Russian telegram channels are disseminating information that supposedly Ukrainians have begun to be warned that they are obliged to pay for electricity, even if they do not use it. The message attached an announcement which stated: “In order to quickly restore standard capacity, payment for electricity will be charged regardless of the supply of electricity”.

VoxCheck analysts explained that Ukraine’s electricity tariff is calculated in accordance with the amount of energy actually consumed or average daily consumption. This procedure was not changed, and there were some errors in the announcement.

For example, in the first sentence, the fakers made a mistake in the sentence: “Starting June 1, tariffs for the light will be increased”. In Ukrainian the correct word is “svitlo” (light), and “svet” is a copy of the Russian (light). The phrase “the meter will transmit readings” is incorrect and may have been created from the Russian “to transmit pokazaniia (Russian equivalent of meter readings)”.

The term “to Macron” first appeared in the Ukrainian information space at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. This concept comes from the name of French President Emmanuel Macron, who at the beginning of the great war was remembered by many Ukrainians not for real help, but only for “deep concern” about the situation in Ukraine. Accordingly, in the Ukrainian lexicon the term “to Macron” is used to mean “showing a worried look regarding a certain situation, but not actually doing anything”.

In the Russian information field, this concept appeared a little later. First in 2022 with the semantics of “calling continuously, repeatedly and to no avail” amid Macron’s constant phone calls to Putin in the hope of stopping the war with diplomacy. And already in 2024, the term “to Macron” in the Russian dictionary acquired a different meaning: “constantly throwing in unrealistic, eccentric, sometimes opposite in content theses to fill the agenda”. And the appearance of such semantics of this word can be called a response of Russian propaganda to the strengthening of the rhetoric of the French President regarding the protection of Ukraine and assistance to it. In particular, this concerns Macron’s statements about the possible dispatch of French troops to Ukraine.

Thus, one can notice some trends. During the time when the French president more or less satisfied the Russians with his cautious policy on the war in Ukraine, they used the term “to Macron” rather in a derisive sense. However, as soon as Macron began to form a new vector against Russian aggression in Ukraine, he openly began to infuriate the Russians. Accordingly, this is how a new semantics of the word “to Macron” arose.

So, Russian propaganda seeks to discredit the French President and devalue his supposed “escalatory statements”, as it makes them, regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war. Russian propaganda may also argue that Macron’s increased rhetoric about the war in Ukraine is a bluff, stupidity, or even crossing Russia’s imaginary “red lines”. However, in reality, this reaction of Russians, in particular the spread of the term “to Macron” with new semantics, rather looks insulted and infantile.

The network is spreading information that Ukraine spent $11 million on wine, chocolate and studying penguins in Antarctica. As propagandists add, this money “can be redirected to the Armed Forces of Ukraine”.

Analysts from the VoxCheck project investigated the case and explained that Ukraine is one of several dozen countries that have year-round stations in Antarctica. Scientists also use this influence on the international platform to inform about Russian aggression and counter Russian activities. And the money allocated for research cannot be redirected to the defense sector of Ukraine. The purchase for the station's activities is made at a time for the entire year in Chile for 14 people.

The polar explorers also refuted the thesis about the “tons of delicacies” that are allegedly purchased for them. All products are bought once a year in Chile by 14 people at once. Also regarding alcohol, “per week, one polar explorer receives 300 grams of dry wine (two glasses) and 200 grams of chocolate and sweets”. So, it is not about any “excessive consumption”; this purchase is necessary to provide food for the year.

They write on social networks that a bot “Find the violator” has been launched in Ukraine. The main goal of the bot is to collect “denunciations” against neighbors. That is, anyone who lacks electricity can write to the bot information about a neighbor whose light is on all day or whose washing machine is running.

Fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project analyzed the case and determined that no official bodies reported the launch of such a bot. The bot does not check the address that the user enters and does not ask for personal information, including the city or at least the region.

There really is a “Find the Violator” bot on Telegram. However, it was probably created by Russians to ridicule Ukrainians or by other users for humorous purposes. And the propagandists presented it as if some official services had created such a bot.