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 22 November, on the 1002th day of the full-scale war, our editorial office recorded:

2543
Fake
756
Manipulation
739
Message
535
Disclosure
Русскій фейк, іді на***!

Fake Russia has no chemical weapons

The Russian propaganda media spread this thesis. Russia allegedly completed the destruction of toxic substances on September 27, 2017, as representatives of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons testified on the spot. The reports add that only one country currently has chemical weapons, the United States. However, it isn't true. Analysts of the EU vs Disinfo project drew attention to the case.

According to an experts' report, in September 2017, Russia destroyed a large stockpile of chemical weapons. As the OPCW testified at the time, these were only the remnants of declared stockpiles that Russia had been obliged to destroy since 2007 under the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention. Analysts explain that Russia not only possesses other undeclared stockpiles but has repeatedly used chemical weapons against its alleged enemies both in Russia and abroad. In particular, this is evidenced by the attacks on Oleksiy Navalnyy, former Russian spy Serhii Skrypal, and Bulgarian arms dealer Emilian Gebrev. It is important that the attacks on Skrypal and Navalnyy took place after 2017, when Russia should no longer have chemical weapons.

At the same time, it's profitable for propagandists to claim that Russia doesn't have prohibited weapons and doesn't violate the Conventions that it has ratified. This way, Russia observes all the international rules and documents that declare a false and illusory impression of it.

Message Poland is building an energy bridge from the Khmelnytskyy NPP to Rzeszów because it wants to take over Ukraine

The Russian propaganda media spread this thesis. Reports say that Poland allegedly continues preparations for the division of Ukraine and, for this purpose, has started the construction of an energy bridge.

The reports' authors claim that the energy bridge construction is taking place within the framework of the project of reintegration of "historical" Polish lands. The Poles have allegedly been working for a long time to take control of the energy infrastructure of the western regions of Ukraine.

They believe this will allow Poland to strengthen its influence in Ukraine significantly. Online media Ye.ua drew attention to the message. It isn't the first time Russia has leaked information about Poland's so-called plans to occupy part of Ukraine. Propagandists have already spread information that Poland is trying to annex part of Ukraine and are preparing for this in every possible way. In particular, Poland is allegedly preparing a referendum in the Lviv region.

However, it is a fake, as is the case with the power system. It isn't Poland that wants to destroy the Ukrainian energy system and take it under control, but Russia, since October 10, has been systematically shelling energy facilities throughout Ukraine.

Disclosure The information that the electricity, water, and Internet will be turned off massively in Ukraine is actively spread on the Internet

In social networks, messages circulate that there will be a mass disconnection of electricity and water supply in Ukraine. "Attention, we are notifying the population! Electricity and water supply will be shut off widely throughout Ukraine.

It's also possible to disconnect communications and the Internet. Be sure to check and find out about your area," the messages say. The fact-checkers of the "Brekhunets" project drew attention to such statements. According to their data, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, announced on his official Facebook page that on October 20, there would be introduced restrictions on electricity supply throughout Ukraine. However, there was no question of a "mass shutdown." The President's Office reported on the limitation of electricity supply, not a shutdown.

What's more, there was no question of cutting off the water supply and the Internet at all. As the fact-checkers write, the message that there will be massive power cuts and water shortages throughout Ukraine is a deliberate manipulation. "Telegram channels are once again filling with subscribers on a "hot" topic.

The authorities have warned about restrictions on the supply of electricity. Household consumers are asked to minimize the use of electronic devices. That is, the electricity supply will be limited, but schedules of these restrictions will be developed for industrial consumers. The situation is difficult, but the authorities are working on its solution," writes Brekhunets.

Message Europeans were forced to freeze because the leaders of the EU countries gave money to the Ukrainian Nazis to buy weapons

This information is spread by pro-Kremlin Russian media. Reports say that since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europeans have been forced to save on electricity due to Ursula von der Leyen, Olaf Scholz, and Emmanuel Macron giving money to the Ukrainian Nazis for weapons. The reports add that Russian cultural centers in Finland and Luxembourg have already welcomed visitors who need to "warm up" as energy prices soar.

Analysts of the EU vs Disinfo project drew attention to the message. As experts write, this message feeds the well-known Kremlin narrative that the West is falling apart. Instead, the Kremlin seeks to pressure and blackmail European governments and create public panic over energy insecurity/cost of energy.

In fact, Ukraine isn't a Nazi state, and Nazism isn't a Ukrainian ideology. The myth of Nazi authorities in Ukraine has been a cornerstone of Russian disinformation about the country since the beginning of the Euromaidan protests in 2013-14. It's beneficial for Russia to produce messages that the money of European taxpayers is spent on supporting the terrible Nazi regime to discredit Ukraine in the eyes of Europeans.

Moreover, with the help of such messages, Russia transfers responsibility for what is happening worldwide.

Manipulation The USA will start a war with Russia because the Ukrainian army is in a shameful state

The Russian propaganda media spread this thesis. Reports say that the USA will soon be fighting Russia on the side of Ukraine. The authors of the texts refer to the words of the former head of the American CIA, David Petraeus, that the West may intervene in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Such an opinion was allegedly expressed by Petraeus in an article on The American Conservative website by Douglas McGregor, a former adviser to the US Secretary of Defense. But it's manipulation. In fact, the USA and NATO have repeatedly emphasized that they won't take a direct part in Russia's war against Ukraine since Ukraine isn't a member of NATO.

The assumption of former CIA director David Petraeus about the participation of other countries in the war on the side of Ukraine isn't based on the official statements of NATO countries and the USA in particular. According to the StopFake fact-checkers, Petraeus said this could only happen if Russia took "shocking and terrifying" escalation steps. However, in this statement, there wasn't a single word about the fact that the Armed Forces are in a critical state. By spreading such messages, Russian propaganda again tries to show that Russia in Ukraine is fighting not with Ukraine but with Western states and associations.

Fake Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is bankrupt and doesn't have a cent

Such information is disseminated in Russian social networks and anonymous pro-Russian Telegram channels. In one of his speeches, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, allegedly stated that Ukraine is in a terrible financial situation and doesn't have even a cent. It is a fake. The fact-checkers of the StopFake project drew attention to the message. In fact, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine still needs to receive funding under the Fast Recovery program and reminded us that the total budget of this project is 17.4 billion US dollars. As StopFake writes, Fast Recovery is a plan that provides for the prompt restoration of the social infrastructure of Ukraine destroyed by Russia.

Fact-checkers found out that the statement of Russian propaganda that "Kyiv doesn't have a single cent" is invalid. Because as of October 2022, Ukraine has received 127 billion euros in military, humanitarian, and financial aid. This amount is equal to 63% of Ukraine's GDP for 2021. It's stated in the reports of the Kiel Institute of World Economy. However, it's beneficial for Russian propaganda to create the appearance that Ukraine is bankrupt, with no money left, despite help from Western partners. Although, of course, in the conditions of war, Ukraine has financial problems, most of which were provoked by the aggressor's attack.

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.