A Professor from Oslo Delivers a Lecture to MSU Students

Michael Gentile, a professor at the University of Oslo, visited Mariupol State University. For the resilient academic staff and students, the guest delivered a lecture and discussion on the topic "(Dis)information and Conspiracy Theories as a Weapon of Aggression."

The MSU Center for International Education organised the educational event initiated by the Department of Practical Psychology. The presentation was based on the professor's research and surveys conducted in Mariupol and other cities in the Donetsk Region between 2019 and 2022.

Attendees learned how Russia employs disinformation in its war against Ukraine and hybrid warfare tactics against the Western allies of the independent state. The lecturer examined the creation of disinformation strategies and their primary tools, including social media.

Towards the end of his presentation, Michael Gentile shared with the audience the results of his research on the prevailing mood among the population in frontline areas before the full-scale invasion. The professor continues his work in Ukraine and plans to visit Kharkiv and Kramatorsk to engage with the civilian population.