Pro-Russian resources are spreading information that Romania is preparing to seize the Chernivtsi and Transcarpathian regions. In this regard, Bucharest is allegedly rapidly building a new highway, which was supposed to “transfer military armored vehicles”.

In fact, this information is false. This is written about in the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. The Romanian government fully supports the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine and has no aggressive intentions or claims against the neighboring country. The construction of the expressway is purely for trade and infrastructure purposes.

The A7 motorway project, which politicians have named Autostrada Moldovei, is seen as a necessary element for the economic development of Romania's eastern regions; combination of the Black Sea with highways of Ukraine, Central and Eastern Europe. If this project is implemented, Ukraine will receive an additional route for export transportation by road, in particular to the port of Constanta.

Russian propaganda is trying to “create a quarrel” between Ukraine and its allies so that they weaken military assistance or stop providing it altogether. Previously, Detector Media already analyzed a similar fake, saying that Romania lays claim to part of Ukraine.

Russian propagandists and politicians write that on the morning of January 21, 2024, the Donetsk Mercury market came under fire from the Ukrainian army. Like, it’s customary in the Ukrainian Armed Forces to shoot at the market, even on a day off.

In fact, the Ukrainian military is not involved in these attacks, as reported by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. The forces that are subordinate to the Tavria Operational-strategic troop grouping and sometimes destroying Russians in the Donetsk region, in this case did not carry out combat work with means of destruction. This was noted in the joint press center of the Taurian Defense Forces and added: “Donetsk is Ukraine! Russia will have to answer for the taken lives of Ukrainians”.

With this fake, Russian propaganda seeks to nourish the narrative that “the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been bombing Donbas since 2014” and allegedly continue to do so. That is, in this case, propagandists resort to reflexive tactics, trying to justify the atrocities of the Russian army. Previously, we refuted information that the Ukrainian authorities allegedly admitted that they would have to give up the occupied territories to the Russians.

Ukrainians are receiving emails on behalf of the State Emergency Service with the text that one unit of the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant was allegedly hit by a Russian airstrike. In addition, these letters add a link to download an electronic evacuation plan for residents.

The State Emergency Service reported that they did not send out such messages. This is the work of cyber scammers, and the link contained in the email is dangerous.

The Service also reminds that one should trust only trusted sources and remember: all relevant information is always posted on their official website and the State Emergency Service pages on social networks.

You can learn more about how to avoid becoming a victim of phishing links by watching the corresponding video from Dovidka.info.

Pro-Russian resources are disseminating information that in 2024 they will spend 3.2 billion UAH from the Ukrainian state budget on propaganda. They say that compared to 2023, propaganda spending in Ukraine has doubled.

This information is untrue, writes the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council. Russians call “propaganda” expenses for the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the National Council for Cinema and Television, the National Commission for State Regulation in the Field of Electronic Communications and the State Special Communications Service. In fact, these departments do not create media content for the state. As for information products directly, 1.5 billion UAH will be allocated from the state budget for the telethon in 2024 - this is 400 million UAH less than last year.

Russian propaganda seeks to undermine the trust of the Ukrainian people in power and force them to rebel against the “Kyiv regime”. Previously, we refuted information that Ukraine allegedly spent $1.2 billion on fake news in 2023.

Pro-Russian telegram channels are spreading information that, in the conditions of social tension, employees of the National Police of Ukraine were apparently allowed to disperse people at rallies with the help of special means. As proof, the propagandists distributed a photo of the order, which was allegedly signed by the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

In fact, this information is false, reports the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security Council. First, the order does not meet the requirements of official paperwork, and this already indicates its falsity. Secondly, all the rules and grounds for the use of special means are clearly spelled out in the law On the National Police in Art. 45 “Application of special means”. In the end, the Center verified the information with the press secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Mariana Reva, who assured that the so-called “order” was fake, as well as its content.

Propagandists speculate on rallies or protest actions of Ukrainian citizens, because there have been more such mayors compared to the first months of a full-scale war. In addition, Russian propaganda spread a fake with the goal of discrediting law enforcement agencies of Ukraine. Earlier, Detector Media refuted the information that in one of the Ukrainian universities, a student was allegedly forcibly taken from the auditorium by law enforcement officers.