LAS VEGAS — Ukrainian author and journalist Iuliia Mendel said that both before and during the Russian invasion of her country, Russia has spread lies to try to justify its actions.
One of the key ways Ukraine has combatted such disinformation is by continually sharing the reality of Russia’s attacks during its attempts to gain control of the nation, according to Mendel, who served as press secretary to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from 2019 to 2021.
This focus on truth-telling in the face of Russian aggression both on the battlefield and in the information domain has helped Ukraine secure much-needed assistance from the international community, including from the United States.
The international support in turn has enabled Ukraine to make military progress, Mendel said during her keynote address on the first day of the Association of Corporate Counsel’s annual meeting in Las Vegas that kicked off Sunday.
“This war was unjustified. There was no threat to Russia. Ukraine never attacked Russia or any other country,” Mendel said. “This was black and white. People said we want white. We want to be warriors for truth.”
“We see the truth is repeated more now, and we are winning thanks to that,” Mendel said, a line that drew applause from the crowd.
Call to action
Mendel also told ACC conference attendees that they could play a part in the Ukrainian cause, particularly by amplifying the reality of the war in Ukraine.
“Everyone can become a warrior for truth by going online and sharing the truth and standing against Russian disinformation,” she said.
On a practical level, she urged in-house lawyers to be thoughtful about what they read, liked and shared online. Being vigilant in this way can help protect democracies across the globe against efforts by influences that try to sow discord.
“This is very important,” Mendel said. “You can harm people, you can harm the state by just sharing something which is dangerous to share.”
To make her point, Mendel highlighted research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology indicating fake news spreads six times faster on Twitter than truthful news.
Despite no longer serving as press secretary for Zelenskyy, Mendel has continued to speak and write about Ukraine’s efforts to preserve its democracy. She is the author of The Fight of Our Lives: My Time with Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s Battle for Democracy, and What It Means for the World. She is also a contributor to the Washington Post’s opinion section.
Pursuing accountability
In brief comments after her keynote presentation, Mendel told Legal Dive she hoped lawyers would also help Ukraine hold Russia accountable for its invasion.
She said attorneys have an important role to play in discussions about how frozen Russian assets could potentially support the rebuilding of Ukraine.
Additionally, lawyers will play a key role in efforts to hold Russians who killed Ukrainians or gave orders to kill legally accountable.
“These are two of the biggest things Ukraine is asking for from the international community, and of course this must be done by law,” Mendel said.
