Photos and videos from the Seimas of Lithuania are being circulated on social networks. They depict choristers in embroidered shirts performing the anthem of Ukraine, printed on sheets with the Ukrainian flag and coat of arms on the back. Reports say that this is evidence that Ukraine has already occupied not only Lithuania, but also other Baltic countries. This is manipulation.

In the Seimas, the anthem of Ukraine was indeed performed as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine on February 24, 2023. Fact-checkers of the Delfi project confirmed the time and place of the shooting using software. Events dedicated to the expression of solidarity with Ukraine, during which Ukrainian symbols were used, were held in many countries of the world. Therefore, this can in no way be regarded as evidence of the occupation of the Baltic countries by Ukraine. Fact-checkers note that this is not the first case of misrepresentation of information about the use of Ukrainian symbols or elements of Ukrainian culture.

Russian propaganda deliberately spreads the message about the “Ukrainization” of states that help Ukraine in order to turn their citizens against Ukrainians. Allegedly, helping Ukraine threatens to destroy their culture and identity. Earlier propagandists wrote that the Ukrainians were trying to Ukrainize Poland.

Pro-Russian telegram channels and social networks disseminate information that in Ukraine they allegedly make “punitive penal units” of people convicted of desertion, rape and murder. Like, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine forbade them to use the “battle cry” “Glory to Ukraine”, since by doing so they discredit the Ukrainian army. Allegedly, in order to use this greeting, you first need to “atone yourself” on the battlefield. The reports also add that instead of “Glory to Ukraine”, the guardsmen most often prefer to use Russian swearing or the slogan “Death to enemies!”. It's fake.

There are no so-called “punitive penal units” in Ukraine. Prisoners do participate in hostilities, but for the most part this concerns the former military. Before sending a prisoner to the front, they take into account their combat experience, services to the state and sincere repentance. However, these are isolated cases in contrast to the mass mobilization of prisoners into the ranks of the Russian army.

In October 2018, the Verkhovna Rada approved the military greeting “Glory to Ukraine! - Glory to heroes!” as an official greeting of the Ukrainian army and the National Police of Ukraine. However, there is no evidence that the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine has banned anyone from using this greeting, VoxCheck fact-checkers note. There is no confirmation that the guardsmen use Russian swearing or the slogan “Death to enemies!” instead of greeting. In fact, the expression “Death to enemies!” is part of the slogan “Glory to the nation! - Death to enemies!”, which is considered a continuation of the greeting “Glory to Ukraine! - Glory to heroes!”.

In this way, the propagandists nourish the narrative of Nazism in Ukraine. Like, Ukrainians are divided into worthy and unworthy to use certain slogans. Also, Russian propaganda uses reflection tactics to emphasize that former criminals also serve in the Ukrainian army.

Reports are circulating on pro-Russian telegram channels that Ukrainians are building defensive structures on the border with Russian-occupied Transnistria. They say that Ukraine is justifying itself by strengthening its own security, but ‘in fact” it is preparing provocations to draw Moldova into the war.

Russian propaganda systematically spreads messages that Ukraine is going to draw neighboring states into the war, including Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary or Belarus. The propagandists also wrote that in one way or another Ukraine was involving the USA, Finland, Estonia, Germany, Slovakia, Serbia, etc. into the war. Propaganda claimed that military personnel of NATO countries or representatives of the OSCE are fighting in Ukraine. Thus, Russia uses the tactics of substitution of concepts in order to present itself as a victim of global aggression, and not as an aggressor state.

Russia launched a new wave of disinformation messages about drawing Moldova into the war after Russian missiles violated Moldovan airspace. Thus, Russia is trying to be proactive and absolve itself of responsibility for war crimes. Like, Ukraine provokes other states and draws them into the war, not Russia. The Russians recently shared a “document” allegedly confirming that Ukraine was preparing to attack Transnistria.

Information is being disseminated on social networks that they allegedly brought in rice with cadmium, which causes infertility and atrophy of the muscles of the limbs. Allegedly, it was “rejected” in Italy and deliberately taken to Ukraine. Like, there are no shells with depleted uranium for Ukrainians, but there is poisonous rice. This is manipulation.

Italian rice did indeed make it to Ukraine, but even before it was considered dangerous. The product was promptly withdrawn from circulation following a hazard alert notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). VoxCheck fact-checkers explain that this is Italian risotto rice, which was found to have a high content of cadmium. Cadmium really has a toxic effect on the kidneys, bone and respiratory systems, therefore it is dangerous to health.

Finland was the first to have reported on a dangerous product on February 3. Ukraine received a notification a little later, when the results of the Polish inspection were ready, since rice was imported to Ukraine from Poland. That is, poisonous rice was not specially imported to Ukraine, it was sold both in Italy and throughout Europe. On the contrary, after the threat was discovered, Ukraine was immediately informed about the danger.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to sow panic among Ukrainians and discredit the export of goods and products to Ukraine. They say that Ukrainians are treated with disdain, and therefore they supply low-quality goods. Previously, Russian propaganda spread a similar fake, which allegedly poisoned Ukrainians with cookies.

Photos of supposedly fifteen-year-old twin girls in military uniforms are being circulated on social networks. Reports say the UK is allegedly repatriating British twins who left home to fight in the Donbas “in a neo-Nazi battalion”. Like, the Home Office wants to return Hayley and Lottie Whiteman to their home in Swindon. Allegedly, a petition for their return “was signed by more than 400 thousand people”. It's fake.

The original source of the message is a Twitter account that systematically distributes satirical content. The comments indicate that social media users perceived this message as truthful and expressed outrage against the participation of children in the war. Screenshots of this post have also been shared on social media. Reuters fact checkers determined that the photo was taken at least six years ago and altered using photo editors. There are two women in the original photo, not underage twins.

It is likely that the fake photo was deliberately used to discredit the military personnel fighting in Ukraine. Like, the Ukrainians are so irresponsible that even children are used in the war. This is in tune with Russian propaganda narratives about the mobilization and combat training of Ukrainian teenagers.

Messages are circulating on the net that the alleged number of tanks that Germany will transfer to Ukraine is not accidental. They are talking about 14 Leopard 2A6 tanks and 88 Leopard 1 tanks. Users claim that Nazi symbols were encrypted in these numbers: 88 - two eight letters of Latin (HH - Heil Hitler), 14 - the slogan of white racists from 14 words. This is manipulation.

The statement about encrypted characters in the number of tanks is a conspiracy theory. Moreover, finally Germany will transfer more tanks. First, the German government announced the supply of 14 Leopard 2 A6 battle tanks to Ukraine from the stocks of the Bundeswehr. According to VoxCheck fact-checkers, according to NATO standards, a tank company consists of 14 tanks. That is, this figure has nothing to do with Nazi symbols. Somewhat later, they announced the delivery of 88 Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine. However, the German federal government finally approved the delivery of 178 Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine.

Russian propaganda used the coincidence and came up with a “hidden meaning” in the number of tanks it plans to deliver to Ukraine. Thus, Russian propaganda not only nourished the narrative that Nazism reigns in Ukraine, but also tries to discredit military assistance to Ukraine from other states. Previously, propaganda spread fakes, as if the Ukrainian military were awarding “Nazi” awards and allegedly fascist crosses were depicted on Ukrainian armored vehicles.

Russian media and pro-Russian telegram channels distribute a photo of an alleged “honor board” on which they post the results of handing over draft notices. The reports claim that employees of one of the Territorial recruitment and social support centers in Mykolaiv are allegedly competing for weekend vacations in a cottage. The competition is ostensibly called the Safari draft notice. It's fake.

Fact-checkers of the StopFake project did not find any evidence that this photo is related to Mykolaiv and the Territorial recruitment and social support center. The Mykolaiv regional recruitment and social support center denied the possibility of holding such competitions among workers.

To create a fake, black-and-white photos of poor quality were used, which complicates their verification. In the photo, men are in civilian clothes, although the employees of the Territorial recruitment and social support center must be in military uniform. The fact checker suggests that these photos are generated by artificial intelligence. Actually, the use of the word “safari” in the title immediately associates negatively with the messages that men are being hunted in Ukraine.

Russian propaganda systematically parasitizes on the topic of mobilization, moreover, they use a network of agenda telegram channels for this. Propaganda uses the facts of real violations in the mobilization process to give credibility to its messages, in particular, regarding the combat training of teenagers, the mobilization of women, etc. The propagandists also claimed that the Territorial recruitment and social support center  is an illegal structure, so the draft notices are also issued illegally.

Pro-Russian telegram channels disseminate  information about a large-scale provocation allegedly being prepared by Kyiv to accuse Russia of “dirty violation” of the requirements of the Nuclear Safety Convention. Allegedly, for this, barrels with radioactive substances were brought to the Odesa port of Chornomorsk, as a result of which the port workers received radioactive exposure. It is not true.

The information was denied by the head spokesman of the Odesa regional military administration Serhii Bratchuk. According to the VoxCheck fact-checkers, there is no confirmation of this information in official sources. “Odesa regional center for disease control and prevention of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine” systematically conducts radiation observations and dosimetric control in the Odesa region, including the city of Chornomorsk. In recent days, the radiation background, both in Chornomorsk and in the Odesa region as a whole was normal, no deviations were recorded.

The narrative about possible Ukrainian provocations with the use of nuclear weapons or a “dirty bomb” has been nourished by Russian propaganda for a long time. In particular, in October they wrote that Ukraine was working on the creation of a “dirty” nuclear bomb, that Kyiv was preparing a provocation to detonate it. Propagandists also distributed fake photos allegedly proving the creation of a “dirty bomb” by Ukraine. Thus, Russia is resorting to nuclear blackmail and is trying to intimidate Ukraine and other democracies into negotiating on its own terms.

Pro-Russian publications tell foreign audiences that the US is actively recruiting jihadists from ISIS and al-Qaeda to carry out terrorist attacks in Russia and other countries that were part of the USSR. “Recruitment” and “training” takes place at the Al-Tanf military base in Syria, mainly among militants from the Caucasus and Central Asia. They seem to be studying how to make and use improvised explosive devices, as well as explosive methods. Like, the US security forces are demoralized, and therefore obsessed with the idea of bleeding Russia in any way, even using terrorists.

EU vs Disinfo analysts drew attention to the spread of the message. They note that this is an unfounded claim, there is no evidence of the training of militants. In addition, the US is leading the global coalition to defeat ISIS and other international counter-terrorist initiatives.

Thus, Russian propaganda uses intimidation tactics and fuels narratives about the US as an enemy of Russia. Earlier, Russian propaganda wrote that a group of radical Islamists went from northeast Syria to Ukraine to fight as mercenaries on the side of Kyiv.