Defeating the Enemy through Laughter: Humour as a Strategic Weapon in the Russo-Ukrainian War — Orest Semotiuk
Event language: German | THURSDAY, 25.06.2026, 1 - 2 p.m. | Hybrid format | In this lecture, Dr Orest Semotiuk examines humour as a strategic instrument in the Russo-Ukrainian War. Drawing on selected examples from visual culture and online memes, the lecture explores how humour functions not only as entertainment, but also as a means of identity formation, mobilisation, and political communication, highlighting the ways in which artistic, cultural, and literary motifs are used by both sides in the conflict.
In contemporary warfare, military means are no longer the only instruments employed. Culture, symbols, media, and humour have become important tools of confrontation.
This is particularly evident in the case of Ukraine, which has been resisting Russian aggression since 2014. It is no coincidence that Ukraine is often said to have already won the ‘war of memes’. In this context, humour serves not merely as entertainment, but also as a means of identity formation, mobilisation, and the communication of political messages.
Dr Semotiuk is currently a KIU Fellow at the European University Viadrina and is working on the research project “Acclaiming ‘Us’, Attacking ‘Them’, Defending Identity: Imagefare and Visual Humour in the Russian-Ukrainian War.” Drawing on selected examples, he examines how motifs from art, culture, and literature are taken up in the memes of both parties to the conflict.
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