Social Media's Role in the Ukraine-Russia Conflict: A Data Deep Dive

The world watched as Russia's invasion of Ukraine unfolded on February 24, 2022. The conflict quickly escalated, sparking global outrage and a wave of support for Ukraine. Beyond the physical battlefield, a digital war was also taking shape. Social media platforms became battlegrounds for information, influence, and mobilization. A massive collection of over 63 million tweets, spanning from February 22 to March 8, 2022, has been made public. This dataset, available on GitHub, offers a glimpse into the online discourse surrounding the conflict. It's a treasure trove for researchers, providing insights into how social media is used during times of war. Initial findings from this dataset reveal some interesting patterns. There was a noticeable surge in engagement with Russian state-sponsored media and other sources known for spreading unreliable information on the day of the invasion. This highlights the complex role social media plays in shaping public opinion and spreading information during conflicts. The dataset is not just a static collection of tweets. It's actively maintained and updated, reflecting the ongoing nature of the war and the evolving digital landscape. This makes it a valuable resource for understanding the dynamic role of social media in modern conflicts. The hope is that this dataset will shed light on how social media influences information dissemination, influence campaigns, and grassroots mobilization. It's a chance to critically examine the power and impact of social media in times of crisis.