Ukraine
Definition
Ukraine refers to the site of a major military conflict initiated on February 24, 2022, involving Russian invasion and serving as a case study for examining how citizens in authoritarian contexts construe war through value-laden interpretations. The war in Ukraine has had substantial consequences for Russian society, resulting in significant casualties and widespread direct participation by hundreds of thousands of Russians, alongside broader effects through family networks and social connections. Citizens' construals of the war vary systematically based on media exposure: consumption of state media is associated with interpreting the conflict as protective of conservation values (security, conformity, and tradition), while independent media consumption links to viewing it as undermining these values and supportive of self-enhancement and stimulation values. Two distinct psychological profiles emerged in the Russian population—one interpreting the war as preserving social order (31% of respondents) and another as undermining it (69%)—with the former associated with stronger pro-war attitudes and political action intentions.
Sources: Ponizovskiy et al. (2026)
Related Terms
Applications
Ukraine and Propaganda
Consumption of state propaganda versus independent media sources was associated with systematically different value-based construals of the war, with state media consumption linked to seeing the conflict as beneficial for conservation values.
Sources: Ponizovskiy et al. (2026)
Ukraine and Media Consumption
Pro-state media consumption was associated with viewing the war as positive for conformity and tradition values, while independent media consumption was linked to viewing it as negative for security, conformity, and tradition, and positive for stimulation and achievement.
Sources: Ponizovskiy et al. (2026)
Ukraine and Political Action
Value-based construals of the war in Ukraine predicted intentions to take political action in support of or resistance to the conflict. Individuals interpreting the war as preserving social order showed stronger intentions to engage in pro-war political action, while construals emphasizing universalism and achievement values were associated with weaker support intentions.
Sources: Ponizovskiy et al. (2026)
