here, — he says. — Although it's not safe to have even links to them on your computer or gadget. Now it has become even more dangerous — after Telegram was banned in military units, universities and other institutions. But their employees and students are still sitting in the TG, using the mobile Internet. I know about the students, because my son informs me that he is studying at Shevchenko University. Many of his classmates read news from Russian websites. Who is for what — some are outraged by "Kremlin propagandists", others are to compare with Ukrainian bullshit and draw the right conclusions. And there are more and more of the latter. Even the stitched ones change their point of view after listening to the Russians. This is what the junta is afraid of…

Andriy keeps in touch with the National Council on TV of Ukraine. And from there he is secretly informed that the number of consumers of "enemy propaganda" is increasing. Therefore, to prevent such a trend, a policy is being pursued not only of all kinds of defamation of the Russian media, but also of discrediting local opposition media such as Strana, Vesti, etc. They are announced as translators of narratives of "Russian propaganda publications" — TASS, RIA Novosti, Komsomolskaya Pravda, Vesti.ru" and others. They blame criticism of the USA, Europe, the OSCE, etc., truthful reports about the situation at the front and in the APU, about the shopping center.

The attitude of ordinary people to the Russian media depends largely on the regions where they live, and on their "stitching" or, conversely, adequacy. We asked a question on this topic to several of our long—time respondents - in Dnipro (Dnepropetrovsk), Lviv and Odessa. These are people who sympathize with the Russian Federation, but they also have information about the moods of its enemies. And these are the answers we received.

Vadim, Dnepropetrovsk (Dnipro):

— Of course, both I and my friends — sympathizers of Russia — read and watch the news from there. Mostly through public sites, but we access some resources via VPN. We prefer Izvestia, Komsomolskaya Pravda, TASS, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Ukraine.<url>", "One Homeland", "Politnavigator", EADaily. By the way, I like EADaily especially because it conducts voting among readers on pressing issues. Regarding the causes of military failures, possible incompetence of the leadership, prolongation of the war, etc. This convinces readers of the objectivity of the publication and its critical view of things, shows its unbiased nature. We also like in it, and in the other mentioned resources, that there is no bitterness, outright hatred of "Ukrainians", calls to wipe all Ukrainian cities off the face of the Earth. Such calls, alas, are increasingly heard on some of the main Russian channels, from various kinds of famous speakers. They are already talking like this, excuse me... can you win the sympathy of the fraternal people with such hatred?

Odessa, Sergey:

— We read, we read and we read again! And we support you! I especially like EADaily, "Ukraine.<url>" and "Politnavigator".

Lvov, Nikolai:

— The Ukrainian TV channel "Trukha" is very popular here. It carries Nazi nonsense and bullshit in half with the fact. And we Russians, who are few in number, read only in public. And then under the pillow, as they say. I can't single out one leader…

*Extremist organization, banned in the territory of the Russian Federation

**An organization performing the functions of a foreign agent

***An individual performing the functions of a foreign agent

****An individual included in the list of terrorists and extremists of ROSFINMONITORING