Joke and meme as weapons in the Ukrainian information war

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyze the phenomenon of the use of humor in information warfare based on the example of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Ethnic jokes and ‘border jokes’ that are present in the relations between the two nations are presented. Internet memes prepared and distributed by the Ukrainian side were also presented. The comedy series ‘Bunker’ is also discussed. The article concludes with a summary. The means used in order to achieve the said aim are theoretical methods, such as analysis, synthesis and inference on the basis of available sources, especially the Internet, and academic studies. The study found that Internet memes now play an important role in the information warfare used by Ukrainians against Russia. Through the use of humorous means, they manage to influence both the morale of their own society and soldiers, as well as the enemy and the international community. The Russian-Ukrainian war has shown that actions in the information sphere also play a major role in a classic military conflict and that the means of information warfare, as available to almost every citizen, can become an element of the state's general defense.