This study examines the Russian–Ukrainian information war (2022–2025) as a cognitive confrontation aimed at controlling perceptions, interpretations, and political legitimacy. The analysis is grounded in the distinction between episodic narratives and framing metanarratives, defined as discursive structures that organize the meaning of the conflict, justify political actions, and mobilize domestic and international audiences. Based on a comparative analysis of the information spaces in the Russian Federation and Ukraine, the study identifies the main narrative architectures promoted by the two sides. The findings show that Russian metanarratives seek to delegitimize Ukrainian statehood and reverse the aggressor–victim relationship, while Ukrainian metanarratives function primarily as defensive instruments, oriented toward strengthening social resilience and maintaining international support. The conclusions highlight the central role of metanarratives in contemporary warfare and the need to integrate narrative analysis into security studies and political communication.
Marin Gherman, Narratives and Metanarratives in the Russian–Ukrainian Information War (2022–2025),
Publisher: TRITONIC, Premises of Social Knowledge in the 21st Century / eds. Lucian Marina, Bogdan Nicolae Mucea, 2025
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