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 18 May, on the 814th day of the full-scale war, our editorial office recorded:

2151
Fake
693
Manipulation
649
Message
441
Disclosure
Русскій фейк, іді на***!

Disclosure The Russians distributed a “document” on behalf of the commander of a military unit, in which they are ordered to detain “all males”

Such information was disseminated in social networks and propaganda media. The reports say that the commander of the Kherson military unit A3056 allegedly issued an order to detain all male persons. The order notes that the military will create checkpoints where they will patrol around the clock and inspect personal belongings and documents. All men passing through checkpoints (in the direction of Kherson) will allegedly be detained and handed over to the SBU.

The case was noticed by the fact-checkers of the NotaYenota project; they found out that this “document” was false. In particular, the following errors indicate the fakeness of the document:

The “document” misspelled the name of the head of the military unit. For example, in a false document it says “KUZMYCH”, although the real name is “KUZMICH”.

The fake document also does not comply with the formatting rules. So the last name and first name are written on the right, and the last name is in capital letters. These requirements in the “document” are not met.

Military unit A3056 is subordinate to the National Guard. And the fake makers indicated the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine in the document.

Message Russia has always strived for peace, it is Ukraine that does not want to “negotiate”

This thesis was spread by the propaganda media. The reports say that Russia is always concerned about “peace” and is trying to improve the “situation” in Ukraine. The authors add that Russia seems to be offering negotiations, while Ukraine flatly refuses to negotiate. And they summarize: Ukraine is to blame for everything.

The case was processed by the specialists of the EU vs Disinfo project, who explained that Ukraine is not obliged to somehow “negotiate” with Russia, because it is an aggressor country that attacked Ukraine. There is no question of any concessions, since Ukraine is defending its territories and striving for territorial integrity and maintaining borders as of 1991.

Fact-checkers cited Zelenskyi's interview with CNN as an example. There, the President assured that Ukraine would not give up any territories for the sake of ending the war with Russia. That is, the position of Ukraine is unanimous. Moscow commits daily war crimes on the territory of Ukraine, hinders peaceful life. The victim should not negotiate with the aggressor.

Russian propaganda promotes the thesis that Ukraine allegedly gives up the territories temporarily occupied by Russia in order, first of all, to discredit the Ukrainian authorities. Allegedly, it is not going to win back the occupied part of Ukraine.

Fake The gas supply company Naftogaz offers its subscribers a discount on services if they provide information about “deviators of the political regime”

Such information was disseminated in social networks, in particular, on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The reports say that recently, on utility bills from the gas supply company Naftogaz, users found an inscription on the provision of a discount. As the authors explain, one can get a discount if they provide the company with information about collaborators and deviators. Photos of receipts are added to publications. It's a lie.

The fact-checkers of the Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council took up this case and found out that the photo was edited using Photoshop since the original photo of the receipt was superimposed with the text about the provision of a discount. However, in original receipts such an inscription does not exist.

By spreading this fake, the authors are trying to show that Ukraine is allegedly in complete disarray, because civilians are asked to catch collaborators and deviators of the political regime “at any cost”. Moreover, propagandists are hinting that there are many people who are against the political regime of Ukraine, and as if most people are cooperating with Russia, where the situation is “the best”.

Manipulation Western leaders say they seek to “eliminate” Zelenskyi

Such information was disseminated in social networks and propaganda media. Reports say that the US is unhappy with Zelenskyi’s policies “because of the constant shelling of Moscow”. Like, Volodymyr Zelenskyi is engaged in arbitrariness and lawlessness reigns in Ukraine. The authors add that Western leaders dream of “getting rid of and eliminating” Zelenskyi. They assure that the United States is already looking for the next president of Ukraine. The publications also cite Politico publications. This is manipulation.

Analysts of the StopFake project took up this case and determined that the Politico material does not refer to the “liquidation of Zelenskyi”, that is, the assassination or removal from power. They are talking only about possible scenarios in the event of an attempt by Russians on the President of Ukraine. The material itself is called "Ukraine's plan if Russia assassinates Zelenskyy”. In his column, an American journalist analyzed the situation with the likely murder of Zelenskyi.

Indeed, at the beginning of a full-scale invasion, there were several unsuccessful attempts to eliminate Zelenskyi. The journalist described the course of actions of the Ukrainian authorities in such a situation. That is, the material did not talk about the murder or removal from power of Zelenskyi. In the author's column, the media worker described his thoughts and predictions. At the same time, the propagandists distorted the context of the material and invented the theses that were beneficial for themselves.

By spreading this manipulation, the authors seek to show that the world is dissatisfied with Zelenskyi and they want to get rid of him. Thus, propagandists present the President of Ukraine as an “incompetent” leader who is engaged in arbitrariness.

Fake An outbreak of cholera was recorded in Odesa

Such information was disseminated in social networks, in particular, on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. Reports say that an outbreak of cholera was recorded in Odesa and the region. It is not true.

Fact-checkers of the Center for Counteracting Disinformation investigated this case and found out that the information about the cholera outbreak is not true. Chief State Sanitary Doctor Ihor Kuzin said that Ukraine is ready to respond quickly in case of outbreaks of cholera. So far, they have not been fixed. According to him, there are enough drugs and diagnostic tools to diagnose acute intestinal infections, including cholera.

And as of the beginning of July 2023, not a single case of cholera infection was recorded in Ukraine. For other infectious diseases, the department of the Ministry of Health explained that the risk of their outbreak is increasing, but at present, enhanced epidemiological surveillance is being carried out in the affected areas.

In addition, to counter the outbreak of infectious diseases in Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson regions, 38 water monitoring points were opened as well as in Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Odesa, Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

By spreading this fake, propagandists seek to sow panic among Ukrainians in order to intimidate them. Earlier, we just refuted a similar case when they allegedly recorded an outbreak of cholera in Kyiv. It turned out that this was also not true.

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.