In Kyiv took place Forum of communicators, timed to the 33rd anniversary of the creation of the communication units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The event was organized with the support of the Consultative Mission of the European Union in Ukraine (ECM).
The forum was opened by Maryana Reva, director of the Department of Communication of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. In her speech, she thanked her colleagues for endurance, professionalism and work in war conditions.
“Thank you to the entire team for their dedication, professionalism and endurance. In the most difficult times, our strength lies in truth, unity and trust. Strategic communications today is not just information, but a line of defense that helps not only to inform our citizens, but also to fight the enemy’s disinformation. Your daily work helps to keep calm, build resilience and bring victory closer.” Maryana Reva emphasized.
The forum was aimed at improving strategic communications and developing media literacy as a means of countering disinformation. The event gathered 150 specialists from different regions of the country and became a platform for discussing the strategic directions of the communication policy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and strengthening internal cooperation. The deputy head of the EU Consultative Mission in Ukraine, Maura O’Sullivan, mentioned this in her speech.
“We would like to express our gratitude to everyone who works in the team of communicators of the MIA system for the extremely difficult and responsible work that you perform every day in the conditions of war, in order to be one voice. It is pleasant to note that today more than a hundred communicators from different parts of the country have gathered here in the capital, who have the opportunity to exchange experience, discuss problematic issues, share projects and just chat“, she emphasized.
The Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko took part in the event. Together with the participants of the forum, he honored the memory of those who died as a result of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, in particular, representatives of communication units who died or were injured during service.
“During the three years of a full-scale war, you have become braver and more professional. You are at the sites of enemy attacks, on the front lines, in the trenches, on the border, on business trips at any time of the day, in order to show the world the truth as quickly as possible. Your materials are referred to and you are trusted, because we are trying to show the value of each of our soldiers and workers. Your work is followed not only by journalists, but also by those who are waiting for their relatives from the front, from captivity, from hospital” – noted Ihor Klymenko.
During the forum, the heads of the communication units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs shared their work experience during the year: combating disinformation, implementing information campaigns on recruiting or security issues, in particular, handling explosive objects. They emphasized that the level of trust of citizens in the communications of the Ministry of Internal Affairs has increased thanks to creative approaches and effective projects.
Among the topics discussed were also ways to effectively work with information in war conditions, the use of artificial intelligence, the use of OSINT tools, as well as the search for ways to convey complex content simply and safely.
