Russia’s actions in the Black Sea region, disinformation campaigns. A conference to reshape international cooperation around crucial and urgent issues

The Black Sea has emerged as a critical arena for global security, where regional conflict intertwines with international stakes. This was the focus of the conference Beyond Borders: Shaping the Future of Security in the Black Sea Region, organized by Luiss Data Lab and Italian Digital Media Observatory (IDMO), together with the Embassy of Ukraine to Italy and Italian Federation for Human RightsIn two panels, experts and policy makers dissected the challenges and the implications of the problems in this tragic region for global stability.

Russia’s Black sea front: a threat for trade 

At the center of the discussions was Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, described as an assault on both the nation and international order. “In 2008, only Sweden increased its defense budget,” said Olesia Ogryzko, director of the Sahaidachnyi Center for Security. “Neither 2008 nor 2014 served as a wake-up call, and unfortunately, for some, even 2022 was not a wake-up call.” Russian attacks have crippled essential infrastructure, leaving children to be raised in a militarized environment.

The most immediate of these issues is the effect on global food security. Meanwhile, Russian naval actions continue to endanger vital Ukrainian-grain exports. According to Ogryzko, the Black Sea should become a priority for the international community in terms of its security as it is not only important for Ukraine, but also one of the key points on which the world economy is held.

Disinformation campaigns: a threat Western unity and European security

In addition to direct physical warfare, Russia’s disinformation war also threatens Western unity and confidence in the public. “Russia is not wrapped inside an enigma; it must be studied” argued Rory Finnin of the University of Cambridge. He then added that the persistent framing of the conflict as a proxy war between Russia and the West is a narrative that downplays Ukraine’s agency and its importance to European security. Russia has also weaponized language to justify aggression, portraying Ukraine as lacking a distinct identity.

The misinformation doesn’t stop at Ukraine. Italy is also being targeted by disinformation campaigns tailored to suit its audiences, notes journalist Maurizio Caprara. There are narratives that claim that sanctions against Russia primarily harm Italian industries. As a result, public resentment toward EU unity fosters.

Information war has placed journalists in peril. RAI correspondent Stefania Battistini shared accounts of threats and violence faced by war reporters in Ukraine. Russia’s deliberate targeting of journalists not only suppresses independent reporting, but constitutes a violation of international law. This assault on press freedom is part of a broader strategy to control narratives and obscure the realities of war.

Victoria Vdovychenko of the University of Cambridge stressed the importance of recognizing the pivotal role the Black Sea region in shaping global security. Strengthened NATO cooperation, enhanced maritime security and unified sanctions will be crucial to countering Moscow’s destabilizing actions.

di Mariahelena Rodriguez