Ukraine v. Russia: Examining Disinformation Narratives Around the ICJ Cases

Authors/Investigators
Dariia Ponomarenko, Janthe Van Schaik, Solomiya Timoshenko, Deniz M. Dirisu, Anaïs Fiault, Lisa Paramonova

Editor
Orlaith Delaney

This report examines pro-Russian disinformation narratives surrounding two rulings issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2024 relating to two Ukraine v. Russian Federation cases, namely the Application of the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which was filed by Ukraine in 2017; and the Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which was filed by Ukraine in 2022 following the start of Russia’s large-scale invasion.

Since 2014, Ukraine has used a coordinated lawfare strategy to fight back against Russian aggression beyond the battlefield through a series of lawsuits filed under private and public international law. Lawfare is the strategic use of law as a substitute for traditional military means to achieve an operational objective. In parallel, Russia has sought to weaponize the information sphere against Ukraine by using disinformation campaigns to legitimize its unlawful invasion and undermine global support for Ukraine as part of its information warfare strategy. While Ukraine’s lawfare strategy has helped isolate Russia on the international stage and provide a legal basis for sanctions, the media coverage of the two ICJ cases has also provided Russia with an opportunity to promote its false and misleading narratives to a wider audience.