Russian propaganda Telegram channels have spread claims that Ukrainian media allegedly ‘photoshops’ smiles onto injured Ukrainian soldiers in photos with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi. To ‘prove’ this claim, propagandists have shared a manipulated photo, alleging that photo editing is the ‘only tool for creating any kind of victory’ for the ‘Kyiv regime’.  

In reality, this information is false. The original photo, which propagandists edited using graphic design software, was first shared online on March 13, 2022. On that day, President Zelenskyi visited wounded Ukrainian defenders in a military hospital. The sudden reappearance of this photo in early 2025 is already suspicious.  

Moreover, using Google’s reverse image search function reveals that, at the time of its original publication, all media outlets shared the unedited version of the photo. The manipulated version propagated by Russian sources is not found in credible outlets. The original image is still available on the official website of the President of Ukraine.  

By spreading this fake claim, Russian propagandists aim to portray Ukraine as ‘losing at all fronts’ and suggest that Ukrainian authorities are artificially fabricating a ‘victory narrative’. Once again, this tactic seeks to discredit President Zelenskyi and undermine Ukrainians' trust in their government.  

Previously, similar disinformation included claims about Zelenskyi purchasing a €18 million villa and building an underground bunker there, which were also debunked. 

Russian sources have circulated claims that the United States allegedly imposed sanctions on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). According to propagandists, this supposedly means that the U.S. has ‘officially recognized the plant as Russian’ and even ‘acknowledged that Zaporizhzhia is Russian’.  

In reality, this is a manipulation of information, as reported by the StopFake project.  

On January 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced a new package of sanctions against Russia. The department’s website states that the sanctions target over 150 legal entities and individuals, including a wide range of Russian defense industry companies and entities supporting Russia's military-industrial base. Additionally, the sanctions apply to dozens of companies in other countries that helped Russia evade previous U.S. sanctions.  

As for the alleged sanctions ‘against the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant’, the ZNPP is mentioned twice in the list of sanctioned entities. The first reference concerns sanctions against Vladislav Isayev, the Russian general director of the plant. The second reference relates to sanctions against the Russian legal entity created to manage the ZNPP under Russian military occupation - Federal State Unitary Enterprise Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.  

Thus, the document does not recognize the ZNPP as Russian, nor does it recognize the city of Zaporizhzhia as part of Russia.  

By spreading such disinformation, Russian propagandists aim to assert that the U.S. has allegedly acknowledged the ‘real state of affairs’ in the Russia-Ukraine war and is beginning to accept Ukraine’s territorial losses. Previously, we debunked claims that Ukraine was allegedly provoking nuclear escalation at the ZNPP. 

Russian Telegram channels have spread claims that parishioners of Ukrainian Orthodox churches were allegedly asked not to visit places of worship on January 7. Those who chose to celebrate Christmas on this date and attended church were supposedly threatened with police interrogations. As ‘evidence’, propagandists attached a photo of an alleged announcement to back up their claims.  

In reality, this information is false, according to the VoxCheck project. The announcement contains a language error: “On January 7, there will be police at our church”, which is a direct translation from Russian. The correct Ukrainian phrasing should be “in our church” or “near our church”. This linguistic inaccuracy suggests the announcement was likely fabricated by Russian sources.  

Additionally, this “news” is being disseminated exclusively by Russian and pro-Russian outlets, using the same photo repeatedly. There are no similar announcements from other churches available online.  

Since 2023, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) has officially transitioned to celebrating Christmas on December 25 instead of January 7, in line with the Revised Julian calendar. However, there is no ban on celebrating Christmas on January 7 in Ukraine, and everyone is free to choose the date they prefer. Moreover, the OCU has clarified that parishes where at least two-thirds of the congregation wish to retain the old calendar may continue to do so.  

This disinformation is yet another attempt by Russian sources to exploit religious issues in Ukraine to sow division among Ukrainians. Previously, we analyzed similar false claims that the West had forced the Ukrainian Church to adopt the Catholic calendar.

Russian Telegram channels have been spreading claims that the Ukrainian Armed Forces would have to fight against the United States if it attempts to seize Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. The reports allege that Ukraine, after signing an agreement with Copenhagen in February 2024, supposedly committed to defending Denmark in the event of an attack by third countries on its territory.  

However, this information is false, as reported by the StopFake project.  

In 2024, Ukraine signed security agreements with partner states as part of the commitments made by the G7 countries during the NATO summit in Vilnius in 2023. Denmark became the fourth country to sign such an agreement with Ukraine. The agreement on security cooperation and long-term support was signed on February 23, 2024. The full text of the document is available on the website of the President of Ukraine.  

The agreement outlines Denmark’s commitment to providing Ukraine with long-term military and financial assistance to counter Russia’s armed aggression. However, the document does not contain any obligations for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to defend Denmark or its dependent territories, such as Greenland.  

The agreement also stipulates that in the event of a new armed attack by Russia on Ukraine, the parties must hold consultations within 24 hours to determine further actions. However, no similar provisions regarding the defense of Denmark’s territory are included in the agreement.  

The Center for Countering Disinformation has also analyzed this manipulation. They noted that the agreement pertains solely to security cooperation and support for Ukraine in countering Russian aggression.  

This disinformation attempt by Russian sources aims to damage relations between Ukraine and the United States, as well as to influence Washington’s support for Ukraine by creating doubt and mistrust. 

Russian media outlets, citing statements by the U.S. Department of Defense Press Secretary Pat Ryder, have widely circulated reports claiming that the Pentagon has ‘finally acknowledged’ Russia's success in the war against Ukraine.  

In reality, propagandists have taken the words of the U.S. Major General out of context, thereby distorting their meaning. This was reported by the StopFake project.  

At a press briefing on January 13, 2025, Ryder commented on the developments in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. In response to a journalist's question about whether Russia holds any advantage on the battlefield, the Pentagon spokesperson highlighted the limited capabilities of the Russian army.  

“What we are seeing on the battlefield, particularly in Eastern Ukraine, is that Russia has achieved some additional tactical gains. Of course, this is a very tough fight, as it is in the Kursk region. But when you talk about an advantage… beyond these tactical gains - strategically, Russia has again failed to achieve any of the goals it set for itself almost three years ago (...)”, Ryder emphasized.  

The Major General also noted that, despite receiving support from Iran and deploying 12,000 troops from North Korea, Russia has not made any significant progress on the battlefield. Ryder added that three years of full-scale war in Ukraine have severely depleted Russian forces, while “Ukrainians are holding the defense well, despite the heavy fighting”.  

Thus, Ryder’s main message was that Russia has failed to achieve any of its strategic objectives in its full-scale war against Ukraine. Propagandists shifted the focus and distorted the Pentagon spokesperson's remarks. The goal of Russian media is to exaggerate their army's achievements while undermining the credibility of Ukraine's Armed Forces.  

Previously, we analyzed disinformation claiming that the Pentagon had allegedly called Ukraine ‘one of the most corrupt countries’.