We must not copy Russian government approach to frontline war reports - Glavkom editor-in-chief Shlinchak

Viktor Shlinchak, Chairman of the Board of the Institute of World Policy, Editor-in-Chief of Glavkom, said this on Espreso TV. 

“As for communication. There are questions here. Because when we say that we don't want to be like Russia, the main thing is not to become the same Russia in terms of communication strategy,” he said.

According to Shlinchak, the narratives about the Bakhmut fortress and other successful communication cases promoted by the Ukrainian government are the same as what Russian propagandists are trying to do. 

“Creating some symbols and then completely not understanding how to communicate certain problems that arise during these events to the public,” Shlinchak said.

At the same time, he noted that war involves propaganda on both sides. However, in his opinion, the main thing in this propaganda is not to overdo it, as the public trust will be lost.

“When we say that Ukrainian society is more mature and that Ukrainian society needs to be spoken to in more understandable words and not impose some mythical narratives, but say some things sincerely and frankly, and we are ready to receive this information, then there is no need to copy what is happening in Russia. It's a very simple recipe,” Shlinchak summarized.

• On May 21, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar wrote that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had taken Bakhmut into a semi-circumscribed area, which makes it possible to destroy the Russian forces - the enemy in the controlled part of the city has to defend itself.