A video is being distributed on social networks where the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi allegedly says that he created a petition to “mobilize” people’s deputies. And also in the video, as he added, if by January 5, 2024 the petition does not gather a sufficient number of votes, Valerii Zaluzhnyi will supposedly “resign from office”. It's a lie.

The VoxCheck analysts looked into this stuff and explained that the video was compiled. The audio recording itself with the words about the creation of the petition was created using artificial intelligence, and then superimposed on an existing video of Zaluzhnyi. Also, on the website of the Office of the President or the Verkhovna Rada there are no petitions created by Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

Using a special tool called AI Speech Classifier, experts were able to find out that with a 98% probability the audio recording was created using AI technologies.

Among other things, we recommend reading in more detail about the use of artificial intelligence technologies, in particular deepfake ones in spreading the pro-Kremlin agenda.

Anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric spread information that Ukrainian priests bless water with a “trident” - as a canonized church element with which such rituals can be performed. In support of such theses, a video was attached to the messages, which showed the process of blessing the water. The authors of the fake add: “Ukrainian priests are engaged in blasphemy, schismatics are performing an incomprehensible ritual, plunging a devilish trident into water”. It's a lie.

The StopFake analysts took up this case and found that the video depicts a three-candlestick symbolizing the Holy Trinity. The fact-checkers also first approached the clergy for comment and explained that such a ritual mainly refers to the Western Galician tradition in Ukraine. That is, the video does not depict a Ukrainian trident. Actually, Russian propagandists hinted that Ukrainian churches were allegedly engaged in profanation and blasphemy, equating state symbols with “sacred”. They say, thus, the Ukrainian church is moving away from the canons, turning into a “pagan” one, when they worship various objects, natural phenomena, and the like.

However, this does not negate the importance of Ukrainian state symbols in people’s lives - for example, if water was blessed with the accompaniment (not direct use) of state elements, there is nothing wrong with that. People only express their patriotism and love for the Ukrainian state.

Read on Censor.NET: The Church of the “Holy Dog Patron” was allegedly created in Ukraine.

Pro-Kremlin media are disseminating information that French activists from the organization “attac” are posting leaflets in Paris calling for the withdrawal of all cash, supposedly as a sign of protest against Ukraine. According to propagandists, the organization is asking to withdraw all cash from bank accounts so that “not a single penny” goes to Ukraine. Photos of leaflets with the inscription “Take (withdraw from accounts - DM) the money before it’s too late” are added to the publications. This is a lie.

The fact-checkers at the Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council analyzed the case and sent a request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to refute the propaganda stuff there. The department confirmed to fact-checkers that the information about the “anti-Ukrainian campaign” is not real, since the activists’ initiative has nothing to do with Ukraine and the Russian-Ukrainian war. This is an internal protest of French citizens, associated, as noted in the Center, with “tightening control of financial markets”.

Moreover, the organization itself condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and did not create any initiatives that could discredit the Ukrainian state.

In the Russian segment of social networks, information is being spread that Ukraine wants to “cancel” the foreign passports of its citizens who are abroad. “There is no point in making new passports for survivors. Because Zelenskyi’s dictatorship simply cancels them”, the publications claim. It's fake.

The VoxCheck analysts sorted out this stuffing, explaining that the information is not true, because in official sources there is no mention of the cancellation of valid ID cards or international passports. As experts explained, for the first time such information was heard online against the backdrop of bill No. 10378 on mobilization submitted to the Verkhovna Rada. It provides that Ukrainian men from 18 to 60 years of age who are abroad will be able to apply for a passport, in particular a foreign one, and for other consular services at diplomatic institutions of Ukraine, only if they have military registration documents - a military ID, temporary certificate of military service or registration certificate.

But on January 11, 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers officially withdrew the bill to improve mobilization; it was removed from consideration. However, even in the withdrawn bill and other official sources there is no mention of the cancellation of valid passports of Ukrainian citizens or international passports. There is also no information that citizens located abroad will be prohibited from receiving or continuing the validity of such documents. After all, the same bill dealt only with the procedure for obtaining consular services.

This was recorded by specialists from the Center for Strategic Communications and Security. They explained that unknown persons are sending phishing emails allegedly on behalf of the SBU - after all, in such messages users are asked to download malware with dangerous content. For example, Russian intelligence services can use this to collect private information about Ukrainian users.

The SBU department urged not to click on links or download anything when receiving such emails. If such a situation occurs, you should report it by phone: 0 800 501 482 or send an appeal by email: callcenter@ssu.gov.ua .