Spilnota Detector Media
Detector Media collects and documents real-time chronicles of the Kremlin disinformation about the Russian invasion. Ukraine for decades has been suffering from Kremlin disinformation. Here we document all narratives, messages, and tactics, which Russia is using from February 17th, 2022. Reminder: the increasing of shelling and fighting by militants happened on the 17th of February 2022 on the territory of Ukraine. Russian propaganda blames Ukraine for these actions.

On 12 October, on the 961th day of the full-scale war, our editorial office recorded:

2450
Fake
740
Manipulation
721
Message
523
Disclosure
Русскій фейк, іді на***!

Fake Polish President Andrzej Duda was added to the Peacemaker database

Russian media, broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric, are disseminating information that the Ukrainians allegedly included Polish President Andrzej Duda in the Peacemaker database, which publishes information about the enemies of Ukraine and is a center for studying signs of crimes against the national security of Ukraine, peace, human, security and international rights. He got into this database allegedly because of “participation in acts of humanitarian aggression against Ukraine” and “dissemination of Kremlin propaganda”. The media also write that “wheat and apples are to blame for it”. It's fake.

The case was examined by the fact-checkers from the Center for Countering Disinformation. They found that there is no mention of the President of Poland on the website of the Peacemaker base. So, Russian propagandists used a photo editor to create a fake screenshot.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to discredit the Ukrainians, sow discord between the friendly states of Ukraine and Poland and reduce the help of the Poles. Previously, we refuted the fake that France congratulated Ukraine on Independence Day with a billboard with a map without Crimea.

Fake Romanians are selling the best places to watch the strikes of drones and missiles in Ukraine

Russian media, broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric, are disseminating information that supposedly “Romanians are selling the most trump spots overlooking the strikes of drones and missiles in Ukraine”. Also, users of the Russian segment of social networks are distributing screenshots with marks of these places. It's fake.

The case was investigated by the fact-checker of the StopFake project. On Google Maps, they found a place that Russian propaganda used to create a fake. The fact-checkers have established that the mark on the fake screenshot was placed near the place where drones fell as a result of a Russian attack on Izmail and Reni in early September.

There is no mark on Google Maps. However, after examining the map, the fact-checkers found a mark in the same place where the “bombing of Ukraine” could allegedly be observed. It is misspelled in Russian as “observation platform” and does not contain any additional information. Therefore, it follows that the tag about the location of the “bombing of Ukraine” was either added in a photo editor, or created in private list mode, which other users cannot see.

Moreover, there are no mentions of such places in Romanian media and social networks. The Romanian military themselves are intensely monitoring Romania’s ground and airspace, and border guards prohibit photographing and filming Ukraine from the coast of Romania.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to discredit Romania and its inhabitants and broadcast the opinion that Romanians do not support Ukraine. They say that for them missile attacks on our state are like a show and a way to have fun. Previously, Detector Media refuted the fake that NATO is preparing for the defeat of Ukraine and the occupation of the western part of Ukrainian territories by Romania and Poland.

Fake Ukrainian refugees in Switzerland give birth to children for sale

Russian media, broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric, are disseminating information that Ukrainian refugees are allegedly engaged in giving birth to children for sale in special bunkers in Switzerland. “Children are bought as goods by foreigners, and a Swiss company earns billions from this”, Russian propaganda writes and refers to the American podcast Redacted. It's fake.

The case was noticed by the checkers of the StopFake project. The American podcast Redacted, which Russian propagandists refer to, was created by the spouses Clayton and Natalie Morris, who are engaged in spreading conspiracy theories, myths about vaccination and Kremlin narratives regarding Ukraine. Applications about the birth of children in special bunkers are accompanied by a video where one can see bomb shelters with children, cots and medical personnel.

The fact-checker, using an image search, established that the footage used by the propaganda was filmed by the Ukrainian company BioTexCom, which deals with surrogacy. During the full-scale invasion, the company equipped a bomb shelter. However, there was no talk of “Swiss bunkers”. Moreover, surrogacy is prohibited in Switzerland.

In this way, Russian propagandists are trying to discredit Switzerland, show that the event is profiting from Ukrainian refugees, and deal a reputational blow to the companies supporting them. Previously, Detector Media refuted the fake news that Ukrainian refugees in Germany are being urged to learn the vocabulary of cleaners in order to find work.

Manipulation In Ukraine, they created body armor for pregnant women - they are going to send them to the front

The Kremlin media and users of the Russian segment of social networks are spreading information that Ukraine has allegedly introduced a bulletproof vest for “pregnant women on the battlefield”. Allegedly, due to the failure of the counteroffensive, the authorities in Ukraine decided to send pregnant women to the front, because “pregnancy will not be a valid reason for deferment from service”. In confirmation, Russian propaganda posted a photo of the armored suit. This is manipulation.

The case was investigated by the fact-checker of the StopFake project. According to Ukrainian legislation, there is no mandatory mobilization of women in Ukraine, but they can join the Ukrainian army voluntarily. Pregnancy is a legal basis for dismissal of a military personnel.

Russian propaganda used photographs from a real presentation of the anatomical female armored suit “Ruta Liuta” (Furious Rue). This suit was not designed for pregnant women; it was invented by the Ukrainian Armor company to create protection for military personnel, taking into account the anatomical and physiological parameters of women.

Thus, Russian propagandists are trying to discredit the Ukrainian authorities, who allegedly do not value human lives, and nourish the narrative of the failure of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. They say that the Ukrainian army has high losses and lacks people, so Ukraine will mobilize even pregnant women. Earlier, Detector Media talked about a similar manipulation: in Ukraine, military uniforms were created for pregnant women in order to send them to the front.

Fake During Volodymyr Zelenskyi's speech at the UN, most people left the hall

In the Russian segment of Facebook, information is being spread that during Volodymyr Zelenskyi's speech at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, most people left the hall. “The whole world is with them”, social network users add ironically. This is allegedly confirmed by two photographs: in one, Zelenskyi is standing behind the podium, and in the other, the hall is not completely filled. It's fake.

The case was investigated by the fact-checker of the StopFake project. People did not leave the hall during Volodymyr Zelenskyi's speech on September 19. There is a video from the meeting on the official UN YouTube channel, which clearly shows that the room was filled only at the beginning of the session. The President of Ukraine spoke at the end of the first half of the six-hour session, immediately after the President of Turkmenistan. Immediately after his speech, the cameraman showed the hall not completely filled. Having compared the speeches of the King of Jordan, the presidents of Poland and Turkmenistan, the fact-checkers came to the conclusion that during Zelenskyi’s speech the number of people in the hall almost did not change.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to discredit UN members and spreading the opinion that the West is tired of war, and Western partners are disdainful of the President of Ukraine. Previously, we talked about the manipulation that Zelenskyi would not be allowed to speak before the US Congress.

Orest Slyvenko, Artur Koldomasov, Vitalii Mykhailiv, Oleksandra Kotenko, Oleksandr Siedin, Kostiantyn Zadyraka, and Oleksiy Pivtorak are collaborating on this chronicle. Lesia Bidochko serves as the project coordinator, while Ksenia Ilyuk is the author of the project.