Spilnota Detector Media
Detector Media collects and documents real-time chronicles of the Kremlin disinformation about the Russian invasion. Ukraine for decades has been suffering from Kremlin disinformation. Here we document all narratives, messages, and tactics, which Russia is using from February 17th, 2022. Reminder: the increasing of shelling and fighting by militants happened on the 17th of February 2022 on the territory of Ukraine. Russian propaganda blames Ukraine for these actions.

On 21 May, on the 817th day of the full-scale war, our editorial office recorded:

2157
Fake
694
Manipulation
650
Message
442
Disclosure
Русскій фейк, іді на***!

Disclosure In Russia, they spread a report allegedly about the low moral and psychological state of the military of the 123 Territorial Defense Brigade

Such a “document” was circulated on social networks, in particular on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The “document” says that the Ukrainian military has increasingly begun to leave their positions, refusing to perform tasks at the forefront. They also allegedly sabotage the orders and instructions of the commanders.

This case was noticed by the fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project, who found that the report was not real. The fact-checkers sent a request to 123 TD brigade. They replied that they did not create such a report.

In particular, the “document” contains elements in its design that do not comply with the standards of modern Ukrainian office work. For example, in this case, the document should not be signed for the “commander of the OUV KHERSON (operational group of troops KHERSON)”, but is required to write for the highest military authority (for example, the headquarters of a military unit) and the authority of the Military Law Enforcement Service. This is a different type of document, namely a report. Therefore, there are other instructions for its design.

Fake In Poltava, they sold Easter sets with “symbols of the Nazis and the Azov regiment”

Such information was disseminated in social networks, in particular, on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The reports say that in Poltava on the eve of Easter they sold themed sets (accessories for Easter eggs) with symbols of the Nazis and the Azov regiment. The authors add a screenshot and a video to the publication, seemingly from the story of Poltava residents, claiming that “all the sets have been sold out”. It is not true.

Fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project investigated that such a set is not sold either in Poltava or in Ukraine as a whole. Such a photo and video can only be found in the Russian segment of social networks, which means that the “Easter set” was probably made with the help of special programs.

Moreover, in Ukraine it is forbidden to distribute Nazi symbols. According to the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the production, distribution of communist, Nazi symbols and propaganda of the communist and national socialist (Nazi) totalitarian regimes is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years. In theory, such a product could not get on the counter or be advertised in the media.

In addition, propagandists have equated Nazi symbols with those of the Azov regiment and once again seek to promote the narrative of the existence of Nazi Ukrainians. Allegedly, in Ukraine, the Nazis are praised along with the Azov representatives.

Tactics and tools How Russian propaganda uses “prejudice” tactics

A prejudice is a delusion that is formed in a person under external influence in relation to certain people, objects or phenomena. This happens without direct experience, the use of critical thinking and sufficient objective evidence.

Negative biases can be created based on gender, race, nationality, or ethnicity. Russian propaganda constantly appeals to all sorts of prejudices.

An example of the use of a number of prejudices is a comment by Dmytro Medvediev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, after blocking his English-language Twitter profile. “Twitter caved in under the State Department and hohols (Ukrainians)”, “Russia's main task is to inflict a crushing defeat on all enemies: the Ukronazis, the United States, their minions in NATO, including disgusting Poland, and other Western nits”. Prejudice against Ukrainians, the United States and its government, other Western allies of Ukraine, in particular Poland, is applied here.

Also, Russian propaganda broadcasts the prejudices of foreign volunteers who defend Ukraine with weapons in their hands. So, in the news about the death of American Andrew Harris Cooper in Bakhmut, they use the terms “bandit” and “mercenary”, and also descend to outright racism. Similar rhetoric is used in the news about the death of two Canadian volunteers.

Message Offensive Guard is a group of evaders to protect the regime of Zelenskyi

This thesis was circulated on social networks, in particular on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The reports say that the Offensive Guard is a “group of evaders to defend the regime of Zelenskyi”. Like, the brigades of the Offensive Guard are subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which means that they will protect Ukrainian officials from civilians and from the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Allegedly, the Offensive Guard will work in the event of mass protests by Ukrainians, hindering freedom of speech.

The fact-checkers of VoxCheck drew attention to the case, and found that the brigades of the Offensive Guards were created to conduct combat operations since the National Guardsmen, policemen and border guards fought at the front even before the full-scale invasion of Russia. The main goal of the Offensive Guard is to form assault brigades that will liberate Ukrainian territory. Currently, 9 brigades are being formed. All these units participated in the fighting, but under a different name or in a different structure.

That is, the Offensive Guard, like the Armed Forces of Ukraine, serve Ukraine and the Ukrainians. This is not an initiative of “individual officials” to introduce their own agenda. The military, on the contrary, protects every Ukrainian man and every Ukrainian woman, and does not interfere with their freedom.

Fake The Russians destroyed the first “Bradley” IFV

Such information was disseminated in social networks, in particular, on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. Reports say that Ukraine has lost the first American Bradley infantry fighting vehicle in the Zaporizhzhia direction. As proof, the authors of the messages cite a photo of the destroyed IFV. It is not true.

The VoxCheck project specialists worked on the case, they determined that the photos were edited, and the author of the photo reported this himself. When anonymous telegrams circulated this photo, the author of the edited photo also said this. He acknowledged the fact of editing and explained that the image was created precisely so that Russian resources would “go” for it. In the photo editor, an infantry fighting vehicle was added to the image.

Disclosure In Russia, they circulated a document allegedly on behalf of the commander of the 123 Territorial Defense Brigade, in which he orders “to take personal cars from civilians”

Such a document was circulated on social networks, in particular on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The document says that the commander of the 123rd Territorial Defense Brigade ordered cars to be taken away from peaceful Ukrainians. Like, the need arose due to “significant losses of equipment” on the battlefield. In addition, the commander allegedly ordered campaigning among the personnel so that they use their own cars for official purposes.

This case was noticed by the fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project, who determined that the order was not real. Fact-checkers sent a request to 123 TD brigades. They were told that the leadership of the brigade did not issue such a document, and it was fake.

In particular, the “document” contains elements in its design that do not comply with the standards of modern Ukrainian office work. For example, the name of the author of the document should be indicated in full, and the last name should be written in capital letters. On the fake document they wrote “Yu. Chaplenko”, but the correct option is “Yurii  CHAPLENKO”. Also, in the header, now you need to write not “the city of Kherson”, but simply “Kherson”.

Disclosure Russian hackers send phishing emails to Romanians, urging them to enter bank account details

Romanians have started receiving emails en masse on behalf of a real parcel delivery company. Such messages say that the alleged delivery address of the parcel is incorrect. Fraudsters ask to update the data within a day, otherwise “the parcel will be returned back”. That is, if during this time people made a delivery or sent a package using this service, they received a message from hackers about incorrect data.

This was reported by journalists from Digi24, who found that letters from a so-called courier company look like real ones, but no company can ask people for detailed bank account details (i.e. PIN or CVV). That is why journalists are convinced that this is a fraudulent scheme. After checking, it turned out that the IP address of the site from which the letters are sent is Russian. Accordingly, the message is sent by the Russian network of hackers.

Disclosure The Russians circulated a document allegedly on behalf of the Ministry of Defense, in which they ordered “to shoot deserters at checkpoints”

Such a document was circulated on social networks, in particular on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The “document” states that the commander of military unit 3056 ordered his personnel to shoot deserters at checkpoints. As if to prevent desertion, the “document” gives precautionary measures, including “organizing firing points”.

The fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project investigated this case and found that the document was fake. This was stated by the most military unit on its Facebook page. In addition, as analysts explain, the “document” includes a number of inaccuracies, in particular:

The fake document does not comply with the formatting rules. For example, the military unit of 3056 is part of the National Guard, which is subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and not the Ministry of Defense;

The authors indicated the wrong name of the commander. So, the commander of military unit 3056 since 2021 is lieutenant colonel Ruslan Kuzmich. However, in the order, instead of “R. Kuzmich” it says “R. Kuzmych”;

They also indicated the wrong city for issuing the order. Military unit 3056 is located in Kherson, from there it sends all the documents.

As experts say, there are no documents or orders to “neutralize” the fugitive military man. If a military man arbitrarily leaves the place of military service, he receives punishment in accordance with the current legislation. According to article 408 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, desertion during martial law is punishable by imprisonment for a term of 5 to 12 years.

Orest Slyvenko, Artur Koldomasov, Vitalii Mykhailiv, Oleksandra Kotenko, Oleksandr Siedin, Kostiantyn Zadyraka, and Oleksiy Pivtorak are collaborating on this chronicle. Lesia Bidochko serves as the project coordinator, while Ksenia Ilyuk is the author of the project.