SUMMARY
Onyshchak V. O. The Russian-Ukrainian War According to the German Newspaper DIE ZEIT (2014–2022). – Qualification thesis as a manuscript.
Dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the specialty 032 “History and Archaeology.” Ivan Franko Drohobych State Pedagogical University, Drohobych, 2026.
The Russian-Ukrainian war, which began in 2014 as a result of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, is one of the most defining events in modern European history. It caused radical changes in the system of international security and prompted a re-evaluation of the concepts of sovereignty, collective security, and international law. After the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, this war turned into a global challenge to the democratic world, highlighting issues of information policy and the role of the media.
Western European media, especially German outlets, play a leading role in shaping international opinion regarding the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
Scientific Novelty and Significance
For the first time in Ukrainian historiography, Die Zeit’s coverage of the Russian-Ukrainian war (2014–2022) has been systematically analyzed.
Key contributions include:
– Introducing a large corpus of German-language materials previously unexamined in Ukrainian scholarship;
– Identifying stages and structural features of transformation within the German information space;
– Revealing mechanisms of changing representations of Ukraine and countering Russian disinformation;
– Combining classical historical source analysis with modern media research tools.
Theoretical and Practical Relevance
The dissertation expands our understanding of media as a historical source and demonstrates their role in shaping collective consciousness. The study complements Ukrainian historiography with new evidence on the international perception of the war.
The findings can be used in teaching courses on contemporary Ukrainian history, 21st-century European history, historiography, source studies, media history, and international relations. They are also relevant to public diplomacy, information policy, and analytical work in governmental and academic institutions.
The Russian-Ukrainian war of 2014–2022 emerged not only as an armed conflict but as a civilizational confrontation between Russian authoritarianism and democratic values. In this context, the German press – particularly Die Zeit – served not only as a communicator but as an arbiter of European thought. The analysis demonstrates the gradual evolution of German media from initial neutrality to explicit support for Ukraine, reflecting both political change in Germany and the transformation of European journalism in response to the moral and informational challenges of war.
Keywords: Russian-Ukrainian war, media discourse, historiography, German press, Die Zeit, information policy, Ukraine, international relations, European journalism, reception, international support, law, EU, security, UN, NATO.
