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 24 December, on the 1034th day of the full-scale war, our editorial office recorded:

2605
Fake
776
Manipulation
753
Message
541
Disclosure
Русскій фейк, іді на***!

Manipulation The British assume that the Ukrainian army and NATO will be defeated by Russian tanks “Armata”

This message has been spreading in the Russian propaganda media and the Russian segment of Facebook. Russian propaganda cites comments under the publication of the British media Daily Mail and writes that “NATO will be bleeding” and that “the Challenger tanks donated by the UK are no match for the mighty Armatas”. This is manipulation.

The fact checkers of the StopFake project drew attention to the case. Russian propaganda media cite a skeptical Daily Mail article. The publication ironically notes that Armata tanks are primarily used by Russian propaganda, and not on the battlefield. The article writes that the T-14 is heavier and larger than other tanks, has only a few dozen units, and commanders are unlikely to trust this vehicle on the battlefield. So far, Armata tanks have been seen mainly at military parades on Red Square.

As for the quotes of the commentators referred to in the propaganda, they do not represent the opinion of all Britons. Moreover, the large number of comments under the publication of the Daily Mail is ironic: people write about the Russian “wonder weapon” that does not exist. To create this manipulation, the Russian media used comments from the “Comments with the worst rating” tab. One can register on the site under a fictitious name, which means that it is impossible to identify the commentator. And the users who left comments are registered not only in the UK, but also in other countries - Hungary, the USA, Australia, etc.

Thus, propagandists are trying to convince the audience that Ukraine is losing the support of the West and will not be able to win the war with Russia and resist its “powerful” weapons. Earlier, Detector Media talked about the message that France allegedly admitted that the situation of the Ukrainian army is disappointing and it will not succeed in defeating Russia.

Fake The Armed Forces of Ukraine will blow up the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant during the counteroffensive, the United States said

Kremlin propaganda media are spreading information citing American reports that the Ukrainian army is allegedly preparing to blow up the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The US military gave Ukraine sensors that help detect a surge of radiation, and, according to propaganda, this confirms that “the Americans are afraid of the explosion of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant during the offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces”. It's fake.

As the fact-checkers of the StopFake project note, the Russian propaganda used the New York Times article, took the information out of context and built its own fake on it. There is no information in the NYT publication about the “blowing up the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant”, however, the United States did indeed transfer sensors to Ukraine. The Nuclear Accident Support Team (NEST), affiliated with the US Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration, has deployed sensors in Ukraine to warn of an emergency or report a radiation disaster. It has to do with Russia's nuclear blackmail.

Moreover, this equipment will be able to decipher the so-called atomic signature, which is formed after the explosion. If Russia wants to stage a provocation, hiding behind the Ukrainian flag, the US will be able to expose it.

Thus, propaganda is trying to intimidate not only Ukrainians, but the whole world with nuclear weapons. And also to shift the responsibility for Russia's crimes to the victim. Previously, Detector Media described how Russian propaganda uses intimidation tactics.

Manipulation A British analyst advised the Armed Forces of Ukraine to miss Russian missile strikes in order to save air defense stocks

Such information was disseminated in the Russian propaganda media, referring to the British analyst Michael Clarke. On the Sky News channel, he allegedly advised the Ukrainian Armed Forces to miss Russian missile strikes so as not to waste expensive air defense equipment. Russian propaganda wrote that “Clarke also urged the military leadership of Ukraine not to use American anti-aircraft systems against low-cost drones”. This is manipulation

The fact-checkers of the StopFake project and the Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine drew attention to the case. The Sky News broadcast was called Ukraine war: Professor Michael Clarke explains why Ukraine can have to “start letting missiles through”. At the same time, in the speech itself, Michael Clarke did not make similar statements about Ukraine. He said that “Ukrainian air defense forces are working quite well”. He suggested that Ukraine would not use overpriced Patriot missiles against cheap Russian drones.

Michael Clark also added that Russia's strategy is to encourage Ukraine to use more ammunition. “They know Ukrainian munitions are more limited than Russian munitions, even despite the scarcity that the sanctions have created”, Clarke added.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to convince that air defense systems in Ukraine are not enough to protect Ukrainians and sow panic among society. Previously, Detector Media explained the message that the Ukrainian air defense was allegedly incapable of combat.

Fake Zelenskyi said that he carries a gun with him to shoot himself

Telegram channels spreading propaganda rhetoric reported that Zelenskyi allegedly said he was carrying a gun with him to shoot himself. “It’s even scary to imagine where he wears it”, propagandists write. This is manipulation.

The case drew the attention of specialists from the VoxCheck project. Volodymyr Zelenskyi did say in an interview with Dmytro Komarov that he carries a pistol with him and knows how to shoot, but he needs it for self-defense. In the film “Year. Behind the scenes”, when Komarov asks why he needs a gun, Zelenskyi replies: “No, what are you talking about, we are not killing ourselves. But shooting - yes”.

Russian propaganda is systematically trying to discredit Zelenskyi and sow discouragement among Ukrainian society. Like, Zelenskyi is ready to commit suicide at any moment, and left without a head of state, Ukraine will lose the war. Earlier, Detector Media denied fakes that Zelenskyi allegedly has a Russian passport and allegedly is supporting Russia, because he wears shoes with the letter “Z”.

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.