Maps as a Powerful Weapon of Hybrid Warfare in the Context of Russia's Modern Aggression against Ukraine.

The article focuses on the use of cartographic products for propaganda purposes, particularly examining "propaganda maps" as a type of tendentious map that deliberately distorts geographic information to influence public opinion and support hybrid warfare strategies. It highlights the concept of "Mapaganda," a term describing Russia's use of manipulated maps to misrepresent Ukraine's internationally recognized borders, including the depiction of Crimea and other occupied regions as part of Russia, thereby violating international law and contributing to information warfare. The article also discusses Ukraine's efforts to resist such cartographic propaganda through legislative measures, toponymic restoration, and international advocacy within cartographic organizations. It emphasizes the importance of critically assessing map sources to avoid misinformation and the risks posed by propaganda maps in geopolitical contexts.