The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine reports an increase in the intensity of Russian special information operations conducted through foreign platforms and proxy resources. In recent weeks, a wave of disinformation has been recorded aimed at undermining trust in the Ukrainian authorities, discrediting the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and weakening international support for Ukraine.

This was reported on the website of the Foreign Intelligence Service.

Among the main narratives promoted by the Kremlin are claims about the “illegitimacy of the Ukrainian government”, the “demoralization of the Armed Forces of Ukraine”, and the country’s alleged “external governance”. Despite EU sanctions, Russia continues to use both state-owned and pseudo-private media outlets (including RIA Novosti, RT, Gazeta.ru, TASS, and Lenta.ru), as well as a network of loyal foreign resources.

The list of such proxy media includes:

Last week, these platforms massively disseminated speculative publications citing Russian media outlets that are under European sanctions.

Other international resources were used to attack Ukraine’s defense forces:

These platforms spread fakes about the “collapse of Ukraine’s defenses”, the “terrorist methods of the Armed Forces of Ukraine”, and their alleged “inability to hold the front”.

In addition, the Hungarian outlet Magyar Nemzet, which the Foreign Intelligence Service also identifies as a proxy resource, regularly publishes materials with manipulative claims about the “illegitimacy of the authorities” and the “corruption of Ukraine’s political leadership”.

A separate line of Kremlin propaganda remains the promotion of the idea that the war can end “only through concessions by Kyiv” and that Moscow’s interests must be taken into account. Such narratives are disseminated through outlets such as The American Conservative (USA), Reseau International (France), as well as the already mentioned CZ24.news.

The Foreign Intelligence Service notes that Russian propaganda is currently focused primarily on the political dimension – attempting to undermine the unity of the Western anti-war coalition and to destroy partnerships with Ukraine.

At the same time, Ukrainian intelligence continuously monitors Russia’s activities in the information space and takes appropriate countermeasures, including in cooperation with foreign intelligence services.

The Foreign Intelligence Service calls for adherence to information hygiene, especially outside Ukraine, as a key element in countering Russian aggression.

In the pro-Russian segment of social media, a fake image is circulating that allegedly shows the grandmother of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shaking hands with Adolf Hitler in 1940. However, this claim is a manipulation and yet another example of disinformation.

This was reported by StopFake.

In reality, Ursula von der Leyen acquired the surname “von der Leyen” after marrying Heiko von der Leyen. Her maiden name was Albrecht – her family belongs to an old German aristocratic lineage. Accordingly, she could not have had a grandmother with the surname “von der Leyen”.

According to public sources, including the genealogical service Geneastar, the politician’s grandmothers were named Adelaide Berg and Gertrud Ohlrogge. The name “Christina von der Leyen”, which propagandists attribute to the woman in the photo, does not exist in her family tree.

The photograph used by pro-Russian propagandists is kept in the East Prussian Library. It depicts Hildegard Zantop, a farmer from the town of Nauen. The photo was taken in 1937, not in 1940 as the authors of the fake claim. The event shown is the celebration of Harvest Day in the town of Bückeburg, organized by the Nazi authorities.

There is no information about the woman’s later life or her family. However, it is known for certain that she has no connection whatsoever to Ursula von der Leyen.

The spread of such fakes is a typical practice of Kremlin propaganda, which seeks to discredit European leaders through personal attacks and false historical associations.