“Putin Is Forced to Play Second Fiddle in the Information Space” – Expert Assesses Who Is Winning the Information War

Military expert Oleg Starikov stated that Ukraine has seized the initiative in the information war, forcing the Kremlin to worry about the May 9 parade and the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Politeka reports.

He discussed this on his channel.

"Fifth-generation warfare, which began in May 2026, is characterized not only by combat operations along the line—or, more accurately, the zone—of military contact. Information warfare is equally important. Therefore, the Russian-Ukrainian war can now justifiably be described as a hot war, one that is conducted across multiple domains. This includes mental and moral warfare aimed at reducing the combat readiness of military personnel and creating panic within the country," Oleg Starikov argues.

According to him, the first phase of this moral and mental warfare was the psychological and information operation (IPSO) conducted ahead of May 9 regarding a potential strike on the parade in Moscow. The second phase involved the International Economic Forum, with images circulating of drones attacking targets in St. Petersburg on the eve of the event's opening. The expert says this affected not only viewers but also Forum participants on their way to the sessions.

"The objective was not so much military as informational, within the framework of moral and mental warfare. Kyiv demonstrated that it independently sets the narrative, controls the situation, and decides when to escalate. The operation achieved its objectives. In informational terms, Putin is forced to play second fiddle—that is, to follow a plan developed in Kyiv rather than setting the agenda himself. The planning was carried out at the highest level, and sociologists were very likely involved," explains Oleg Starikov.

In 2026, he concludes, it is already possible to state unequivocally that Ukraine has seized the initiative in the information war at both the tactical and operational levels. According to the expert, Western technologies, software, and the creativity of grassroots initiatives in implementing assigned tasks have enabled Ukraine to begin outperforming Russia in fifth-generation warfare.

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