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 28 March, on the 763th day of the full-scale war, our editorial office recorded:

2043
Fake
676
Manipulation
634
Message
419
Disclosure
Русскій фейк, іді на***!

Fake In Ukraine, they hide the real photo of Stepan Bandera with the German leadership

In social networks and enemy telegram channels, a message is spreading that a probable photo of Stepan Bandera along with the German Nazi leadership has got into the network. Like, he is dressed in the uniform of the Wehrmacht, and even the reward is visible on the bust - supposedly the Cross of military merit. The authors of the message add that this photo is prohibited in Ukraine. It is not true.

Analysts of the Lithuanian project “15min naujenos” say that in reality in the photograph is not Bandera, but Reinhad Hellen, a well-known figure in the army intelligence during the Second World War, and later the founder of the German federal intelligence service. Fact-checkers say that the photo appeared on the web after 2014, in Livejournal, a blogging platform that is popular in Russia.

Propagandists have repeatedly spread fake stories about Ukrainian figures, including Stepan Bandera. The purpose of the fake is to nourish the narrative that Ukrainians are Nazis and are aimed at creating an idea of Ukrainian historical figures as exclusively Nazis and collaborators, which at the same time undermines the image of modern Ukraine and its authorities.

Fake At the border, Ukraine and Poland carried out training to curb the massive flow of migrants

Pro-Russian telegram channels distributed information about allegedly secret training of the Ukrainian State Emergency Service, police and fire protection of the Lublin voivodeship of Poland. They reported that Kyiv is preparing for a humanitarian catastrophe and is conducting exercises aimed at “preventing a massive uncontrolled flow of migrants”. Allegedly, Poland is afraid of the flow of refugees from a neighboring country.

In fact, according to VoxCheck, the study was reported publicly. On December 16, they were reported on their official pages by the State Emergency Service of the Volyn region, the State Migration Service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The local media also wrote about them. There was no secret in the conduct of the training.

The purpose of the event was to work out the main actions in case of crowding at the border. Also, interaction with Polish colleagues was worked out to help citizens temporarily located at checkpoints across the state border.

Since the beginning of the war, the Russian media have been constantly writing about Ukrainian and Polish relations. In particular, that allegedly in the near future Poland will begin the occupation of the west of Ukraine, or that the number of HIV-infected people in the country has increased due to Ukrainian refugees. Thus, Russia is trying to sow discord between Ukraine and Poland.

Fake In Ukraine, many seriously wounded soldiers are in dire need of donor blood

The network disseminates information about the allegedly arrived at the National Institute of Surgery and Transplantation named after Shalimov of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, seriously wounded soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The report claims that the military is sorely lacking in blood. However, this is fake.

The fact-checkers of the NotaYenota project drew attention to the case on the network. According to fact-checkers, the information quickly gained popularity and was shared more than two thousand times. Reposts were made by such famous personalities as, for example, Israel army officer Yigal Levin and Ukrainian TV presenter Natalia Moseichuk.

In fact, this information is false. On the official pages of the National Institute of Surgery and Transplantation named after Shalimov of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine there is no information about the arrival of the seriously wounded. It should also be added that since February 24, 2022, there has never been a shortage of blood and its components in Ukraine. More than 100,000 volunteers have already been registered on the DonorUA platform, making it possible to meet all the needs of blood, both military and civilian.

By spreading such fakes, propagandists seek to sow panic and show that the situation at the front is very bad, because there are many wounded and they are critically lacking blood.

Message The Pentagon is in no hurry to transfer “new toys” to Ukraine

Such a message is spread by pro-Russian telegram channels. Allegedly, the Pentagon has reservations regarding the transfer of weapons to Ukraine. The reports claim that the samples received by Ukraine always work under the control of American instructors, since there is a threat of disclosure of technology. There is also allegedly a risk that the weapon will fall into the hands of a third party or in the hands of Russia.

Russian propaganda is systematically spreading messages that the West does not want to help Ukraine with weapons. In fact, the United States has been transferring weapons to Ukraine since the beginning of the great war, just like other states. The lendlease mechanism has not yet started working, but this depends not only on the “desire” of the United States, but also on the financial capabilities of Ukraine.

Russian propaganda systematically spreads rumors that Western weapons are resold on the black market, but so far there is no evidence of this. The United States really controls how the weapons provided to Ukraine are used, for this they created an Interim special commission.

Previously, propagandists argued that the supply of weapons to Ukraine increases the number of victims and prolongs the “conflict”.

Message In case of resumption of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, the occupied territories should remain in Russia

Russian propaganda media, citing a representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, reported that “the entry of new regions into Russia should be taken into account in the event of a possible resumption of negotiations with Ukraine”. Also, the media of the enemy are actively spreading the thesis that the negotiation process should be “direct”. That is, without the mediation of the West.

This is not the first time that Russia has been trying to persuade Ukraine to negotiate using various methods. In particular, often manipulating that the war continues only because Ukraine does not want to negotiate. However, every time when it comes to potential negotiations, Russia sees them only on its own terms. This time, Russia sees them as possible only if Ukraine recognizes that the territories occupied by Russia are ceded to Russia.

In fact, Ukraine withdrew from the negotiation process last spring. The main condition for their restoration is the return of territories in accordance with the 1991 borders, but Russia does not abandon attempts to put forward ultimatums and threats, although they are not successful.

Disclosure A fake telegram channel of the 46th separate airmobile brigade of the Airborne assault forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine appeared on the network

The telegram channel “46 separate air assault brigade” appeared on telegram, but its name is not correct. Behind it, one can find the same brigade's old Facebook page, but it is no longer used. Instead, another one was created.

The 46th separate airmobile brigade of the Airborne assault forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has only one official page on telegram with the corresponding name. Other channels distribute unofficial information and have no connection with the military of this brigade.

There have been attempts to create fake pages of official institutions, chatbots and even websites of charitable foundations since the very beginning of the war. In particular, a fake of the “Come back alive” website was created. It was also previously reported about the falsification of the chat-bot of DTEK and the chat-bot of the chairman of the Poltava military regional administration.

Fake In Ukraine, there are certain places where draft notice will be handed out by regions

Telegram channels massively disseminate information that there is a list of places where draft notices will be handed out in each of the regions. Like, from January 11, 2023, draft notices will be handed out anywhere in Ukraine, because the law does not regulate the place of their delivery. Anyone can view the list of places where this will take place in order to avoid serving the draft notices.

In fact, information about clearly defined territories where draft notices will be handed out is fake. Local recruitment and social support centers did not report this either on their official pages in social networks or on official websites. So, there is no reason to believe this information. As the fact-checkers of the “Brekhunets” (Liar) project, the message about the delivery of draft notices dated January 11, is also not true. In Ukraine, mobilization has been going on for 10 months, starting on February 24, 2022. Every man of military age can get a draft notice.

According to fact-checkers, public administrators on social networks disseminate such messages deliberately, realizing that they are manipulating socially important information. Such manipulations help the authors of telegram channels to increase their audience. In addition, such messages also shake the situation in society.

Fake The cartoon character Cheburashka was recognized as an occupier in Ukrainian schools

In social networks and enemy telegram channels, reports are spreading that Cheburashka is banned in Kyiv schools. Like, because of the successful distribution of the new Russian film, Ukrainian teachers banned the hero and recognized him as an occupier. The probable announcement depicts the hero himself and the inscription: “If you like Cheburashka, go to your Russia”. However, this is fake.

Analysts at The Insider project say that in fact there is no such announcement. Moreover, no publications about Cheburashka were found in the Ukrainian segment of social networks. A photo of the announcement featured in all pro-Kremlin media publications is with metadata erased. The photo was published many times, but exclusively on pro-Kremlin resources.

Propagandists have repeatedly spread fakes about Ukrainian schools and their organization. Consequently, they are trying to distort the impression of Ukrainian education and represent the educational institutions of Ukraine as a center of hatred and propaganda.

Fake In Berlin, they made a graffiti with Zelenskyi in the form of a pimple

A photo of graffiti allegedly from Berlin is circulating on the network, in which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi is depicted as a pimple that needs to be squeezed out. The reports say that the graffiti was allegedly painted by artists from the Polish group Typicaloptical. It's fake.

The MythDetector project fact-checkers checked the information about the graffiti and found that it doesn't actually exist. The place shown in the photo is indeed in Zurich, not in Berlin.

The fact-checkers then contacted the communication manager of the Department of Civil Engineering and Waste Management of the city of Zurich, who confirmed to the specialists that there were no drawings or traces of paint on the square.

By spreading this fake, propagandists are trying to discredit the Ukrainian president and create the appearance that the world community does not support Zelenskyi. Allegedly, if not only Russian propaganda talks about the absurdity of the Ukrainian leadership, but also others, including activists who make caricatured graffiti, then this is true.

In addition, Russian propaganda regularly spreads fake graffiti or, for example, covers with Zelenskyi to humiliate and distort reality as if he is not fully supported.

Fake The Orthodox Church of Ukraine is going to canonize the President of the United States

Social networks and anonymous pro-Russian telegram channels spread information that Ukrainians will allegedly canonize US President Joe Biden as a saint. Like, he made a huge contribution to the development of the state and helps in the fight against the aggressor. The authors of such messages add a screenshot, which depicts an alleged petition on the change.org website with a corresponding request to Epifanii, Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine. However, this is not true.

First, there is no such petition on change.org. Consequently, the propagandists created a pseudo-petition with the help of a graphical editor. Secondly, this statement is baseless since the Orthodox Church of Ukraine cannot list the President of the United States as a saint. To do this, at a minimum, Biden needs to profess Orthodoxy.

Fake Women and children should prepare to be conscripted

Social networks and enemy telegram channels spread information about Ukraine's preparations for the mobilization of women and children. Like, advertising with a call to join the territorial defense units contains hints that they will mobilize “everyone in a row”: both women and children. However, this is not true.

In fact, this is an unfounded statement. Such ads do exist and feature a crying baby and the slogan “Protect your children”. The advertising banner also featured the hotline number of the command of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Actually, volunteers from 18 to 60 years old, both women and men, can join the territorial defense. Everything happens on a voluntary basis. We are not even talking about general mobilization.

Message Relations between Zelenskyi and the Ukrainian army went bad due to constant defeats

Such a thesis is distributed in pro-Russian and propaganda telegram channels, which claims that relations between the Ukrainian army and Zelenskyi have deteriorated significantly. Like, all this is due to the constant defeats of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and, as a result, Zelenskyi's discontent. Russian propaganda claims that Zelenskyi is losing his authority and his power.

With this message, the propagandists are trying to reach several goals. First, to discredit the President and expose him as an incompetent head of state. They build the image of an evil, greedy to victory leader. Allegedly, Zelenskyi demands constant victories and no defeats from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, at the same time, the army suffers from tyranny. Secondly, to undermine the confidence of the army in the President, who is allegedly under pressure from the leadership and is trying in every possible way to please the top.

Orest Slyvenko, Artur Koldomasov, Pavlo Rud, 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.