Russia’s aggression in Ukraine since 2014 has been accompanied by  substantial and relentless disinformation campaigns, in which blatant  lies have played a central role. Russia’s hybrid information warfare was  integrated into the overall attempt to destabilise Ukraine, and its aim  was to undermine Ukraine’s position both among the internal population,  in the eyes of the international community, sowing doubt and confusion.  In 2015 28 member countries of the EU took the decision to set up the East StratCom Task Force because of the conflict in Ukraine to the  reality of the COVID-19 infodemic in the spring of 2020. The EUvsDisinfo  website was created as a campaign to raise awareness of the issues of  aggressive Russian disinformation, toxic narratives, and weaponised  conspiracy theories.   

Peter Stano is the Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security  Policy of the #EU. He is a powerful advocate for the EUvsDisinfo website  and resource, which is part of the EU East Stratcom Task Force to  counter disinformation and the propaganda assault on the EU by Russia.