RUDN Journal of Studies in Literature and JournalismRUDN Journal of Studies in Literature and Journalism2312-92202312-9247Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University)2694510.22363/2312-9220-2021-26-2-294-301Research ArticleFight against Disinformation in Ukraine: Challenges and ProspectsVasilievAlexander A.<p>PhD in History, expert</p>kadyrova_shn@rudn.ruKadyrovaShuanat N.<p>PhD in Philology, senior lecturer, Department of Theory and History of Journalism, Faculty of Philology</p>kadyrova_shn@rudn.ruFominAlexander A.<p>PhD student, Department of Theory and History of Journalism, Faculty of Philology</p>kadyrova_shn@rudn.ruInformation and Analytical Center “Perspective”Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University)0207202126229430102072021Copyright © 2021, Vasiliev A.A., Kadyrova S.N., Fomin A.A.2021<p style="text-align: justify;">The material presents the analysis of the draft law of Ukraine On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Regarding Ensuring National Information Security and the Right of Access to Reliable Information . This law can for the first time in the history of the country criminalize journalists for disseminating false information and set up new forms of control over information in the future. This is not the first attempt by the countrys leadership to bring all actors into a legal and civilized channel (the draft law On the Media No. 2693, which is also under consideration by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, stands for the systematic policy of reforming the media sector of Ukraine). The research is aimed at defining the place of the draft law in the reformed system of legal regulation of the Ukrainian media, from the position of the academic community neutral to the process. For this purpose, a detailed content analysis was conducted, which showed that, in the long run, the ambiguous wording of the adopted document at the stage of its enforcement, leaves the regulatory authorities free to interpret it depending on the interests of the parties, rather than on the language of the law. Considering the risks associated with the entry into force of this draft, one should also take into account the ambiguous reaction of the local and international media community. The article may be considered as a contribution to the development of criteria for a comprehensive scientific analysis of the legislation regulating the activity of media structures.</p>journalismmediainformationdisinformationfreedom of speechpoliticslawжурналистикамедиаинформациядезинформациясвобода словаполитикаправо[Siebert, F., Schramm, W., & Peterson, T. (1998). Four theories of the press. Moscow, National Press Institute.][Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports of Ukraine. (2020). Draft Law to change some norms in the current legacy about disinformation. (In Ukrainian.) Retrieved February 1, 2021, from http://mkms.gov.ua/files/pdf/Disinformation_Draft_2020.pdf][Zelenskiy’s Freedom of Expression Council opposes disinformation law. (n.d.). Ukraine 24. (In Russ.) Retrieved February 1, 2021, from https://ua24ua.net/sovet-po-voprosam-svobodi-slova-pri-zelenskom-vistupil-protiv-zakona-o-dezinformatsii/][Vatsyak, J. (2020). Mission UN against of Ukrainian law about disinformation. Ukrainian News. (In Russ.) Retrieved February 1, 2021, from https://ukranews.com/news/681020-zakon-o-media-borodyanskogo-prokommentirovali-v-oon][Council of Europe. (n.d.) Ukraine’s Draft Law on Combating Disinformation and Regulating Media Activity threatens freedom of speech. Retrieved February 1, 2021, from https://www.coe.int/en/web/][Disinformation bill threatens freedom of speech in Ukraine - Council of Europe. (2020, January 28). Strana.ua. (In Russ.) Retrieved February 1, 2021 from https://strana.ua/news/246772-sovet-evropy-osudil-zakonoproekt-o-dezinformatsii.html][There is much of lies about the project of the law about disinformation. (2020, January 25). Ukrinform. (In Russ.) Retrieved February 1, 2021, from https://www.ukrinform.ru/rubric-society/2862785-pro-zakonoproekt-o-dezinformacii-pisut-mnogo-nepravdy-borodanskij.html][Maslyak, P.O., & Kapirulina, S.L. (2016). Textbook with Geography for 8th grade. Kamyanets Podolsky, Axioma Publ. (In Ukrainian.)][Volkova, O. (2018). Pavel Volkov: “By the number of corpses that hung on me, I was the most dangerous in prison”. Strana.ua. (In Russ.) Retrieved February 7, 2021, from https://strana.ua/articles/168259-po-kolichestvu-trupov-kotorye-na-mne-viseli-2-tysjach-chelovek-ja-byl-samym-opasnym-v-tjurme-.html][The Law of Ukraine about Print Media and Press in Ukraine. (In Russ.) Retrieved February 1, 2021, from http://consultant.parus.ua/?doc=003PVDA8DC][Tovt, A. (2018). Lawyers for lawlessness. Who and how helps the authorities to put pressure on the Ukrainian media. Strana.ua. (In Russ.) Retrieved February 1, 2021, from https://strana.ua/articles/analysis/131050-detektor-media-i-imi-iskazhajut-situatsiju-so-svobodoj-slova-v-ukraine.html]