Books at the Institute

Books at the Institute is pleased to host an evening with Thomas Kent, journalist, author, and expert on Russian affairs and propaganda as he presents his new publication, The Propaganda Manual of the Ukraine War: Information Warfare by Russia, Ukraine, and Western Nations: Lessons Learned for Future Conflicts.

Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 6:30 PM
2 East 79th Street  New York, NY 10075

Book signing and light reception to follow.

General admission: $25 / UIA Annual Friend: $20 / UIA Member $15

Modern wars are no longer won by tanks and missiles alone. In Ukraine, an equally consequential battle rages in the information sphere – one fought with disinformation, psychological operations, cyber warfare, and strategic messaging. In The Propaganda Manual of the Ukraine War, Thomas Kent takes readers inside this hidden front, where belief itself has become a weapon capable of shaping the war’s outcome.

His central argument moves beyond the familiar charge that Russia lies. Yes, the Kremlin runs a vast propaganda machine, suppressing dissent at home while working to influence opinion abroad. But Kent shows the information war is far larger than Russian deception alone. Russians must be convinced their country can still win. Ukrainians must keep believing they can defeat a much larger adversary. Western publics must be persuaded that backing Ukraine is worth the cost – without committing their own troops. In each case, belief is not mere commentary on the war; it is a force that shapes policy, and therefore shapes the war itself.

Drawing on extensive research, Kent examines forged websites, hacked broadcasts, manipulated algorithms, and covert influence campaigns – along with darker tactics like infrastructure strikes and Kremlin-directed violence in Western Europe, both aimed at shaping perception as much as inflicting damage. He assesses each side’s successes and failures, and offers concrete recommendations for how Western nations can better wage – and defend against – the propaganda war.

Essential for anyone following Ukraine, NATO, cyber conflict, or the future of information warfare, this book reveals the invisible battlefield where the war may ultimately be decided.

Thomas Kent is a specialist on propaganda, journalism, and the world information war. He had a long international career at The Associated Press, including as Moscow bureau chief, chief correspondent in Tehran during the 1979 Islamic revolution, and head of AP’s international service. Until 2018, he was president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, based in Prague. He now teaches at Columbia University and consults for governments, NGOs, and corporations on information operations and Russian affairs. His latest book, The Propaganda Manual of the Ukraine War was published in August by the American Foreign Policy Council, where he is the senior fellow for strategic communications.

……………………

To have a copy of the book signed, The Propaganda Manual of the Ukraine War  will be available for purchase ($38.00) at the Ukrainian Institute of America the evening of the event.

By purchasing a book from the UIA, you are supporting its continued cultural and educational programming and the further enjoyment of its unique events by our friends and community along New York’s Museum Mile.

For further information: Please contact the Ukrainian Institute of America at (212) 288-8660 or mail@ukrainianinstitute.org.

Photo of Thomas Kent courtesy of the author. All rights reserved.

……………………

Title: The Propaganda Manual of the Ukraine War: Information Warfare by Russia, Ukraine, and Western Nations: Lessons Learned for Future Conflicts

Author: Thomas Kent
Publisher: AFPC Press / Armin Lear Press (August 3, 2026)
Hardcover: 488 pages
ISBN-10: 1968919481
ISBN-13:  978-1968919481
tem Weight: 1.43 pounds
Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 9 inches