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 26 April, on the 792th day of the full-scale war, our editorial office recorded:

2104
Fake
688
Manipulation
644
Message
429
Disclosure
Русскій фейк, іді на***!

Manipulation In Germany, 40% of citizens believe that NATO provoked Russia into a war with Ukraine

The results of an alleged sociological survey among Germans about the war in Ukraine are being disseminated on social networks. 40% of respondents believe that NATO provoked Russia to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The reports also say that allegedly in April only 15% thought so. Like, there are signs that the Germans are tired of the war in Ukraine. This is manipulation.

According to “15min”, in fact, only 19% of those surveyed support such a statement. Another 21% partially agree with it, so it is incorrect to sum up these indicators. Such manipulation significantly distorts the results of the survey.

Russian propaganda systematically manipulates poll results or uses anonymous comments from individual social media users to represent public opinion. In particular, propagandists said that more than 70% of the Germans are against increasing military assistance to Ukraine, and in general, they support Russia.

Message The EU "sacrifices" its already "tainted" reputation by calling Russia a state sponsor of terrorism

  Russian propaganda spreads the message to a non-native audience that the EU is seeking to give a new character to its confrontation with the Kremlin. To do this, indirectly related norms are introduced - the recognition of Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism and the confiscation of frozen Russian assets and property. The first is supposed to provide an "ideological cover" for the final discrediting of Russia, and the second is to legalize the expropriation of its assets. The fact-checkers of EU vs Disinfo drew attention to the spread of the message. The resolution of the European Parliament says that Russia poses a threat to the security of the entire European continent. That is why the European deputies recognized Russia as a state-sponsor of terrorism and a state "using terrorism". Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to devalue the opposition to Russian aggression at the global level. Similar tactics were used to devalue European sanctions, saying that they do not work and strengthen Russia. Earlier propagandists claimed that the international tribunal for Russian war crimes in Ukraine would be illegitimate. 

Disclosure A fake chatbot of the head of the Poltava regional military administration was created on the network

This was announced by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security with reference to the head of the Poltava police department Dmytro Lunin.

The official Telegram chatbot @lunin_in_bot is called "Text Dmytro Lunin". Lunin draws attention to the fact that the official chatbot does not request user account data and does not send messages to personal phone numbers.

Now cases of creating fake accounts and chat bots that mimic official sources of information have become more frequent. Earlier it was reported about the fake chat-bot of DTEK and the fake website of the Come Back Alive Foundation

Fake More than a thousand Polish mercenaries died in Ukraine

This is stated in the messages of the Russian media and pro-Russian telegram channels. Allegedly, during the 10 months of the war in Ukraine, about 1,200 Poles were killed, who fought on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as mercenaries. Allegedly, several thousand more mercenaries are wounded or injured. Some reports say that Warsaw is allegedly expecting "payment" for its friendship against Russia. It is not true.

StopFake notes that the primary source of this news is Niezależny Dziennik Polityczny, which repeatedly spreads Russian disinformation. The non-existent Yakub Mozhniak is indicated as the author of the article. There are also no other "members of the editorial board" of this publication.

According to open sources, five Polish volunteers died in Ukraine, none of whom are soldiers of the Polish army.

Earlier, propagandists wrote that two battalions of Polish infantry were allegedly destroyed in Ukraine, and a special cemetery was allegedly created for the dead in Poland. Propagandists also say that Polish special forces under NATO command are fighting in Ukraine.

Manipulation Residents of Skadovsk are urged to “surrender” all Russian-speaking citizens to the Armed Forces of Ukraine for punishment

Ukrainian-language postcards were hung in Skadovsk saying that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are already close. The authors also ask the locals to report on all Russian-speaking citizens after the liberation of the city. Like, the court and "the death penalty” awaits them. At the same time, Ukrainian-speaking residents of the city can “privatize” the property of Russian-speakers. They tried to illustrate the “patriotism” of the leaflets with the help of a trident and the slogan “Glory to Ukraine”.

Manipulation Most countries support Putin in the war against Ukraine

This is written by Russian and pro-Russian information resources with reference to the materials of the American edition of Newsweek. Like, many countries condemned the actions of the West and supported the position of the Russian president on the “situation” in Ukraine. This is manipulation.

There is not a single mention in the Newsweek article that most countries took the side of Russia in the war against Ukraine. The author of the material writes that different countries of the world proceed from their agenda and their own interests in the context of responding to the war. Therefore, they do not always fully share the approach of the US and the EU. Many countries, for example, advocate a "diplomatic settlement" of the conflict, but do not necessarily side with Russia in this war.

As StopFake writes, Daniel DePetrice's article was published in the “Dumky” (“Opinions") section, so the author's opinion is also not necessarily shared by Newsweek. The author notes that, despite the fact that the events in Ukraine are cruel, each country primarily pursues its own geopolitical interests and does not always fully share the “approach of the West”. The article does not say that "most countries have begun to support Putin." Propagandists have distorted the idea that some countries do not want to completely lose ties with Russia and presented it as support for Putin.

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.