This book breaks into the black box of Russian cultural diplomacys ideological underpinnings and modi operandi. Relying on publicly accessible sources such as annual reports, news from official websites, social media posts, and other pertinent materials, the contributors examine the three most significant state-affiliated or full-fledged state institutions operating in this field. Their organization and management, budget and financial details, links to oligarchs, the government and other institutions, most important activities, as well as overall geographical presence are analyzed. The discourses of these organizations during the Russia-Ukraine War, including after 24 February 2022, are given special attention. The collection discloses how the Kremlins foreign propaganda institutions support the Russian authoritarian regime and its expansionist policies.

Nadiia Koval studied Political Science and International Relations in Kyiv, Warsaw, and Paris. Since 2021, she is Head of Research and Analysis at the Ukrainian Institute in Kyiv and a Lecturer at Kyiv School of Economics. Previously, she was Director of the Centre for International Studies at the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine and Head of Central and West European Studies at the Foreign Policy Council Ukrainian Prism. Koval is a member of the International Studies Association. Her chapters have been published in Interpretations of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict in Western Academic and Analytical Discourse (IPiEND 2020) and Decentralization, Regional Diversity, and Conflict: The Case of Ukraine (Palgrave Macmillan 2020), and her papers in Problems of Post-Communism and The Ideology and Politics Journal. Denys Tereshchenko studied Political Science, Public Policy, and Comparative History in Kyiv and Vienna. In 2021-2023, he has been an analyst at the Ukrainian Institute of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Previously, Tereshchenko was a national minorities expert at the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Consciousness. His papers on political science have been published by The Ideology and Politics Journal and the School for Political Analysis of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.