Spilnota Detector Media

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.

Manipulation In Ukraine, they want to reorganize military media and send journalists to the front

Pro-Kremlin media are disseminating information that in Ukraine they want to reorganize military media and supposedly send journalists to the front due to the failure of mobilization and lack of people. This is manipulation.

The case was investigated by the fact-checker of the StopFake project. The ex-deputy of the Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar actually spoke during the conference “Editorial Board. Summit” on plans to reorganize military media. She noted that people with high military knowledge who worked for military media could be useful directly at the front. Maliar also spoke about attracting already mobilized journalists to the media. However, there was no talk of separate mobilization of journalists - they, just like other citizens of Ukraine, are subject to mobilization.

The very reorganization of military media is necessary, first of all, in order to bring their status into compliance with the Law of Ukraine “On Media”.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to discredit the Ukrainian authorities and sow panic and despondency among Ukrainians, saying that there is a shortage of people at the front. Previously, we refuted the falsehood that, under the guise of mobilization, the authorities in Ukraine are destroying the Russian-speaking population.

Fake Ukrainians in Ireland are extradited to serve in the Ukrainian Armed Forces

In the chats of Ukrainians in Ireland, a “letter” from the Irish Ministry of Justice was distributed, which alleged requests for the extradition of Ukrainians to serve in the Armed Forces. According to the “letter”, its recipients were scheduled to appear in court for an “extradition hearing” in October. Failure to comply with the “instructions” “may result in an arrest warrant being issued”. These letters are fake.

It was reported by Facebook users and The Irish Times. They note that although the form resembles the real one in appearance, the address in the image of the “letter” is rather random, since no Ukrainians live behind it. In addition, the Irish Ministry of Justice stated that it had not received any extradition requests and had not sent any such letters. It also urged recipients to apply for a special phone number to detect the fake.

With its help, Russia wants to cause panic among Ukrainian refugees and support the narrative of the “failure of the counteroffensive”. They say that everything is so bad in Ukraine that it is forced to mobilize its refugees from abroad. Detector Media has already refuted the fake news about the “extradition” of Ukrainians from Poland.

Message Poland “expels” Ukrainians from the country to serve in the Ukrainian Defense Forces

This information was disseminated by anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The reports note that Poland has decided to “get rid” of Ukrainian refugees, so they will be mobilized. They say that Ukraine is suffering huge losses in the counteroffensive, so it needs to somehow return people to the country.

This case was analyzed by specialists from the StopFake project, who determined that in fact, the “deportation of men liable for military service” is generally impossible, since there is no legal basis for it. Ukrainian diplomatic institutions cannot deport Ukrainians for mobilization, just as the EU authorities are not authorized to form any units from Ukrainians on their territories. That is, there is no legal mechanism or precedent for the mobilization of Ukrainians by EU members.

Ukrainian law enforcement officers can investigate and prove in court the facts of illegal border crossings under martial law. And for extradition from abroad, it will be necessary to prove the guilt of each person liable for military service according to the laws of the country of his stay in a local court.

The European Union is consolidated in its position that they will not deport anyone against their will. According to EU law, all Ukrainians who arrived in the region after the start of a full-scale invasion are protected by the Temporary Protection Directive.

Fake Volyn doctors are being fired en masse because they are planning to be sent to the front

Such information was disseminated on social networks, in particular on anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The reports note that allegedly two departments will be disbanded in the Rozhyshche multidisciplinary hospital (Volyn region) and 50 medical workers will be fired because they decided to send them to the front. The authors add that replacements are already being found to replace the mobilized personnel. The publications refer to the material from the Public. This is manipulation.

Fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project took up this case and found out that the Public article stated that the hospital plans to disband the maternity and children's departments by the end of 2023. That's why 50 health workers were fired. The director of the institution, Viktor Redzii, assured that such actions are caused by a lack of funding and a general lack of attendance at the departments. Consequently, propagandists distorted the context of the material and invented desired talking points to spread their agenda. Since the material did not talk about any mobilization of medical staff. Only about optimizing a medical facility.

The fact-checkers explain that according to the 2018 reform, the hospital financing system has changed. That is, the institution now receives funds for each patient visit, and not per bed, as it was before. So, if fewer patients come to the hospital, the institution receives less money from the National Health Service of Ukraine (NSHSU).

Interestingly, manipulative messages subsequently migrated to Facebook. There, a local user allegedly commented on a post by the Volyn News Group and also stated that doctors and physicians were being mobilized. She allegedly introduced herself as a former doctor of this particular hospital with ten years of work experience. But the Facebook page looks suspicious: it was created on August 24, 2023 as a page for a marketing agency, with Kharkiv as her city of residence. And in the work section it is noted: “Physical office nurse at the Volyn Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital”. The director of the Rozhyshche hospital denied information that such a person worked there.

So propagandists are trying to intimidate Ukrainians and spread panic among them. It seems that everything is so bad, there is no one to fight, so officials are forcibly mobilizing doctors to the front.

By the way, in our review of disinformation for August 21-27, 2023, we have collected a selection of fakes about the so-called total mobilization in Ukraine. But they explained what the Kremlin is trying to achieve when it claims that the Territorial center of recruitment and social support mobilizes pregnant women and their children. And in the Newspeak section, we found out how Russia mobilizes its resources, hiding behind the term “partial mobilization”.

Fake Under the guise of mobilization, the Russian-speaking population is being destroyed in Ukraine

Russian propaganda media are disseminating information that the largest mobilization is taking place in the Russian-speaking regions of Ukraine. Russian propaganda notes that this is genocide - under the pretext of conflict, the Russian-speaking population is destroyed, but sometimes they are forced to mobilize residents of western Ukraine. It is not true.

EUvsDiSiNFO fact-checkers drew attention to the case. There are no facts or evidence that mobilization in Ukraine is aimed at the Russian-speaking population. The idea that Ukraine is committing genocide of its own population is promoted in his speeches by Volodymyr Putin. However, there is no evidence to support this in the reports of the Council of Europe, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the OSCE.

It is Russia that attacks Ukrainian cities where many Ukrainians live who use the Russian language, such as Odesa or Kharkiv.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to sow discord between the Russian-speaking population and the Ukrainian-speaking population, to divide them and discredit the authorities. Also, Russian propagandists are trying to shift responsibility for the crimes of Russians onto Ukrainians.

Manipulation Due to the order to send more than 50 medical workers to the front, two departments will be closed in a hospital in Volyn

Anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric spread information that the Rozhyshche hospital in the Volyn region allegedly received an order to send more than 50 medical workers to the front. Russian propaganda refers to the Ukrainian media. It is not true.

The case was investigated by fact-checkers of the Center for Countering Disinformation. They found that in one of the hospitals in Volyn they plan to reduce staff due to lack of funding and because of this, two departments will be closed. However, there is no mention of sending doctors to the front or there is no corresponding order.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to sow panic among Ukrainians, they say, there are not enough people in the Ukrainian army, so hospitals receive orders to send doctors to the war zone. Earlier, we talked about the manipulation that in Ukraine they created a military uniform for pregnant women in order to send them to the front.

Fake Armed Forces of Ukraine launched the campaign “Education will not save the country”

Russian media and anonymous telegram channels are distributing photos and videos showing flyers ostensibly to launch a UFA campaign to increase mobilization. The flyers allegedly handed out in Kharkiv deliver the message “Education will not save the country! Join the Armed Forces!” and “Update data in Territorial centers of procurement and social support”. However, this is fake.

Specialists of the NotaYenota project drew attention to it. They found out that the flyers are actually fake, and the primary source of information about them is a Russian anonymous telegram channel “with an audience of many thousands”. From there, it began to be distributed in other telegram channels, VKontakte and TikTok. In addition, they found English advertisements for these flyers on Facebook. In particular, the flyers contain inaccurate hotline numbers, and the design style of Kharkiv regional territorial center of procurement and social support does not match the flyers.

By creating and spreading this fake, according to project experts, the propagandists want to discredit the information campaign recently launched by the Ministry of Defense “Update data in the Territorial centers of procurement and social support”. This is happening against the backdrop of a bill to abolish the deferment from mobilization for men over the age of 30 who receive additional higher education. The Ministry of Defense notes that the processes for updating data and mobilization are different. And the Russian propaganda wants to unite them in order to cause panic among the population. Detector Media has already refuted a number of fakes on mobilization in Ukraine, including the “mass mobilization” of Ukrainian students.

Manipulation Poland deports men of military age to Ukraine

Such information was disseminated by anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The reports note that in Poland they decided to “get rid” of Ukrainian refugees, so they will be mobilized. Like, this applies, first of all, to those evading to mobilize. It looks like they will be deported. The authors refer to the material of the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita. This is manipulation.

The material says that Poland forcibly returned those citizens of Ukraine who transported illegal immigrants to Europe. As for the evaders themselves, the material says that the extradition procedure for such persons may begin when Ukraine issues an international arrest warrant for each of them. And it is about possible scenarios from the Polish officials themselves. The authors of the propaganda publication distorted the meaning of the material. Moreover, in order for a person to be recognized as an evader, he needs to be handed over a draft notice. That is, one needs to find a person abroad and personally hand it over to him. From a practical point of view, this is difficult to implement.

And the “deportation of men liable for military service” is not possible at all, since there is no legal basis. Certainly. The Border Service of Ukraine can investigate crimes of illegal border crossing under martial law, and, for example, try to return a man liable for military service to Ukraine if he illegally crossed the border.

The EU is consolidated in its position that they do not deport anyone against their will. According to EU law, all Ukrainians who arrived there after the start of a full-scale invasion fall under the protection of the Temporary Protection Directive.

Fake The EU will form battalions for the Armed Forces of Ukraine from Ukrainian refugees

Such information was disseminated by anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The reports note that in Europe they decided to “get rid” of Ukrainian refugees, so they will allegedly be mobilized and subsequently sent to the front. The authors add, they say, this applies, first of all, to all men of military age. It looks like they will be deported. It is not true.

Fact-checkers of the StopFake project investigated this case and explained that the “deportation of men liable for military service” is not possible at all, since there is no legal basis. The point is that Ukrainian diplomatic institutions cannot deport Ukrainians for mobilization, just as structures in the EU are not authorized to form any units from Ukrainians on their territories. That is, no such mechanism simply exists.

In addition, experts added that the Border Guard Service of Ukraine can investigate crimes of illegal border crossing under martial law. And, for example, trying to return a man liable for military service to Ukraine if he illegally crossed the border.

The EU is consolidated in its position that they do not deport anyone against their will. According to EU law, all Ukrainians who arrived in the region after the start of a full-scale invasion fall under the protection of the Temporary Protection Directive.

By spreading such a fake, propagandists are trying to convince that there is no one left to fight in Ukraine and the country's leadership resorts to tricks and wants to mobilize Ukrainian refugees.

Fake In Ukraine, they will begin to mobilize young men from the age of 20

Such information was disseminated on social networks, in particular on anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. Reports say Ukraine plans to lower the draft age to 20. Like, such an initiative was introduced by the General Staff and it was supported everywhere.

Fact-checkers of the StopFake project investigated the case and found out that such information is not true. This is just stuffing, because in Ukraine they do not plan to reduce the age for mobilization. Analysts also cited one of the interviews of NSDC Secretary Oleksii Danilov to Ukrainian Radio as an example. During it, the official assured that no mobilization rules would be changed.

That is, there is no reason to believe that mobilization will be carried out in Ukraine from the age of 20. The current age for mobilization is 27. In March 2023, the Ukrainian Parliament introduced a bill to lower the age to 25. However, the bill has not yet been signed by Volodymyr Zelenskyi.

Russian propaganda has repeatedly speculated on total mobilization in Ukraine. Thus, propagandists want to distort reality and convince everyone that Ukrainian officials are constantly resorting to tricks to mobilize people more and more.

Fake In Ternopil, they threaten to turn off gas and hot water to conscripts those who do not come to the Territorial center of recruitment and social support

Anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric are spreading a fake document on behalf of the Ternopil public utility. It threatens to turn off gas and hot water to conscripts who do not appear at the local Territorial center of recruitment and social support. This “letter” also states that shutdowns will be carried out in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On mobilization preparation and mobilization”. The “letter” bears the signature of Oleksandr Andriyovych Popov, director of the Komenergo-Ternopil 1 company, which is engaged in the improvement of apartment buildings in Ternopil. It's fake.

The case was investigated by the fact-checkers of the StopFake project. They took comments from representatives of the Ternopil Territorial center of recruitment and social support, who refuted this document. They also noted that the regional Territorial centers of recruitment and social support are not involved in mobilization notifications - the mobilization process on the ground is carried out by city and district departments. Errors indicate that the “letter” is a fake. For example, instead of the word “according to” in Ukrainian, the Russian propaganda wrote “according to” in Russian, and the text itself indicates the date by which one needs to come to the Territorial center of recruitment and social support - January 18, 2023.

In addition, the Law of Ukraine “On mobilization preparation and mobilization” does not contain information on penalties in the form of turning off water and gas.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to spread panic among Ukrainians and discredit the Ukrainian authorities. They say that in order to encourage conscripts to register with the Territorial center of recruitment and social support and mobilize, the authorities are ready to turn off gas and water. Earlier, we talked about the manipulation that due to “huge losses” in the regions of Ukraine, a general mobilization began.

Fake In the Ukrainian version of the trailer for the video game Call of Duty they call to join the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric are distributing an allegedly Ukrainian version of the Call of Duty video game trailer, where they allegedly call to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It's fake.

The fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project investigated the case. They found that the Ukrainian version of the trailer for the video game Call of Duty does not exist. The official YouTube channel of Call of Duty posted the only English-language video in which there is no call to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Also, in other versions of the trailer, translated into Russian, Arabic, and several European languages, there is no mention of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Moreover, there will be no official Ukrainian localization, and Activision, the publisher of the game, did not cooperate with Ukrainian localizers.

By spreading fakes in which the authorities allegedly use any means to mobilize people, the Russians are trying to discredit them. In addition, they want to raise a panic and convince everyone that Russia is winning on the battlefield.

Earlier, we refuted the fake that the Tetris game is banned in Ukraine.

Fake The Verkhovna Rada introduced a bill restricting the exit from Ukraine to teenagers aged 16 and over

Russian media and anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric spread information that the Verkhovna Rada allegedly registered a bill that prohibits teenagers from 16 to 18 years old from leaving Ukraine. It seems that Ukrainians resort to such laws due to the fact that adult men are running out in Ukraine. It is not true.

The fact-checkers of the Center for Strategic Communications drew attention to the case. On July 11, 2023, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine registered the “Draft Law on Amendments to the Civil Code of Ukraine on the Protection of the Rights of Children During Temporary Departure from Ukraine” No. 9480. It aims to protect the rights of children traveling abroad, and especially orphans and children deprived of parental care. The law does not talk about mobilization, but only about limiting the independent travel of children aged 16 and over abroad for unification with the rules of social services of the EU countries.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to discredit the Ukrainian authorities and sow discouragement among Ukrainians and military personnel. Earlier, Detector Media talked about how Russian propaganda manipulates the issue of mobilization in Ukraine, in particular, deliberately exaggerating its scale.

Fake Ukrainian authorities want to mobilize representatives of the diaspora in Canada

Propagandists are actively spreading information on social networks that Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that he would ask for assistance from the Canadian government in mobilizing members of the Ukrainian diaspora for war. Like, he is talking about 30 thousand men of military age. However, this is fake.

Reuters analysts drew attention to it. They found that Ukraine and Canada jointly denied the information from these reports. In particular, in response to a request from fact-checkers of the publication, Yurii Sak, adviser to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, called them “a cheap fake”. The Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed that Ukraine had not made such requests. There are no similar statements by Reznikov on the Internet either.

By spreading such fakes, propagandists want to cause panic among Ukrainians and discredit the Ukrainian authorities. Detector Media has repeatedly written about how Russian propaganda manipulates the issue of mobilization in Ukraine, in particular, deliberately exaggerating its scale.

Manipulation Due to mobilization, 4 million veterans will appear in Ukraine after the war

On anonymous telegram channels, propagandists spread information with pro-Russian rhetoric that after the end of the war there will be 4 million war veterans in Ukraine. They argue that this is an indirect confirmation of the scale of mobilization and losses in Ukraine. However, this is manipulation.

Analysts of the VoxCheck project drew attention to it. They found that Minister for Veterans Affairs Yuliia Laputina spoke several times about the number of people who might need help from the relevant ministry after the war. So, on May 8, 2023, in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine, she stated that until February 24, there were “about 500 thousand people in Ukraine who are directly participants in the Anti-Terrorist Operation and the Joint Forces Operation”. At the same time, Laputina emphasized that if one adds to this figure the family members of those killed and injured during the Revolution of Dignity, as well as “all other categories”, including participants in the Second World War and persons equated to them, participants in peacekeeping missions, the number of these persons will be “approximately 1.2 million”. The minister only added that after the war this figure would be many times higher and could reach “4-5 million people”.

By manipulating the statements of Ukrainian officials, propagandists want to give out the desired for reality and create a false impression that Ukraine has lost. In fact, Laputina spoke about the total number of people to be supported by the Ministry of Veterans, namely the military and their families, civilians who suffered as a result of the Revolution of Dignity and the war. VoxCheck analysts note that this indicator cannot be used to assess the scale of losses and mobilization in Ukraine.

Manipulation Interpol will search for Ukrainians who fled from mobilization to Europe

Russian media, broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric and in the Russian segment of Facebook, disseminate information that the Kharkiv police will allegedly transmit information about Ukrainian citizens who fled from the mobilization to the countries of the European Union. This statement was made by Serhii Bolvinov, head of the investigative department of the National Police of the Kharkiv region. This is manipulation.

Fact-checkers of the StopFake project investigated the case. On July 14, Serhii Bolvinov did write on Facebook about cooperation with Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization). However, this cooperation is not because of the Ukrainians in the EU countries, as Russian propaganda claims. Bolvinov said that Ukrainian law enforcement officers would contact the organization because they want to bring to justice the collaborators who fled Ukraine and settled in the EU. Russian propaganda took the phrase out of context.

By manipulating the facts of mobilization, Russian propagandists are trying to discredit the Ukrainian authorities and sow panic in society. Previously, we refuted the manipulation that in Ukraine a military uniform was created for pregnant women in order to send them to the front.

Manipulation In Ukraine, a military uniform was created for pregnant women to send them to the front

Anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric spread information that pregnant women are allegedly mobilized in Ukraine and that a special uniform has been sewn for them. And the proof is a screenshot from the UNIAN website, where they are talking about a new uniform for female military personnel. This is manipulation.

According to the specialists of the VoxCheck project, the mobilization of women in Ukraine is exclusively voluntary. And volunteers began to create uniforms for military personnel, including pregnant women, at the request of the women themselves in the army. UNIAN  published news about the creation of a uniform for women, it was presented on the air of the United News marathon.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to discredit the authorities and intimidate Ukrainian society. Like, the Russians are winning on the battlefield, there are not enough people in the Ukrainian army, so they began to mobilize pregnant women. Earlier, Detector Media denied the manipulation that due to “huge losses” in the regions of Ukraine, a general mobilization allegedly began.

Fake In the Ivano-Frankivsk region, it was forbidden to hospitalize those liable for military service without the consent of the territorial recruitment centers

Such information was disseminated in the social networks of the Ukrainian segment. Reports say that in the Ivano-Frankivsk region on June 13, 2023, the hospitalization of men aged 18 to 59 was allegedly temporarily stopped without the consent of the Territorial recruitment and social support center. The authors add to the publications a photo of an Extract about the decision of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration to ban hospitalization. It is not true.

The fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project took up this case and found out that the regional council did not make such a decision. This was announced by the Deputy Chairman of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration Vitalii Ilchyshyn. However, such a decision was actually considered the day before at the initiative of the Regional territorial center of recruitment and social support. They explained that those liable for military service, whom the military medical commission recognized as fit for service, may try to get to the hospital, declaring a “sudden” deterioration in their condition.

The chairman of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration noted that in this way people can avoid mobilization. The Extract itself, the photo of which was distributed on social networks, was not found by fact-checkers. They wrote that there were no relevant instructions on the official website of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration. The photo of the Extract was previously distributed by telegram channels and media of the Ukrainian segment, although it is not on the official pages.

Manipulation Due to “huge losses” in the regions of Ukraine, a general mobilization began

Propagandists spread information that the news about the need for men in Ivano-Frankivsk and Kyiv to come to the military registration and enlistment office within 10 days, if they did not receive personal draft notices, is confirmation of the “huge losses” of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The authors of such reports add that Ukraine is doing this “for the sake of NATO membership” when “resistance to the regime is growing” among the people. This is manipulation.

Specialists in the StopFake project drew attention to it. They claim that in Ukraine there is a general mobilization due to martial law. The appearance of orders from individual territorial recruitment centers (TRC) is not new, but serves to re-notify those liable for military service. In Ivano-Frankivsk, they explained that such an order is provided in case of an extension of martial law. As before, Ukrainians liable for military service between the ages of 18 and 60 who do not have a deferment are still subject to mobilization.

By spreading such manipulations, propagandists distort reality and try to arouse Ukrainians' distrust of the authorities. In addition, they want to raise a panic and convince everyone that Russia is winning on the battlefield.

Fake Deportation in case of refusal - Ukrainians in Estonia are summoned to a military meeting

Kremlin propaganda media and anonymous telegram channels spread the information that the Ukrainian embassy in Estonia allegedly informed the Ukrainians that they were being called to a “two-week meeting of reservists”. Those who refuse are deported. It's fake.

The fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project drew attention to the case. According to the Estonian National Defense Law, foreigners are exempted from the obligation to join the army. Also, the Ukrinform news agency requested the Ukrainian Embassy in the Republic of Estonia. The embassy said that this information is not true and it is another fake of the Russians. Moreover, according to the Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine “On approval of the procedure for organizing and maintaining military records of conscripts, conscripts and reservists”, diplomatic departments have no right to force them to join the ranks of a foreign army.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to discredit the Estonian government and intimidate Ukrainians, to destabilize the situation. Earlier, Detector Media refuted the fake that Poland had allegedly launched covert mobilization.

Message Mobilization in Ukraine is illegal as the state of war has not been declared

This thesis was circulated on social networks, in particular on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. Reports say that draft law No. 7114, allegedly declaring a state of war, registered on February 24, 2022, has disappeared from the website of the Verkhovna Rada. The authors argue that mobilization is illegal. They add a screenshot to messages that show a citizen's request for public information. In response to a request, the Verkhovna Rada stated that the draft law No. 7114 was not in the database.

The fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project drew attention to the case, and they found that Volodymyr Zelenskyi submitted the draft law “On declaring a state of war” for consideration by the Verkhovna Rada on February 24, 2022, and it was indeed not approved. However, this does not mean that we are not at war. For example, back in March 2022, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Maliar explained that it was not necessary to adopt a special law or decree declaring war. She cited Article 3 of the UN Resolution “On Aggression” of 1974 and stressed that an invasion or attack by the armed forces of a state on the territory of another state, bombardment or blockade of ports is qualified as an act of aggression.

In addition, after the start of Russia's full-scale aggression, Volodymyr Zelenskyi issued a decree “On the introduction of martial law in Ukraine”, adopted on February 24 by the Verkhovna Rada. This document empowers military administrations to assist in the organization of mobilization and communicate to the population the order of the military commissar to announce mobilization.

By spreading this message, Russian propaganda wants to prove that, as they say, the war is staged in Ukraine, but in general the state of war has not been declared. Like, there is no war, and mobilization is also impossible. Thus, propagandists deliberately hide the fact of a full-scale invasion of the territory of Ukraine.

Fake In Odesa schools, children are recruited to the front

Such information was disseminated in social networks, in particular, on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. Reports say that in Odesa they have already begun to recruit schoolchildren for the front under the guise of summer volunteer work. The authors attach a screenshot of a Google form (allegedly spread by the school administration), where, they say, children are asked if “they have a desire to work in the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the summer”. It is not true.

The fact-checkers of the StopFake project drew attention to the case, and they determined that the information about the trip of children to the front was false. In Ukraine, children are not recruited to serve in the army - those liable for military service from 18 to 60 years old are subject to mobilization. At the same time, the Google form contains many spelling errors indicating the use of third-party services, such as a translator. For example, in the column from the full name in the screenshot, the Name, Last name and letter O is shown (from “patronymic” - in Russian). The description of the survey itself is also misspelled: “we ask for your opinion on improving the work of the school”. It is most likely that this survey was compiled using Google Translate.

Propagandists systematically spread fakes and manipulations on the topic of “total mobilization” among young men and women, because they are allegedly mobilized because there is no one else. Thus, the authors of the messages seek to convince that the Ukrainian leadership violates its own laws and mobilizes children, women, and students.

Fake Ukrainian refugees in Estonia are forced to join the local army

Such information was disseminated in social networks, in particular, on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. Reports say that the Estonian authorities are forcing Ukrainian refugees to join the local army, threatening deportation. Like, if the Ukrainian refugees do not stand up in defense of Estonia, they will be returned back to Ukraine. The authors allegedly refer to the statement of the Embassy of Ukraine in Estonia - this is not true.

The case was noticed by the experts of the StopFake project, who determined that Ukrainian refugees in Estonia are not mobilized or sent to the front. The propagandists simply came up with such information. Fact-checkers turned to the Ukrainian Embassy in Estonia for comment, where they were also told that the information about the mobilization of Ukrainian refugees into the Estonian army is not true. In addition, analysts checked a special website in Estonia created for Ukrainian refugees. Among the published information, they did not find any evidence of mobilization into the Estonian army.

By spreading such a fake, propagandists want to undermine the authority of Ukraine's brother countries. Allegedly, they really use the Ukrainians, for example, by mobilizing them into their own army. Thus, Russian propaganda demonizes Ukrainian partners and seeks to cause mistrust towards them.

We recall that earlier we refuted a fake, which also had the goal of defiling the vision of Ukrainian partners and exposing them with bad intentions. We are talking about the case that the Polish authorities allegedly would use Ukrainians as cheap labor in order to subsequently provide a good life for the Poles.

Fake Mass mobilization of students is carried out in Ukrainian universities

Such information was disseminated in social networks, in particular in the Polish segment of TikTok. Reports say that a mass mobilization of young students has begun in Ukrainian universities. The authors published a video in which an allegedly Ukrainian student is forcibly taken away by law enforcement officers from the audience. It is not true.

The Center for Countering Disinformation says the video was filmed more than seven months ago at the Shehyni checkpoint on the border with Poland. This premises can be seen in one of the BBC News Ukraine reports about students going abroad. The student did not want to leave the checkpoint, so he had to be escorted out by customs officials. That is, the video was filmed not at the university premises, but at the customs, and no one among the students was forcibly mobilized.

Propagandists systematically spread fakes and manipulations on the topic of “total mobilization” among young men and women, because they are allegedly mobilized because there is no one else. Thus, the authors of the messages seek to convince that the Ukrainian leadership violates its own laws and mobilizes children, women, and students.

Let us remind you that the analysts of Detector Media previously denied the fake that allegedly draft notices in Ukraine began to be sent using SMS messages.