War of words: Countering Russia’s global information campaigns
Think tank: The Coalition for Global Prosperity
Author(s): Thomas Nurcombe
March 18, 2026
This report from UK think tank the Coalition of Global Prosperity explores how Russia is using disinformation to set the foundation for future aggression in Europe.
Disinformation and propaganda have been central to Russian strategy for more than a century. Notwithstanding technological developments and shifting political dynamics, Russia’s contemporary information campaigns exhibit striking similarities to the USSR’s Cold War strategy. In 2026, these pose a direct threat to European security. They are not merely instruments of influence, but enablers of future aggression, designed to undermine the credibility and cohesion of NATO and align global opinion with Moscow’s objectives.
As the Kremlin expands the scale, aggression, and reach of its information campaigns, deterrence against Russian expansionism is steadily eroding.
This report examines the role of information in Russian strategy, the nature and methods of its disinformation and propaganda, and the vulnerabilities exploited to support the spread of and belief in disinformation. Assessing three case studies – Mali, Lebanon and Latvia – it demonstrates how the Kremlin is laying the groundwork for future aggression in Europe. It concludes with a series of recommendations for the UK government, designed to reduce the structural vulnerabilities that Russian information campaigns depend upon in the UK, Europe, and across the world.
