Propagandists claim on anonymous Telegram channels that the German government, represented by Economy Minister Robert Habeck, allegedly stated that the German economy is declining due to support for Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees. This message is an example of manipulating facts to discredit the policies of the Olaf Scholz government and its support for Ukraine. Propagandists are trying to artificially link Germany's economic difficulties with the war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, while the real reasons are much deeper and more complex.

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck has made it clear that the main problems of the German economy are long-term structural factors, such as underinvestment in infrastructure and a shortage of skilled workers. These are problems that have been building up for decades and have no direct connection with the war in Ukraine or the sanctions policy against Russia. The “green transition” policy also requires significant resources, but its goal is long-term sustainability, not short-term economic gains.

Propagandists are trying to accuse the Scholz government of refusing beneficial cooperation with Russia. However, such cooperation became impossible due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Russia's violation of international law. The sanctions were imposed within the framework of Germany's international obligations and responsibility to the world community. Russia used energy resources as a tool of blackmail, which created threats to Europe's security.

The claim that Germany has lost its political sovereignty due to US influence is unfounded. Germany has its own development strategy, including a transition to clean energy sources, and is working closely with other EU countries to reduce dependence on Russian energy resources. This policy is aimed at strengthening European energy security and independence.

The purpose of spreading this manipulation is to create the impression that support for Ukraine is the key cause of Germany’s economic problems. This narrative is thus aimed at undermining international support for Ukraine and increasing pressure on the German government to abandon its policy towards Russian aggression.

Russian propaganda telegram channels have been spreading a message that on September 26, 2024, a Russian missile strike on the airfield in Starokonstiantyniv allegedly killed a career US Air Force soldier. As ‘proof’, the propagandists are publishing a corresponding message from a certain Melanie Malwin-Parker, allegedly the soldier’s wife.

However, this is a fake, as reported by VoxCheck. Fact-checkers were unable to find a single account named Melanie Malwin-Parker not only on Facebook, but also on the Internet as a whole.

Also, the photo itself, supposedly of the dead soldier, shows some editing – part of his left ear is missing.

Screenshot of the fake message

In addition, the fake publication, apparently by the wife of a military man, indicates the geolocation as “Altus Air Force Base”. This is a U.S. Air Force base located in Altus, Oklahoma. The official website of the base indicates that the 97th Airlift Wing is located there. It consists of the 58th Transport Squadron, the 54th and 56th Air Refueling Squadrons. The units carry out their tasks on the military transport C-17 Globemaster III and on the KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-46 Pegasus tanker aircraft. The list of equipment does not include the F-16 fighter, so there was no need for a specialist for this base in Ukraine.

Russian propaganda is spreading this fake to fuel the narrative about the alleged presence of “foreign mercenaries” in Ukraine. We previously analyzed disinformation that partners allegedly provided Ukraine with faulty F-16 fighters.