Russian propagandists are spreading messages in the media, particularly in anonymous Telegram channels, claiming that the main goal of Russia's actions against Ukraine is allegedly to "restore respect for international law". They argue that the West has done everything to destroy its norms and principles. However, this is not true.

This message is an example of propagandistic distortion aimed at justifying Russia's aggressive policy and discrediting the West. It asserts that Russia's goal is to restore international law, but its own actions show the opposite. The anti-Ukrainian aggression initiated by Russia in 2014 violates the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity of other states. The annexation of Crimea is part of this systematic violation. Russia's attempt to position itself as a defender of international law seems contradictory, given its aggressive policy. The accusations against the West for destroying the international order through "double standards" are unfounded. Such arguments are exaggerated and used to justify Russia's actions, which systematically undermine international norms.

The claim that the Minsk agreements were a ‘fraud’ to lull Russia into complacency is also manipulative. These agreements were aimed at halting hostilities in Donbas, and their implementation depended on all parties, including Russia, which was a signatory. They gave Ukraine time to strengthen its defense capabilities. Moreover, it was Russia that systematically violated these agreements.

The rhetoric of this message is based on emotionally charged phrases and distorted facts. The use of terms like ‘great deception’ creates an emotional context that distracts from objective analysis. This is a typical tactic to shape public opinion in the desired direction.

The international order is indeed under threat, but the main reason for this is the violation of states' sovereignty and the disregard for international obligations. Russia's aggression against Ukraine, interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and its destabilization of regions are key factors undermining global stability. Statements about defending international law by a country that violates it are merely a way to divert attention from its own actions. Restoring the international order is only possible through the adherence to its norms by all states, including Russia, which currently remains one of the main threats to global security.

Russian anonymous Telegram channels are actively spreading disinformation that allegedly 50% of Ukraine's emergency responders from the State Emergency Service (SES) will be sent to the front. However, this is false information aimed at sowing panic among the population and undermining trust in Ukrainian state institutions.

This is reported by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. Its experts have clarified that, according to an official statement from the SES, 90% of personnel are already reserved and continue to perform their duties. All key units, including firefighters, rescuers, sapper teams, engineers, and chemists, are reserved. These professionals provide vital assistance in wartime conditions.

Russian propaganda systematically uses fake news to destabilize the situation in Ukraine, undermine the morale of citizens, and create distrust towards the government. Such information attacks are part of a broader strategy of information warfare aimed at weakening Ukrainian society and its resistance.

Denmark's counterintelligence confirmed that in 2019, Russian intelligence services organized the forgery of a letter in which there was a proposal to purchase Greenland. The letter was addressed to Republican U.S. Senator Tom Cotton and featured a fake signature of Denmark’s Foreign Minister, Ane Lone Bagger. The letter contained a proposal to organize a referendum on Greenland's independence, along with a request for financial support from the U.S.

This was reported by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. Its experts found a piece from the Danish publication Politiken from November 2019, which states that this letter was likely falsified by Russia. At that time, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called these reports ‘unfounded fakes’. However, on January 13 of this year, the Danish government declared that there is a ‘high probability’ that the letter was fabricated by Russian agents to sow confusion and provoke conflicts between Denmark, the U.S., and Greenland.

Russia seeks to influence international politics through disinformation to manipulate public opinion and increase tensions between countries. Additionally, Russia uses its rhetoric on ‘violations of international law’ as a tool to criticize the West. At the same time, when Russia actively spreads disinformation or organizes fake events, it is part of its strategy to divert attention from its own violations of international law and undermine other countries’ efforts to ensure stability in the international legal arena. In this way, Russia also seeks to sow doubt about the legitimacy and morality of Western countries, particularly the U.S. Russia aims to divide Western states and weaken their unity.

Russian propagandists claim in the media that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are allegedly preparing a ‘new Bucha’ in Sudzha and are using civilians as human shields. However, such reports are part of an information campaign aimed at concealing a war crime committed by Russian forces - specifically, the killing of a civilian resident of Russia during an airstrike on an orphanage in Sudzha.

This was reported by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. Its experts assert that in this case, the responsibility for the deaths lies with the Russian authorities, who refuse to organize humanitarian ‘green corridors’ for evacuation, while continuing to shell their own citizens using aviation and artillery. On the other hand, Ukrainian soldiers strictly adhere to the norms of international humanitarian law: they provide civilians with access to drinking water, food, medications, hygiene products, and also offer medical assistance. Meanwhile, during the occupation of the Bucha district of Kyiv in 2022, Russian war criminals killed at least 1,190 Ukrainian civilians.

Propagandists spread such fake news for several reasons, aiming to achieve political, military, and psychological goals. Such statements divert attention from the war crimes committed by the Russian army. Creating a false narrative of Ukraine's ‘guilt’ allows the actions of Russian soldiers to be justified as those of ‘defenders’. Propaganda shapes a false picture of events for Russian citizens, justifying the war as ‘defense’ against an imagined threat. The creation of an enemy image, which is allegedly committing crimes, strengthens support for the war among the population. Through such fakes, the Russians also seek to discredit Ukraine in the eyes of the international community, portraying it as a violator of international law. Such statements often serve as informational cover for future provocations or terrorist acts that the Russian side plans to carry out, but attempts to blame Ukraine for them.

Russian anonymous Telegram channels are actively circulating a video claiming that a sniper from the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine allegedly killed several pensioners near Pokrovsk. This is being presented as another fabricated ‘war crime’ by Ukrainian forces. In reality, this is a complete fake.  

The Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security reports that propagandists distorted the context, portraying Russian soldiers as ‘pensioners’ in their disinformation. The original video, published by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense Intelligence, shows a person in camouflage carrying a water bottle in their left hand and a rifle in their right hand. This clearly identifies the individual as a combatant, not a civilian, as falsely claimed by Russian propaganda.  

This is not the first instance of such disinformation. Since early January, Russian propaganda resources have been spreading dozens of synchronized fake reports, aiming to manipulate public opinion. In the first half of January alone, over 600 fake messages were detected on Telegram, alleging ‘murders’ of civilians, prisoners, and the wounded, allegedly committed by Ukrainian forces.  

These disinformation campaigns are designed to undermine trust in Ukrainian military personnel and distort the reality of the war. A central tactic of Kremlin propaganda is to depict Ukraine’s armed forces as ‘criminals’ committing acts of violence against civilians. Propagandists seek to reverse the narrative, presenting Ukraine as the aggressor while framing their own war crimes, such as killing civilians and destroying infrastructure, as defensive actions.  

By spreading such fake stories, Russian propaganda also aims to weaken international support for Ukraine and justify their military operations by shifting the blame for violence onto Ukraine.