INFORMATION POLLUTION AS A RISK FACTOR FOR THE CIVIL PROTECTION SYSTEM UNDER MARTIAL LAW

Abstract

The article examines information pollution as a significant modern risk factor affecting the functioning of the civil protection system of Ukraine under martial law. The study is based on the understanding that information space has become one of the key environments of hybrid warfare, where disinformation, fake messages, manipulative content, information noise, cyber incidents, and psychological influence operations can substantially affect public safety, crisis management, and emergency response effectiveness. The purpose of the study is to determine the impact of information pollution on the civil protection system, to classify the main information threats, and to develop practical measures aimed at increasing the resilience of public authorities and the population to destructive information influences. The research applies methods of analysis, comparison, systematization, and interpretation of statistical data related to media literacy and cyber incidents in Ukraine during 2021–2025. The paper proposes an author’s classification of information threats according to their source, dissemination channel, nature of influence, technical implementation mechanism, object of impact, scale, duration, and consequences for civil protection. Special attention is paid to the relationship between information pollution and cyber threats. Statistical analysis demonstrates a steady increase in the number of registered cyber incidents, which confirms the growing intensity of information and cyber risks in the conditions of full-scale war. In addition, the study analyzes the dynamics of the media literacy index of the Ukrainian population, which reached 5.2 points out of 10 in 2025, indicating a gradual increase in society’s ability to critically evaluate information and resist manipulative influences. An author’s model of information pollution and its impact on the civil protection system is developed, reflecting the interconnection between sources of information threats, dissemination mechanisms, consequences for the population and authorities, and measures for their prevention and minimization. The practical significance of the research lies in substantiating organizational, technical, and educational measures aimed at strengthening crisis communications, improving information and analytical support, implementing monitoring systems for the information space, enhancing cyber protection, and increasing the level of media literacy and cyber hygiene of the population. The proposed approaches can be used to improve the resilience of the civil protection system to modern information threats under martial law.