‘Mirror Tactics’ in Social Networks, Internet Media as a Intentional Difference of Realities

To understand the essence of the impact of the “mirror tactic” of Russian disinformation in social networks as a deliberate distortion of reality, a polar opposite interpretation of specific facts, phenomena, and events. The purpose of the “mirror tactic” as the transfer of responsibility for Russia’s modern war to Ukraine is revealed. The task of the “mirror tactic” during Russia’s hybrid war against Ukraine in 2022-2025 is shown: to divert attention from Russia with defiant disinformation in the Internet media, to disorient the audience, to transfer responsibility for the crimes of the Russian invaders to Ukrainians. The distorted influence of the “mirror tactic” in social networks and online media on consciousness and psyche has been revealed in order to subordinate the thinking of the readership and change the worldview of the recipients to a pro-Russian one. It has been shown how, for the enhanced perception of Russian disinformation, the “mirror tactic” deliberately uses ideologemes, absurd expressions, and distorted data in favor of Russia, namely: modernized stereotypes of the Soviet era, falsification of modern facts, and manipulation of events in order to change the worldview of readers of online media and social media users to the Russian kind. Modern Russian military ideologists are trying to justify Russia and prove their rightness with illogical arguments, violating the norms of common sense and the laws of logic. It is revealed how, using the “mirror tactics”, Russian disinformation agents create the appearance of the correctness of Russia’s attack and war against Ukraine. Russian “mirror tactics” contradict themselves: logically agreeing that war brings suffering, death to people, and destroys cities and villages, they illogically justify Russia’s choice, arguing that it would have been impossible to act otherwise, and that the West would have attacked Ukraine. It is revealed how, using distorted “tactics of mirroring” realities, Russian agitprop immorally, illogically, absurdly creates the appearance of the correctness of Russia’s actions, keeping quiet about the violations of international treaties and agreements it has itself adopted, agreeing that people suffer because of the war, cities and villages are destroyed, but Russia’s choice of military aggression is rational, justified, it was impossible to act otherwise. Russian mass media “mirror tactics” present plausible versions of the events of the war. Each version offers several explanations of what would have happened, without providing specific arguments, and points to the “guilty” Ukrainians. “Mirror tactics” work as an absurd accompaniment to Russian war crimes committed by Russian invaders in Ukraine and justify themselves, except for the psychological comfort of Putin and those who trust Russians.