Information refining and big data analysis on the crisis on the fossil fuel market to identify of Russia’s hostile narratives towards European Union countries

Abstract Fossil fuels helped Russian president Putin build military power of Russia and attack Ukraine. Coal, gas and oil are being used by Putin’s regime as weapons against the countries that are contractors and consumers of Russian fuels. The aim of this paper is to present a methodology based on refining information and Big Data analysis and to demonstrate the results, as well as to show trends and developments in relation to the response to the crisis on the fossil fuel market. Predictive methods and the techniques of sentiment analysis including the cluster analysis and the analysis of the variability of trends indicates that the European Union has taken over the burden of energy policy-making. This also indicates a downgrading of national policies and their weakness in resisting Russia’s aggressive actions. The analysis of frequency confirms the markedly different Russian attitudes to Europe as a whole and to its individual members.