From Reaction to Influence: How to Counter Manipulation in International Discussions

On April 30, another English-language Discussion Laboratory will take place in Kyiv. The event is scheduled from 18:00 to 19:30 (Chekhivskyi Lane area).

Given the limited number of seats, registered participants will receive the exact address after completing the registration form.

The event will be hosted by Kateryna Pokotylo, a language mentor and linguist with 22 years of experience. She previously participated in a preparatory meeting for over 100 community representatives ahead of URC-2025, organized by the Holka civic initiative and the Center for Innovations Development.

Kateryna Pokotylo

Language Mentor and Intercultural Communications Expert

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Imagine a situation: an international platform discussing Ukraine. However, as is often the case, 'both sides', Ukrainians and Russians, are invited. And while heated discussions take place, where Ukrainian speakers present facts and arguments, Russians use a rhetorical trick that allows them to hijack the spotlight. This trick involves questions starting with 'What about...?' This creates unnecessary noise, causes fatigue, scatters attention, and drowns out Ukrainian voices.

Together with civil society representatives experienced in international advocacy, we are developing messaging frameworks. Anyone interested can already review our guidelines on how to respond to narratives about 'good Russians'. If you want to join our efforts and have an English proficiency level of B2 or higher, please fill out the registration form.

Participants of the previous session received practical advice on English language advocacy and collaboratively developed a message box with responses to common questions regarding “good Russians” at international events.

Olha Chervakova, Director of the Government Relations Department at Suspilne Ukraine (Public Broadcasting), attended the first session. She believes the Discussion Laboratory is a crucial initiative that should be scaled and coordinated among the civil sector, state institutions, and the Ukrainian diaspora abroad:

Olha Chervakova

Director of the Government Relations Department at Suspilne Ukraine

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The enemy is pouring billions of dollars into latent propaganda and agents of influence abroad, manipulating their puppets in Europe disguised as refugees. They have a numerical advantage, so we must be more disciplined and composed than they are. The cost of a mistake or inaction is incredibly high.

For effective international advocacy, simply speaking English is not enough; we need to have clearly refined messages that resonate with foreign audiences. This event provided an understanding of how we can convey our internal context abroad and what messages we should use to protect our foreign partners from potential military threats as well.

Trainer and facilitator Iryna Domnenko emphasizes the importance of finding the right format for such meetings:

Iryna Domnenko

Trainer and facilitator

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The meeting was useful, but also emotionally heavy, because it feels like picking at a concentrated wound. It is good that we can do this in a safe space. Overall, this is the kind of 'speaking club' you have always been looking for to practice English, but focusing on essential professional topics rather than just movies and the weather.

This event is part of the Bridges of Ukraine volunteer project by the Holka civic initiative.

Participants of the first Discussion Laboratory

As a reminder, Holka also conducts lectures on leadership development, organizational and personal branding, crisis communications, and more. You can find out more about the lecture topics on the website in the civic initiative’s creative workshop, the “Ministry of Magic”.