Abstract

The essence of the concept of «international image», the specifi formation of the international image of Ukraine from the time of independence. It notes the key role of the information component in the hybrid war. Analyzed the international image of Ukraine in the coordinates of the hybrid threats. The methods of Russian inflence on the image of Ukraine. Hybrid war is not the invention of XXI century. But what is remarkable about modern hybrid conflcts is that proportion of information and media impact is much bigger. As a result, there is urgent need to form hybrid answer and hybrid defeat against hybrid threats. Information war against Ukraine aims not only destabilization and panic. It also aims to create as bad image of Ukraine in the world as possible. This process started in 2005 during fist gas war. Ukraine was accused in stealing transit gas and not paying gas debts. Therefore, this image has to be broken and positive one has to be created and supported. Russia uses and combines numerous methods of creating negative image of Ukraine. Russians try to use the person of former Ukrainian President, Victor Janukovich, in order to put offiial Kiev under pressure and make its legitimacy questionable. Speculations on painful and debating points in Ukrainian history became usual. This instrument is not new, but effectively splits Ukrainian society. The pressure on Russia’s partners in Europe in order to create coalition against sanctions and to cut Ukraine’s support is growing. Russia also claims that Ukraine is not historically legitimated, divided country. Although made some positive steps in the legislative regulation of the formation of the international image of Ukraine, however, remain a number of unresolved issues such as the lack of program coordination of information activities of state authorities in creating a positive international image of Ukraine.