A Critical Discourse Analysis of How the Russia-Ukraine War Is Framed in Western vs. Eastern Online Media

Abstract

This study conducts a critical discourse analysis (CDA) to compare how Western and Eastern online media frame the Russia-Ukraine war from February 2022 to August 2025. Analyzing 100 articles from outlets like BBC, The New York Times, RT, and Global Times, the research identifies divergent narratives: Western media portray Russia as an aggressor violating Ukraine’s sovereignty, emphasizing democratic values and human rights, while Eastern media frame the conflict as a defensive response to NATO provocation, highlighting historical grievances and multipolarity. These frames, rooted in ideological divides, shape global perceptions and fuel polarization. Linguistic patterns, such as emotive terms in Western media (“invasion,” “atrocities”) versus euphemistic language in Eastern media (“special operation,” “crisis”), reveal how discourse constructs geopolitical realities. The findings underscore media’s role in perpetuating ideological conflicts and suggest the need for diverse sourcing and media literacy to foster balanced dialogue. Limitations include sample size and potential translation biases, with future research proposed for social media and Global South perspectives.