So, I got a bunch of questions about reflexive control tactics, especially with the massive FIMI ops going on against Zelenskyy right now.
Here's a good source on reflexive control tactics and a short thread for you, curious minds:
Here's a good source on reflexive control tactics and a short thread for you, curious minds:
How Reflexive Control Manipulates Your Mind — and Loses Wars
Russia's war plan in Ukraine wasn’t just tanks and missiles. It was built on an old Soviet trick: Reflexive Control.
A theory to make you choose wrong — on your own.
Russia's war plan in Ukraine wasn’t just tanks and missiles. It was built on an old Soviet trick: Reflexive Control.
A theory to make you choose wrong — on your own.
Source: Militaire Spectator, 2023
#reflexivecontrol #disinformation militairespectator.nl/sites/default/…
#reflexivecontrol #disinformation militairespectator.nl/sites/default/…
What is Reflexive Control (RC)?
A Soviet mind-hack.
Coined by V. Lefebvre in 1965.
Refined by the Red Army to guide the enemy’s decisions without force.
You don’t overpower the opponent. You make them decide to weaken themselves.
Like chess — but you pick their move for them
A Soviet mind-hack.
Coined by V. Lefebvre in 1965.
Refined by the Red Army to guide the enemy’s decisions without force.
You don’t overpower the opponent. You make them decide to weaken themselves.
Like chess — but you pick their move for them
12 tactics of Reflexive Control (per Komov + Leonenko):
Deception — Create a fake threat
Disruption — Scramble decision-making
Deterrence — Project invincible power
Distraction — Pull attention away
Deception — Create a fake threat
Disruption — Scramble decision-making
Deterrence — Project invincible power
Distraction — Pull attention away
Division — Split alliances or loyalties
Exhaustion — Waste their energy
Overload — Bury them in noise
Pacification — Pretend it’s all fine
Exhaustion — Waste their energy
Overload — Bury them in noise
Pacification — Pretend it’s all fine
Paralysis — Invent threats to freeze them
Pressure — Shame their leadership
Provocation — Force a reaction
Suggestion — Seed ideas that steer their will
Russia tried them all in Ukraine.
Some examples to illustrate:
Pressure — Shame their leadership
Provocation — Force a reaction
Suggestion — Seed ideas that steer their will
Russia tried them all in Ukraine.
Some examples to illustrate:
EXAMPLE 1: “Zelensky is a Nazi”
Mechanism: Suggestion
Goal: Get Ukrainians (esp.Russian-speakers) to hate their own president and welcome Russian troops.
Result: Resistance hardened. South Ukraine dug trenches instead.
Mechanism: Suggestion
Goal: Get Ukrainians (esp.Russian-speakers) to hate their own president and welcome Russian troops.
Result: Resistance hardened. South Ukraine dug trenches instead.
EXAMPLE 2: The ‘Military Exercise’ Lie
Mechanism: Pacification
Russia masked its invasion buildup as harmless training.
Ukraine had seen it before — and underreacted.
Result: Key forces were too focused on Donbas. Kyiv left exposed.
Mechanism: Pacification
Russia masked its invasion buildup as harmless training.
Ukraine had seen it before — and underreacted.
Result: Key forces were too focused on Donbas. Kyiv left exposed.
EXAMPLE 3: The Cyber Onslaught
Mechanism: Disruption
Russia knocked out Viasat comms, hit Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence with malware, and jammed air defenses.
Goal: Confuse, isolate, disorient.
Result: Starlink arrived in 48 hours. Ukraine adapted fast.
Mechanism: Disruption
Russia knocked out Viasat comms, hit Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence with malware, and jammed air defenses.
Goal: Confuse, isolate, disorient.
Result: Starlink arrived in 48 hours. Ukraine adapted fast.
EXAMPLE 4: Fake Surrender by Zelensky
Mechanism: Pressure
Russian hackers aired a deepfake of Zelensky surrendering.
TV ticker: “Zelensky has fled Kyiv.”
Goal: Collapse morale
Result: Zelensky dropped a video rebuttal. No one bought it.
Mechanism: Pressure
Russian hackers aired a deepfake of Zelensky surrendering.
TV ticker: “Zelensky has fled Kyiv.”
Goal: Collapse morale
Result: Zelensky dropped a video rebuttal. No one bought it.
EXAMPLE 5: Putin’s Essay on ‘Brotherly Nations’
Mechanism: Division
Framed Ukraine as part of Russia, emotionally and culturally.
Goal: Split public opinion, deter volunteers.
Result: UAF had to turn away recruits — too many signed up.
Mechanism: Division
Framed Ukraine as part of Russia, emotionally and culturally.
Goal: Split public opinion, deter volunteers.
Result: UAF had to turn away recruits — too many signed up.
Why it failed:
Reflexive Control only works if your target misreads you.
In 2014, Crimea was unprepared.
In 2022, Ukraine had lived 8 years under threat. They’d seen the playbook.
Reflexive Control only works if your target misreads you.
In 2014, Crimea was unprepared.
In 2022, Ukraine had lived 8 years under threat. They’d seen the playbook.
Why it still matters:
Reflexive Control doesn’t die when it fails. It evolves.
Russia, China, others — still use it:
🔸 To fracture Western support
🔸 To blur truth with suggestion
🔸 To provoke internal divides before conflict even starts
Reflexive Control doesn’t die when it fails. It evolves.
Russia, China, others — still use it:
🔸 To fracture Western support
🔸 To blur truth with suggestion
🔸 To provoke internal divides before conflict even starts
Reflexive Control isn’t about brute force.
It’s about infecting perception before the first shot.
And it’s still in play — online, in elections, in minds.
Know the tactics. Name them. Defuse the trap.
#reflexivecontrol #disinformation
It’s about infecting perception before the first shot.
And it’s still in play — online, in elections, in minds.
Know the tactics. Name them. Defuse the trap.
#reflexivecontrol #disinformation
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
