Russian propagandists on anonymous Telegram channels are actively spreading information that mobile teams in Ukraine are forcibly vaccinating citizens with Western drugs, and the number of people sick with flu and COVID-19 is “growing” because of this. However, this is not true.

VoxCheck writes about this. Its experts found out that compulsory vaccination is not carried out in Ukraine. Mobile teams work only at the request of citizens who submit applications themselves. Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations are recommended, not mandatory. Mobile teams help people with limited mobility, residents of remote settlements, and also vaccinate organized groups. Vaccination reduces the risk of complications, even if a person gets sick.

In this way, they create an impression of chaos and human rights violations, which should undermine confidence in Ukrainian medical institutions. Propagandists also provoke fears about vaccination, which could reduce the level of immunization. By highlighting “Western drugs”, propaganda tries to create a negative image of international aid to Ukraine. The focus shifts from Russia’s own problems to fictitious “crises” in Ukraine.