NATO’s Strategic Communications Course Gets a Taste of Ukrainian Grit!
Ah, NATO! The elite club of military strategists, diplomats, and those folks who probably think they could win a war using just spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations. But recently, a fresh face popped in—Major Ilya Yevlash, the head of the public relations department at the Ukrainian Air Force Command, graced them with his battle-tested wisdom during their NATO Strategic Communications Course held in gorgeous Kilkis, Greece. Yes, folks, the location is certainly a touch more glamorous than your typical military briefing room!
The Man of the Hour
“I was invited there as a specialist from StratCom,” Yevlash humbly declared, though I suspect he might actually be the rock star of military communications. I mean, if your CV includes frontline experience in Kyiv, you’re not just a specialist—you’re practically a military influencer.
His lecture was a real eye-opener, sharing fascinating tales of communication events during the defense of Kyiv. Imagine: while the world was binge-watching Netflix, Major Yevlash was busy training press officers and organizing media coverage for operations that had everyone holding their breath—like the iconic Kharkiv counteroffensive and the gripping Bakhmut defense. Talk about drama!
Creating a Legend: The Ghost of Kyiv
And what’s a military talk without mentioning legends? Yevlash detailed the birth of the “Ghost of Kyiv”—a heroic symbol that could rival anything Marvel throws at us! Plus, he highlighted the footprint of that catchy tune—“Bayraktar”—that serenades our hearts while acknowledging the relentless perseverance of the Ukrainian people.
And did someone say documentaries? Yevlash shared that they’ve produced some gripping films, including “Battle for Kyiv” and “Battle for Kharkiv.” If these films don’t end up on a streaming service soon, I’ll be shocked. They’re just begging for a documentary series—“The Real Housewives of Kyiv,” anyone?
Bridging the Gap Between Civilians and Soldiers
Yevlash didn’t stop there. He articulated how the military communicates with civilians about air threats from the Russian side, emphasizing the importance of transparency. Imagine trying to prepare a population for potential airstrikes while simultaneously organizing photo exhibitions and book launches. “Excuse me, Ma’am, could you please evacuate before the air raid sirens go off? Also, there’s a gallery opening right after!”
Communication: The Unsung Weapon
But wait, there’s more! Our Major went into detail about how they prepare spokespersons for live broadcasts, ideally so they don’t spill tea or trip over their words like a new intern during a company meeting. He emphasized the stringent process for handling journalists at the front lines—those brave souls who dare to ask questions that could get them in serious trouble. And let’s not forget, with Ukraine’s armory being as diversified as an IKEA catalog, it’s a marvel they manage to keep everything under wraps while still sharing some crucial and heart-pounding narratives!
Europe Needs the Experience
The big takeaway? European representatives from armed forces and ministries were practically salivating at the knowledge Yevlash had to impart. It’s a revelation! Who knew the rest of Europe would be so desperate for a Ukrainian crash course in battle communications? Perhaps that “crash course” is just a euphemism for “don’t get blown up!”
Wrapping it Up with a Medal
By the end of the course, Colonel Dimitrios Karatzas presented Major Yevlash with a shiny coin and a certificate for his contributions. Because nothing says “I appreciate your input” quite like a piece of metal, right?
In the grand finale, participants rated Yevlash’s presentation highly—with ratings up there competing with the best five-star hotels on TripAdvisor. It seems Ukraine, amidst its battles and struggles, is also winning hearts and minds around the world. Bravo, Major!
You will read it in: 2 min. October 19, 2024, 9:22 am
The head of the public relations department – the deputy head of the communications department of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine gave a lecture at the NATO Strategic Communications Course, which took place on October 7-18 in the city of Kilkis (Republic of Greece), Major Ilya Yevlash.
“I was invited there as a specialist from StratCom, who has direct combat experience in organizing communication events,” Ilya Yevlash told ArmiyaInform in an exclusive comment.
— During my speech, I shared with the participants information about the organization of communication events during the defense of Kyiv, shared my experience of establishing work with journalists and training of personnel, namely press officers in the area of responsibility of the Operational and Strategic Group of Troops “Khortytsia”. He spoke about the coverage of various measures, including the Kharkiv counteroffensive operation, the Bakhmut defensive operation, etc., he noted.
They also talked about the experience of project implementation. And this is the creation of the image of the “Ghost of Kyiv”, the popularization of the famous song that became a legend – “Bayraktar”, the production of documentaries, including “Battle for Kyiv”, “Battle for Kharkiv”, as well as our film “War (not) for women case”, where the role of women in the Ukrainian army is revealed.
In addition, Ilya Yevlash spoke about his tenure as the head of the Public Relations Service of the Forces and Means of Defense of the City of Kyiv, about the specifics of the Air Force Communications Department’s work.
— He talked about how communication is carried out, how the population is notified about threats of an air attack from the Russian side, how we hold public events, in particular, photo exhibitions, book presentations. He shared his experience of how journalists are accompanied and how the work of journalists at the front is organized, Ilya Yevlash noted.
In his speech, he also focused on the preparation of spokespersons to provide comments on live broadcasts.
The participants of the course, which was devoted to strategic communications, were representatives of the Armed Forces, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Ministries of Defense of the Alliance countries and partners. A total of 42 participants from 16 countries.
— I was invited to the following courses — already for representatives of public relations bodies, spokesmen and other media persons, because now Europeans desperately need our experience. They are very interested in how, from a practical point of view, coverage of combat operations takes place, how access to combat positions takes place, and how communication takes place live.
Since Ukraine has a very large range of various weapons, the process of approving filming, providing answers to information requests, preparing and providing materials that journalists use for their stories is of interest. He shared the most successful cases of interaction with leading international agencies, such as the BBC, the Washington Post, the New York Times and others, Ilya Yevlash said.
At the end of the event, the head of the International Training Center for Peace Support Operations of the General Staff of the National Defense of Greece, Colonel Dimitrios Karatzas, awarded Ilya Yevlash with a coin and a certificate “For a significant contribution to the strengthening of peace and defense capabilities.” And the moderator of the course reported that the major of the ZSU received one of the highest ratings from the listeners regarding the relevance of the information provided.
