Propagandists spread information that Ukrainian troops killed Russian journalist Rostyslav Zhuravliov with cluster munitions provided by the United States. International organizations and Western media expressed concern about his death and called for an investigation into the circumstances of his death, in fact picking up the message of the propagandists.

In fact, information that Zhuravliov was killed with cluster munitions is only available in channels and communities that spread pro-Russian rhetoric on social networks. There is no credible evidence for this. In addition, Rostyslav Zhuravliov participated in the aggression against Ukraine, which is proved by numerous photos with weapons and Nazi symbols, as well as his posts on social networks. The man worked for RIA Novosti, which is a state-owned Russian news agency, so he was in fact a propagandist. The Media Movement of Ukraine reminded the international community of this after the Director General of UNESCO spoke on the situation, repeating the stamps of propagandists.

By spreading such messages, they want to confuse the information space abroad. To do this, they use the substitution of concepts. Like, Ukraine is killing freedom of speech and journalists with Western weapons. Along with discrediting the assistance of Western partners, this also aims to discredit the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The situation with Zhuravliov is another example of how easily unsubstantiated misinformation of Russians spreads in the international information space, which also helps the aggressor to continue carrying out his crimes against Ukraine. We remind you that since the beginning of a full-scale war in Ukraine, only 65 media workers have died, whose stories also deserve the attention of the world community.

Russian propaganda systematically claims that there are many people in Ukraine who communicate only in Russian. Like, the Russian language prevails Ukrainian in daily use. Propagandists often speculate on this issue: they assure that the Russian language is discriminated against in Ukraine, hindering its development, not protecting the “Russian-speaking population”, etc. And they assure that “Russian-speaking Ukrainians” need Moscow's protection.

Russia has promoted the notion of a “Russian-speaking population” since the beginning of Ukraine's independence. So Russian propaganda sought to prove that Russian dominates everywhere, while Ukrainian is not so common and, in general, its consumption is inherent in residents of villages or small towns. That is, he imposed an inferiority complex on Ukrainians and tried to popularize Russian, portraying it as more prestigious.

Propagandists call for “protection of the Russian-speaking population” to justify unprovoked aggression and a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to them, the so-called harassment of the “Russian-speaking population” is taking place, so this category of people needs to be protected. The “protection” of the Russians is manifested in the daily rocket attacks on Ukraine and the murder of its citizens.

“Aren't Ukrainians insolent? These are our [territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russia. - Ed.] lands, with a native Russian-speaking population. We will defend these territories to the end”, the authors explained in the social networks of the Russian segment the importance of Russian-speaking people for the Kremlin.

So, Russia perceives the Russian language as a means of influencing people, instrumentalizes it in every possible way. In the understanding of propagandists, knowledge of the Russian language means a loyal attitude towards Russia. In the end, the language policy in Ukraine was quite a compromise, but the Kremlin itself politicized the language issue in Ukraine. For example, in the context of a full-scale invasion, 57% of Ukrainians switched to the Ukrainian language of communication with Russian. And they did it deliberately. Expecting one effect (strengthening public opinion about the “harassment” of Russian-speaking people), we got a different result - a segment of Russian-speaking people independently switched to Ukrainian.

“Russian-speaking population” is just a political term used by Russia to achieve its own goals. In particular, to destroy Ukraine as a state, and Ukrainians as a nation. The massive use of the Russian language in Ukraine is a consequence of the imperial policy of Russia, which sought to Russify Ukrainians and deprive them of their identity. But for the first time since independent Ukraine, there was a linguistic surge. According to a survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, 80% of Ukrainians are in favor of the predominance of the Ukrainian language in all areas. This testifies to the positive dynamics of the attitude of Ukrainians to the language. In the field of education, media, services, and even public speeches by top officials, Ukrainian is becoming more and more in demand.

Russian media and social media users spreading pro-Russian rhetoric claim that the UK has allegedly lifted sanctions against Russia Today ex-director Anton Krasovskyi. In particular, at one time he was marked by calls to kill Ukrainian children. However, information about his exclusion from the sanctions list is a manipulation.

Specialists in the StopFake project drew attention to it. They found out that on July 21, 2023, a document actually appeared on the official website of the British government, according to which Anton Krasovskyi was excluded from the sanctions list. However, an explanation of this decision can be found in the same document: Krasovskyi was excluded from the list, since he was accidentally entered there twice. The British simply removed the duplication. Moreover, the clarification also states that Krasovskyi remains on this sanctions list, and his assets will continue to be frozen.

By spreading such manipulations, propagandists want to give the false impression that the West is ready to make peace with Russia and is gradually lifting sanctions restrictions on the main Russian criminals, but it is not true.

Russian media are spreading information that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have confirmed that they are placing air defense systems near residential buildings and have recognized “hits of homes of civilians”. This is manipulation.

Specialists in the StopFake project drew attention to it. They found out that the propagandists deliberately took out of context and disfigured a quote from Yurii Ihnat, a representative of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In particular, he did not speak about the “deliberate deployment of air defense forces near residential buildings”. On the air of the national telethon on July 16, Ihnat said that the forces of the Ukrainian air defense system were positioned to protect previously peaceful cities, as well as important critical and military infrastructure. He stressed that due to the fact that it is impossible to cover the entire territory of Ukraine with the available air defense systems, these complexes are located near settlements. On July 21, Ihnat even reacted to disinformation saying that it was Russia that was spreading it.

According to the speaker, propagandists make such statements to cause panic among Ukrainians and justify their aggression against Ukraine. Detector Media has already written about how other propagandists support their message about the “harm” of the Ukrainian air defense system for civilians.

Russian propagandists in the media and anonymous telegram channels claim that Ukraine was planning an attack on the Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa in advance. Like, this is confirmed by the fact that the Wikipedia article about the cathedral was supplemented with information about the destruction a few hours before the Russian missile struck Odesa. It's fake.

Specialists in the StopFake project drew attention to it. They found out that such a statement was conspiracy theories and that in fact the information was added to the article after it became known about the destruction of buildings in Odesa as a result of the Russian attack. The project accepted a comment from the administrator of the Ukrainian Wikipedia Anatolii Lutsiuk. He noted that in the history of editing Wikipedia, the UTC time zone is used, that is, with a difference of 2 hours from Kyiv time.

By spreading such conspiracy theories, the propagandists want to justify the crimes of the Russians and shift the responsibility for them to the Ukrainians. Detector Media explains every two weeks how Russian propaganda uses conspiracy theories for its own purposes.

Russian propagandists in anonymous telegram channels claim that allegedly in the temporarily occupied territories of the Kherson region, the “new government” is conducting an active vaccination campaign after the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant. Like, the authorities in Ukraine ignored the vaccination and urged citizens not to do it. It's fake.

Specialists in the VoxCheck project drew attention to it. They found out that in fact the local authorities of Kherson systematically reminded adults and children to do routine vaccinations. In addition to the fact that undermining the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant is a crime of the Russians, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine periodically reminds about routine vaccinations for adults and children. Project analysts note that the network has evidence that not only the Ministry of Health, but also the local authorities of Kherson systematically reminded the locals about vaccination.

After the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, the Russians vaccinated the population of Oleshki against hepatitis A, typhoid fever and tetanus. However, despite the promise of three vaccinations for civilians, they actually received only one. Russian “police” and military received three vaccinations each. Also, local Gauleiters promised to distribute 10 thousand rubles to civilians for vaccination against hepatitis A. In fact, the money was given only to Ukrainians with a Russian passport. Using vaccination issues, propagandists want to discredit the Ukrainian authorities and shift the responsibility for the crimes of the Russians to the victim of aggression. Allegedly, Russia started the war to “put things in order”.