“Resilient Ukraine” programme holds a panel discussion on societal resilience amid the war in Ukraine

Ukrainian experts on strategic communications, PR and marketing shared their experience with Estonian colleagues on how to counter Russia’s aggression on the information front.

The event took place as a panel discussion within the annual conference organised in Tallinn by the Strategic Communication Department of Estonia’s Government Office. 

The panel discussion featured as speakers Illia Miroshkin, national coordinator of the Resilient Ukraine programme; Maryna Dadinova, strategic communications expert and advisor to the Foreign Minister of Ukraine; Andriy Fedoriv, founder and owner of Fedoriv Agency; and Sofiya Dzhurynska, state expert on strategic communications, project manager of international campaigns on countering Russian propaganda. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Ivo Juurvee, Head of Security & Resilience Programme, ICDS. 

lllia Miroshkin pointed out that specialists from the Baltics and other allied countries should pay more attention to Ukrainian experience in strengthening societal resilience. “Ukraine is not only demonstrating an example of heroic resistance but also providing many successful lessons in resilience for its partners. There will be a time when experts from various countries will study Ukraine’s national resilience in its different aspects and will implement its best practices to strengthen resilience of their societies”, noted Mr. Miroshkin. 

Kersti Luha, Head of Strategic Communication at Estonia’s Government Office, summarized the discussion with words of support for Ukraine and called upon to properly study Ukrainian experience in organizing different types of communications.   

The conference brought together about 40 participants, including Estonian officials and civil experts on strategic communications, information security and psychological defence.

Experts of the “Resilient Ukraine” programme continue to interact with foreign specialists, policy- and decision-makers. During April-May 2022, they already shared some lessons based on Ukraine’s experience in Latvia, Finland, Germany, Italy, France, Poland, Switzerland, and Austria. 

Representatives of the “Resilient Ukraine” programme will also visit Canada and the United States to advocate Ukraine’s interests for a more effective post-war recovery of Ukrainian society.