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 02 December, on the 1012th day of the full-scale war, our editorial office recorded:

2565
Fake
766
Manipulation
742
Message
536
Disclosure
Русскій фейк, іді на***!

Manipulation ​​Ukraine demands to destroy Belarus by opening a second front

Such information appeared in Russian propaganda media and telegram channels broadcasting pro-Russian rhetoric. Like, in Ukraine they “called” to open a second front and “destroy Belarus”. Propaganda reports say that ex-representative of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Vladyslav Selezniov called for such actions on the air of the FreeDom TV channel. According to the propagandists, the Ukrainians are trying to “rub Belarus into dust”. It is also reported that Selezniov allegedly called for strikes against military targets and critical infrastructure on the territory of Belarus using American HIMARS systems. However, this is all manipulation.

The fact checkers of the StopFake project drew attention to the case. In a commentary to fact-checkers, Selezniov denied the propagandists’ allegations and explained that in fact, the interview said that there should be an adequate response to some kind of attack from the territory of Belarus. There was no talk of any demand to open a second front. As StopFake writes, in an interview with FreeDom, Vladyslav Selezniov spoke about the use of HIMARS systems on Belarusian territory, answering the question of what the consequences would be for the Belarusian regime if Belarus entered the war against Ukraine. To this, Selezniov replied that in this case the Belarusian regime would fall, and the Belarusian army, although it spends a lot of time at the training grounds, is not ready to participate in the war, and is also well aware of how they will be met in Ukraine.

Fake Ukraine threatens Germany with war

This thesis is spread by Russian propaganda media, as well as telegram channels broadcasting pro-Russian rhetoric. The reports say that Ukraine has switched to “aggressive blackmail” of European allies and allegedly began to “openly threaten to unleash hostilities” on the territory of the European Union if it refuses to supply heavy armored vehicles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to propagandists, if the Germans do not hand over heavy armored vehicles to Kyiv, the Europeans will have to forget about peace. The reports add that foreigners have already understood the danger of flirting with the Kyiv regime. However, this is all fake.

Ukraine does not threaten Germany with war. The fact checkers of the StopFake project drew attention to the case. According to them, the disinformation is based on a quote from Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksii Danylov, who spoke on January 4. However, Danylov did not make any statements about Ukraine's intention to “unleash a war in Europe”. The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council reflected on the risks for the countries of the European Union that arose in connection with Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine. That is, on the contrary, Danylov spoke about the possible expansion of Russian aggression to other European countries.

Fake Olena Zelenska spends tens of thousands of euros on accessories

In the German-language segment of Facebook and Twitter, a photo is circulating, which depicts Olena Zelenska in a private jet. The captions on the photo indicate the cost of things and jewelry that Zelenska allegedly put on herself. In particular, a Rolex watch for 18,000 euros. Also, two Louis Vuitton bags for 20,000 euros each. In posts with this photo on social networks, users write that it seems that the wife of the President of Ukraine spent 40 thousand euros on Christmas gifts for herself during her last visit to Paris in December 2022. And ordinary Ukrainians are dying and begging while she spends money on jewelry. But this is a fake photo: Zelenska's face was embedded in a photo of another real person.

The photo was noticed by the German fact-checkers of the publication Correctiv, who found out that the original photo shows entrepreneur Richard Hart, who posted his photo on Twitter in April 2022.

Fake The Russian army destroyed the “stronghold of the Armed Forces of Ukraine” at the ice arena in Druzhkivka

Russian media and telegram channels write that on January 2, rockets destroyed a “stronghold and ammunition warehouse”, which was allegedly located at the Altair ice arena in Druzhkivka. But this is fake.

As StopFake writes, both local authorities and local residents confirm that Altair was used as a part of humanitarian aid. For example, the head of the department of culture, family, youth and sports of Druzhkivka city council Yuliia Pyvovar in a commentary for Svoi.City:

“This is not a military facility at all. This is a completely civilian facility. We had a humanitarian aid warehouse on the ice arena, that is, there we had mattresses, blankets, pillows, there were containers for drinking water, directly the supply of drinking water that we had in the community. There were means for heating there, that is, potbelly stoves, heaters. This is, in general, the facility that we used to store humanitarian aid. There has never been any military there since the beginning of the war”, Pyvovar said. This information is confirmed by local residents in social networks, writes StopFake.

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.