• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
    • Government
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
    • ICPC Secures Conviction of Rector for Running Unaccredited Degree Programmes

      Engr Abba Babagana Dalori

      Engr Dalori Forfeits Galaxy Hospital, Petrol Station, Properties & Cash

      Chinese nationals jailed in Lagos

      Court Jails Nine Chinese Nationals for Cybercrime in Lagos

      ASUU

      Tackle Corruption, Institutional Decay – ASUU Charges FG

      EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Accountant General Over N8bn Fraud as Court Sentences…

  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
    • Customs Partners US Mission to Prevent Expanded Visa Ban

      Nigeria Customs Partners China on Smarter Ports, Officer Training, Reforms

      Comptroller General Nigerian Customs Bashir Adewale

      Customs Moves Against 223 Importers in N379bn Permit Breach

      Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Customs Boss

      How Customs is Tightening Borders to Stop Illicit Cash Flows –…

      Customs boss, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi with NAFDAC DG Professor Moji Adeyeye

      Codeine, Tramadol Worth ₦20.5bn Seized as Customs-NAFDAC Cooperation Deepens

  • National
    • Army Commander keeps 100 students in school

      Army Commander’s Compassion Keeps 100 Students in School in Zamfara

      Sam Obi Sponsors 500 students

      Sam Obi Sponsors 500 Students in Evergreen, SimplifiedIQ’s Education Program

      CG Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi

      NIPR Hails customs Boss’ Tenure Extension as Evidence of Transformational Leadership

      Comptroller General Customs Bashir Adewale and his staffs with the representatives of the European Union, the German Embassy

      Customs Unveils Renewable Energy Handbook, Strengthens EU-Germany-GIZ Partnership

      University of Maiduguri

      UNIMAID Mass Comm becomes Faculty of Communication and Media Studies

    • Government
      • Northern leaders at Arewa Summit

        Northern Leaders Urge Action on Almajiri Crisis, Equitable Resources at Arewa…

        Saidu Ahmed Alkali,

        Kaduna-Kano Light Rail Underway as FG Targets ₦70bn Investment

        Beyond Hoes and Sticks: The Power of Education for Peace in…

        National Blood Service Agency

        FG Pledges Stronger Support for Blood Services, Seeks Scalable Interventions from…

        Tinubu’s Government Unveils Multi-Sectoral Initiatives to Boost Northern Region’s Development

  • Security
    • Nigerian Navy

      Navy to Establish  Base in Kebbi to Tackle Inland Waterway Crimes

      Army Commander keeps 100 students in school

      Army Commander’s Compassion Keeps 100 Students in School in Zamfara

      Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, receiving the land document from Governor Pastor Umo Bassey Eno in Akwa Ibom

      Akwa Ibom Boosts National Security with Land Donation for Nigerian Air…

      Military Troops in Action

      Army Troops, DSS Nab Arms Trafficker in Taraba, Recover Ammunition, Cash

      Inspector-General of Police Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun

      IG Reaffirms Commitment to Tackling Oil Theft, Upholding Human Rights

  • Features
    • Okello Oculi

      Okello Oculi: A Pan-Africanist Asteroid Burns out Forever By Is’haq Modibbo…

      Leon Usigbe

      Death, you can’t be Proud of this By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem 

      Tinubu’s Plateau Gambit – Yilwatda, 2027, and the Return of the…

      Ozumi and a recipient of a wheelchair

      Wheels of Hope: How a Simple Gift is Reshaping Lives at…

      Late Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari and Mansur Liman

      “Buhari: A Blunt, Honest Leader Who Laughed at His Own Predicament”

  • State
    • court Judiciary

      Lawyer Sues Housing Ministry, FHA Over Alleged Property Redesign

      Army Commander keeps 100 students in school

      Army Commander’s Compassion Keeps 100 Students in School in Zamfara

      Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, receiving the land document from Governor Pastor Umo Bassey Eno in Akwa Ibom

      Akwa Ibom Boosts National Security with Land Donation for Nigerian Air…

      Nigerian Army

      Army Denies Allegations of Misconduct in Imo Community

      Military Troops in Action

      Troops Repel Bandit Attacks in Katsina, Plateau, Recover Rustled Cattle, Sustain…

  • Event
    • court Judiciary

      Lawyer Sues Housing Ministry, FHA Over Alleged Property Redesign

      Sam Obi Sponsors 500 students

      Sam Obi Sponsors 500 Students in Evergreen, SimplifiedIQ’s Education Program

      Comptroller General Customs Bashir Adewale and his staffs with the representatives of the European Union, the German Embassy

      Customs Unveils Renewable Energy Handbook, Strengthens EU-Germany-GIZ Partnership

      University of Maiduguri

      UNIMAID Mass Comm becomes Faculty of Communication and Media Studies

      CG Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi

      Tinubu’s Extension of Customs CG Bashir Adeniyi’s Tenure Draws Widespread Praise…

    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Home Features Crisis Communication: A Lesson from Zelensky’s Tactic in Information War
  • Features

Crisis Communication: A Lesson from Zelensky’s Tactic in Information War

By
Kabir Abdulsalam
-
March 16, 2022
Russia-Ukraine

Crisis Communication: A Lesson from Zelensky’s Tactic in Information War

By Kabir Abdulsalam

The era of fighting wars with stick and stones has since become history. Modern warfare is characterized by sophisticated weapons and deployment of communication strategies.

Marc Polymeropoulos, a social commentator recently described Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as “Now he is a Churchill-like figure” referring to the British prime minister who led the UK during World War II.

Zelenskyy, an entertainer, who turned President of Ukraine has strategically utilized the advent of modern media for its information warfare that has strategically provided a foundation to rally his citizens.

Russia, North Korea and Germany’s WWII triumph has gone. During the Gulf war when Iraq forces invaded Kuwait in 1990,Gulf war when Iraq forces invaded Kuwait in 1990, the world witnessed televised war-shot, many television viewers saw, in real-time, international conflict displayed for the first time via CNN.

Today, war is seen through social media and users’ accounts. Many may recall Twitter’s role during the Arab Spring uprising, in 2011, the EndSars protest in Nigeria, in 2020, and many more conflicts in the world.

A political commentator, Peter Singer, narrates that “Over a very short period, a handful of tech geeks have become among the most powerful figures in all of politics and war.”

With the upgrade in modern technologies, cameras, and other video editing apps have seen the world glimpsing first-person accounts of war in real-time from Ukrainian citizens, such as bombings, and interactions with soldiers.

Certainly, the early-stage victory in the information space has benefited Ukraine, this consequently shows harsh sanctions on Russia by many world leaders, international bodies and financial institutions.

In another clime several tech companies have restricted Russia’s access, selling its propagandist ideology, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube have proven invaluable in helping spread awareness of what is happening in Ukraine.

An international news platform, CNBC reported that Russia had underestimated Ukraine’s resilience, in the information sphere, its disinformation, and propaganda tactics which will likely continue to target people in both countries should the war continue. For PR and communication lenses, I admire the team’s resilience in deploring such quality strategies to canvases and winning the information war against the giant Russian.

Zelenskyy’s PR strategy that gets Result

At the initial stages of the war, President Zelenskyy, a one time actor and comedian, looked into the camera and delivered a clear and compelling message: “I am here. We will not lay down any weapons”.

Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a selfie- video screenshot

The selfie-style video posted on Feb. 25, 2022, gained 3 million views within an hour – part of an effort to mobilize international opinion against the Russian invasion of his country.

Barely a few hours after the video was released, at late hour same day, he also filmed a similar

video after he was accused by Russian propagandists that he had fled the country. The video  shows Zelenskyy and his cabinet standing in front of streetlights with the president speaking directly into the camera without teleprompters or any official paraphernalia insight.

Communicate with the audience

Read Also:

  • Lawyer Sues Housing Ministry, FHA Over Alleged Property Redesign
  • Navy to Establish  Base in Kebbi to Tackle Inland Waterway Crimes
  • Army Commander’s Compassion Keeps 100 Students in School in Zamfara

As Russians understand the Ukrainian push of communication, the nation’s TV Tower and the satellite were targeted by the Russian forces. Thereafter, Zelenskyy was seen on a video calling other European leaders, most of whom had not yet agreed to help.

That seems to have garnered the most attention within hours. The likes of Sweden, Finland, Germany, and other EU countries reversed a decades-long policy.

In crisis communication, understanding your audience is an essential tool to get the message to your them. Zelensky knows the world is watching, he talks to Ukrainians as he knows he’s talking to an international audience to invoke emotions from this message.

The message

Zelensky has been seen in several images to convey his messages as memorable, repeatable, and quotable by the media. Notable includes:

“When you attack us, it will be our faces you see, not our backs.”
“The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride.”

“It’s not about I want to talk with Putin, I think I have to talk with Putin. The world has to talk with Putin because there are no other ways to stop this war.”

“If we win, and I’m sure we’ll win, this will be a victory for the whole democratic world.”

“There is nothing that could explain why the kindergartens and civilian infrastructure are being shelled.”

“This will be the victory of our freedom. This will be the victory of light over darkness, of freedom over slavery.”

This night will be very difficult, and the enemy will use all available forces to break the resistance of Ukrainians…the fate of Ukraine is being decided right now.”

The source creating impact

Volodymyr Zelenskyy with the Ukrainian forces
Volodymyr Zelenskyy with the Ukrainian forces

He also used several pictures to communicate his messages to his citizens. Zelenskyy was seen from bunkers with fellow soldiers.The images show him participating shoulder-to-shoulder on the front lines. He delivers impassioned, transparent, authentic speeches encouraging citizens and asking for support.

They also started releasing quick-fire information about the wins they were getting on the battlefield.

Muyiwa Babarinde, a strategic communicator summed these as three-pronged effect; “It improved the morale of Ukrainian fighters, many of whom are civilians, fighting to save their homes, It leads to doubt on the Russian side, especially with soldiers not knowing why they were invading Ukraine; It bought Ukraine more time to get support from the west”.

Consequently, his messages have been exceptionally potent in catalyzing public opinion due to the impact they had on the troops and his citizens. He used every tool at his citizens. He used every tool at his disposal to reduce a political story to a personal one, leverage communications to gain a slight upper hand in the fight for their lives.

Kabir Abdulsalam

VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • Crisis Communication
  • Information War
  • Zelensky’s
Previous articleCyber Fraud: Man Jailed for Six Months in Kwara
Next articleEFCC Arraigns Banker for N452m Scam in Onitsha
Kabir Abdulsalam
Kabir Abdulsalam
Xing

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Customs Boss

JUST IN: Tinubu Extends Tenure of Customs CG Bashir Adeniyi

AI-generated disinformation looms ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 elections

PRNigeria Fact Check: Does Delayed Baby Umbilical Cord Clamping Have Health Benefits? 

Okello Oculi

Okello Oculi: A Pan-Africanist Asteroid Burns out Forever By Is’haq Modibbo Kawu

Department of State Security Service DSS

Army, DSS-Backed Hybrid Forces Neutralize 45 Bandits in Niger Operation

PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship 2025 logo

PRNigeria Opens Application for 2025 Young Communication Fellowship

Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA

Troops Kill Three Terrorist Leaders in Sokoto Ambush, Recover Weapons

Leon Usigbe

Death, you can’t be Proud of this By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem 

Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Customs Boss

How Customs is Tightening Borders to Stop Illicit Cash Flows – CG Adeniyi 

FACT-CHECK: Did a N10bn Lafia Flyover Collapse Three Weeks After Commissioning in Nasarawa?

Tinubu’s Plateau Gambit – Yilwatda, 2027, and the Return of the Machiavellian Strategist By Abdullahi O Haruna Haruspice

NAF combat-ready Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operators

NAF Bolsters Battlespace Dominance with New Combat-Ready UAV Operators

Recent Posts

  • Lawyer Sues Housing Ministry, FHA Over Alleged Property Redesign
  • Navy to Establish  Base in Kebbi to Tackle Inland Waterway Crimes
  • Army Commander’s Compassion Keeps 100 Students in School in Zamfara
  • Sam Obi Sponsors 500 Students in Evergreen, SimplifiedIQ’s Education Program
  • NIPR Hails customs Boss’ Tenure Extension as Evidence of Transformational Leadership
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
Lawyer Sues Housing Ministry, FHA Over Alleged Property RedesignNavy to Establish  Base in Kebbi to Tackle Inland Waterway CrimesArmy Commander's Compassion Keeps 100 Students in School in ZamfaraSam Obi Sponsors 500 Students in Evergreen, SimplifiedIQ's Education ProgramNIPR Hails customs Boss' Tenure Extension as Evidence of Transformational LeadershipAkwa Ibom Boosts National Security with Land Donation for Nigerian Air Force BaseCustoms Unveils Renewable Energy Handbook, Strengthens EU-Germany-GIZ PartnershipUNIMAID Mass Comm becomes Faculty of Communication and Media StudiesTinubu’s Extension of Customs CG Bashir Adeniyi’s Tenure Draws Widespread Praise and ReactionsArmy Troops, DSS Nab Arms Trafficker in Taraba, Recover Ammunition, CashIG Reaffirms Commitment to Tackling Oil Theft, Upholding Human RightsNorthern Leaders Urge Action on Almajiri Crisis, Equitable Resources at Arewa Summit in KadunaArmy Denies Allegations of Misconduct in Imo CommunityTroops Repel Bandit Attacks in Katsina, Plateau, Recover Rustled Cattle, Sustain CasualtiesNavy Destroys 10 Illegal Refineries in Niger Delta
X whatsapp