Countering information warfare as a tool for realization the state information policy of the Russian Federation

This article examines information warfare as a form of political conflict. It analyzes the information confrontation between Russia and Western countries during the period 2014–2025. Research objective: to identify the features and trends of contemporary information warfare in the context of escalating international tensions and to examine the policies of the Russian Federation during this period. Special attention is paid to the use of social networks and online services for shaping public opinion and disseminating information within the framework of information confrontation. The study demonstrates that the parties employ both symmetric and asymmetric strategies, including the interpretation of the same events in a favorable light, control over digital platforms, and restriction of access to information resources. Scientific novelty. This article systematizes the main instruments of contemporary information warfare, using the example of the confrontation between Russia and Western countries (sanctions as a narrative, blocking and throttling of social networks and online services, and the creation and utilization of alternative digital platforms). Conclusions: for Russia, information warfare functions not only as a means of political and economic pressure but also as a stimulus for the creation and development of domestic information platforms.