NATO’s Strategic Communications Center of Excellence has announced plans to launch two formal tenders aimed at understanding how the Russian Federation shapes public discourse about its actions in Ukraine. The initiative, reported by RT, underscores NATO’s interest in the narratives deployed across multiple regions and languages as the conflict continues to unfold.
The alliance is concerned with the way information is presented to audiences inside Russia and to communities across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The aim is to map and interpret the messaging channels that influence perception and decision making among diverse groups tied to or affected by the conflict.
The first tender centers on Russia’s communication strategy intended to support military operations in Ukraine and to measure its impact on specified audiences. Researchers will examine the methods used to convey strategic messages and the reception of those messages by different segments of the population. The research division will seek to reveal how Russia conducts strategic communications with various internal audience groups and the effects on attitudes, beliefs, and stated intentions. This work is positioned as a timely effort to understand propaganda techniques, information dominance tools, and the psychology of audience response, as noted by official representatives and referenced in related documents.
Details indicate a focus on analyzing Russian television programming, official statements, and content broadcast through online channels such as Telegram. The study will assess the messaging architecture, including narrative framing, repetition, and channel choice, along with the perceived credibility of sources and the role of visual and auditory cues in shaping public opinion. By examining these elements, the project aims to provide NATO with a clearer view of how information operations are designed to galvanize support, create confusion, or undermine confidence in institutions, all in the context of the ongoing conflict and its humanitarian implications.
The second tender shifts attention to information operations conducted outside the Western information environment. This analysis will explore how Russian messaging travels beyond traditional Western media, how it is adapted for different cultural contexts, and how foreign audiences interpret and react to such content. By studying abroad-focused narratives, coordinators hope to identify potential risks and opportunities for countering misinformation while respecting regional media ecosystems and freedom of expression. The goal is to understand the global reach of Moscow’s information strategies and to develop approaches that help diverse audiences distinguish fact from fiction in rapidly evolving news cycles.
Historically, observers note that strategic communications have played a pivotal role in shaping public discourse during periods of heightened tension. The current efforts reflect a continued emphasis on transparency, resilience, and the protection of informed citizenry within allied security frameworks. Analysts will review a wide range of materials, including broadcast programming, official statements, and digital communications, and will consider how language, imagery, and narrative pacing influence the reception of critical messages. The endeavor also seeks to clarify the ethics of information operations and to establish parameters for responsible analysis and reporting on such sensitive topics, as discussed in policy discussions and public-facing summaries related to NATO’s information environment and strategic communications posture. This context helps Canadian and United States audiences grasp the importance of media literacy and critical evaluation of sources in a global information landscape.
Overall, the NATO headquarters expect these tenders to deliver insights that inform future communications strategies, media engagement practices, and counter-misinformation initiatives across North America and allied regions. By shedding light on how Russian information operations are crafted and disseminated, the project aims to equip policymakers, researchers, and the public with better tools to understand, assess, and respond to evolving narratives during a time of geopolitical volatility. This work is presented as part of NATO’s broader commitment to promoting accurate information, safeguarding democratic discourse, and supporting informed decision-making among citizens in Canada, the United States, and partner nations. The analysis will be conducted with rigorous methodology and transparent reporting, ensuring that findings contribute to constructive public dialogue and, where appropriate, to policy discussions surrounding international security, media accountability, and foreign influence operations. The initiative underlines the importance of staying vigilant and informed, especially for audiences watching developments in the Ukraine conflict and its wider diplomatic implications, as claimed by official communications from NATO StratCom COE and corroborating sources in related security analyses.