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”.

This thesis was circulated on social networks, in particular on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The reports describe how, on June 10, 2022, the Verkhovna Rada registered a bill on medical cannabis that regulates its use in various areas. At the same time, the authors added that already on June 28, during his speech, Volodymyr Zelenskyi noted that he would legalize marijuana so that people “endure pain, stress and trauma”.

The fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project drew attention to the case, and found out that during his speech the President really spoke about the need to develop the field of rehabilitation assistance in Ukraine. One of the steps is the legalization of the drug based on cannabis. He also noted that he is promoting this idea so that, first of all, people do not have to endure pain, stress and injury. That is, the propagandists simply distorted the context of Zelenskyi's quote.

Zelenskyi does not want Ukrainians to “be patient”, on the contrary, he spoke about improving the rehabilitation sector in Ukraine: opening centers, rehabilitation departments, and training specialists. The legalization of cannabis-based medicine is just one step towards improving the rehabilitation conditions for the military and war victims.

This thesis was circulated on social networks, in particular on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The reports say that, allegedly because of the failed medical reforms, the anti-epidemic control system has completely degraded and is not able to cope with infectious diseases that can flare up after the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station. The authors add that Ukraine does not care about its people, but leaves them to the mercy of fate.

The fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project investigated this case and found out that at the beginning of July 2023, not a single case of infection with cholera, botulism, hepatitis A or other infectious diseases associated with the consequences of flooding was recorded in Ukraine. At the same time, the Chief Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine Ihor Kuzin spoke about a number of regular measures to combat cholera and about the innovations that were introduced after the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant was blown up by the Russians. To counter the outbreak of infectious diseases in Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson regions, 38 water monitoring points were opened. Also, in Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Odesa, Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, the centers for disease control and prevention have been transferred to a special response mode.

That is, the Ukrainian medical system, on the contrary, responds to the challenges caused by flooding. Propagandists are trying to intimidate people, convincing them that they were supposedly left to their fate.

Anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric reported that Zelenskyi allegedly intimidated Ukrainians by mining the ZNPP, which allegedly caused potassium iodide to disappear from Kyiv pharmacies. It is not true.

The fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project drew attention to the case. They note that the demand for potassium iodide tablets has indeed increased, but they can be bought in many pharmacies in Kyiv. Potassium iodide produced by Darnytsia is available in 17 pharmacies, and other manufacturers - in 852 pharmacies in Kyiv. On June 22, Volodymyr Zelenskyi said that Ukrainian intelligence had received information about the mining of the ZNPP, and then the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyryl Budanov, confirmed the mining of the plant’s cooler by Russian troops in an interview with The New Statement.

By spreading information about the shortage of potassium iodide tablets in pharmacies in Kyiv, Russian propaganda is trying to create chaos, intimidate Ukrainians and cause them to panic. However, these pills are not suitable for everyone and they will need to be consumed only after official notification from the authorities or the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. Earlier, Detector Media refuted the fake that Ukraine was deliberately raising the water level in order to flood the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

This was recorded by the experts of the Center for Counteracting Disinformation. They say that unknown people send SMS messages to Ukrainians on behalf of the Ministry of Health, allegedly about the outbreak of cholera in certain regions. However, this information is not true. The department of the Ministry of Health also stated that the information about the outbreak of cholera is a fake.

According to this, no messages from the Ministry of Health could be sent. Representatives of the Ministry of Health also added that currently in Ukraine, on the territory of Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, not a single confirmed case of cholera has been registered.

Anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric are spreading a statement by Russian collaborator Volodymyr Rohov that since 2016 the number of TB patients in the Zaporizhzhia region has been on the rise. According to him, 70% of patients have a treatment-resistant form, and this was the result of American biological experiments, the closure of bacteriological laboratories, and the abolition of the diagnosis of tuberculosis among children. It's fake.

The fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project drew attention to the case. According to the Center for Public Health, in the Zaporizhzhia region in 2015-2021, the level of registration of new cases of the disease has decreased. Infection also decreased in 2022 compared to 2021 to 33.5 cases per 100,000 population. Deputy Minister of Health Ihor Kuzin explains that the high incidence in Ukraine is due to insufficient vaccination and untimely access to doctors. Indeed, in 2022, 119 patients in the Zaporizhzhia region were diagnosed with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis for the first time. However, this is not the result of Western actions, but non-adherence to the treatment plan and a consequence of the previously ineffective system of care for tuberculosis. However, since 2007, an anti-tuberculosis bacteriological laboratory has been operating in Zaporizhzhia, and in 2020, a phthisis pulmonological center was established in Zaporizhzhia on the basis of the regional anti-tuberculosis dispensary. Diagnosis of tuberculosis is still carried out, mantoux is mandatory for children.

Russian propagandists systematically spread fakes and manipulations of the biological laboratory on the territory of Ukraine. Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to discredit Western partners and intimidate Ukrainians. This is part of the narrative that “the West controls Ukraine”. Earlier, Detector Media refuted the fake that Ukraine collected bird flu strains in the Askania-Nova nature reserve.

Such information was disseminated in social networks, in particular, on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. Reports say that an outbreak of cholera was recorded in Kyiv due to cholera bacillus in the water. The authors of the messages urge people to brush their teeth and wash fruits and vegetables with boiled water. It is not true. 

The fact-checkers of the project Beyond the News investigated this case and found out that the information about the cholera outbreak is not true. Meanwhile, Kyivvodokanal also denied this information and reported that the quality of drinking water is monitored for epidemic safety indicators and sanitary-chemical safety indicators. There are no deviations from the norm, tap water is quite safe. Chief State Sanitary Doctor Ihor Kuzin said that Ukraine is ready to respond quickly in case of outbreaks of cholera. So far, they have not been fixed. According to him, there are enough drugs and diagnostic tools to diagnose acute intestinal infections, including cholera.

Such information was disseminated in social networks, in particular, on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. Reports say that the Ministry of Health has issued a memo on radiation hazards. The document lists precautions and recommendations in the event of a radiation hazard in Khmelnytskyi and its environs.

Specialists of the Center for Countering Disinformation reviewed this case and found that the document does not exist. Fact-checkers turned to the Ministry of Health for a comment, where they were told that they did not create any recommendations on the radiation hazard in Khmelnytskyi. In addition, on the website of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine there are also no monuments with a mention of the radiation hazard in the Khmelnytskyi region.

In addition, the fact-checkers found out that photos with a fake attraction were distributed only in the Russian segment of social networks.

Let us remind you that this “memo” refers to a series of fakes about the so-called radiation hazard that was “approaching” on the territory of the Khmelnytskyi or Ternopil regions. Propagandists convinced that cities had leaked dangerous substances and radiation. Thus, the authors seek to destabilize the mood of Ukrainians and once again intimidate them with “nuclear bombings” by Russia. We recall that earlier analysts of Detector Media also investigated the case related to “nuclear weapons” in Ukraine. We analyzed the message where the propagandists claimed that the Ukrainian military was using banned weapons with a high content of uranium.

Propagandists on Russian telegram channels spread information that they allegedly organized the “export” of human organs in Ukraine with the help of transplant doctors from the United States. They also claim that the center where all the seized organs are taken is Lviv, and the Ukrainian military was wounded as the “source” of donor organs. It's fake.

Analysts of the VoxCheck project drew attention to it. They analyzed the reports in the Russian media about the transplant doctor Robert Montgomery and found out that in fact the doctor comes to help the Ukrainians. For example, on April 18 of this year, the press service of the First Medical Association of Lviv reported that Montgomery had transplanted a kidney from his father to his son, who had been on dialysis for the last 13 years.

The propagandists made their material by distorting the Voice of America report on Montgomery. He is not involved in the export of donor organs abroad.

VoxCheck experts note that since 2019 in Ukraine there is an opportunity to be a posthumous donor, but only with the personal consent of an adult capable person. In addition, according to paragraph 4 of Article 17 of the Law of Ukraine “On the use of transplantation of anatomical materials in humans”, military personnel cannot be posthumous donors.

Analysts note that Lviv is not the only transplantation center in Ukraine where anatomical materials are transferred for donation. A large number of operations are also taking place in Kyiv, and 32 such centers operate throughout Ukraine.

Thus, propagandists want to shift the responsibility for the war against Ukraine to third parties. Like, the US is waging war for money, to sell organs for nothing. However, it is Russia that has attacked Ukraine and is conducting attacks against the civilian population, while the United States is helping to defend Ukraine.

On the telegram channels spreading pro-Russian rhetoric, one can find information that epidemics of measles, mumps, whooping cough and diphtheria allegedly will begin soon in the Kharkiv region, since children in Ukraine are not vaccinated at a sufficient level. In addition, propagandists note that outbreaks will arise due to the fact that imported medicines are not brought to Ukraine to replace Russian ones. In addition, they claim that Ukrainians have to pay about $1,000 for a full vaccination of a child in the first year of birth. It's fake.

Analysts of the VoxCheck project drew attention to it. They note that only six cases of measles infection have been recorded in Ukraine at the moment, among which there is not a single one in the Kharkiv region. In addition, even though measles vaccination statistics have indeed decreased, experts in the field of immunoprophylaxis attribute this to the fact that many families have gone abroad. Moreover, there is no need to pay for vaccination, since the state purchases vaccines. In addition, project analysts note that the Center for Public Health points to the well-established supply of necessary medicines from India, Canada, France and Bulgaria.

Propagandists are constantly trying to exaggerate the scale of the problems in Ukraine in order to show the inability of the Ukrainian authorities to cope with a number of crises. Thus, propagandists want to cause panic among Ukrainians and destabilize the situation. Like, the “Kyiv regime” thinks only about the war, and not about real problems. However, if there are minor problems with the above processes, they are the result of Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Such information was disseminated by the Kremlin propaganda media and anonymous telegrams. Russian Minister of Health Mykhailo Murashka said that 80 medical institutions were restored in the occupied territories, 50 ambulances were provided and medicines worth 7 billion rubles were sent. It is not true.

The VoxCheck project specialists drew attention to this case. According to the World Bank, the Russian military damaged or destroyed at least 978 medical facilities, 650 ambulances and about 596 pharmacies. They noted that in order to fully restore the medical system, Ukraine needs $16.4 billion over the next 10 years. Also, eyeWitness to Atrocities, Insecurity Insight, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), Media Initiative for Human Rights (MIHR) and the Ukrainian Health Center (UHC) created an interactive map showing that as of March 2023, Russia had 822 attacks on hospitals and other health infrastructure.

By spreading such manipulation, Russian propagandists are trying to convince the inhabitants of the occupied territories that they care about them and restore medicine. Also, in this way they try to hide the real state of affairs. Earlier, Detector Media wrote about manipulation that in the Kherson region from now on there allegedly will be free medicine.

Such information was disseminated in social networks, in particular, on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The reports say that the Lviv regional state administration “ordered” employees of budgetary institutions to donate blood for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Like, if they don’t donate blood, they “remain without a bonus”. As evidence of the publication, the authors of the messages cite an announcement-order, which, they say, is placed in state institutions for workers. In addition, propagandists add a screenshot of the correspondence on the telegram, where the user comments on the message of the local telegram channel and claims that “Lviv residents are forced to donate blood”. It is not true.

The specialists of the VoxCheck project worked on the case, and found that the order itself did not mention forced blood donation. It notes that blood can be donated voluntarily, not forced. Fact-checkers did not verify the authenticity of the order itself, however, reliable and relevant information is posted there. The authors of the messages simply came up with a different content for the “forced” order. According to Ukrainian legislation, blood donation is exclusively voluntary. That is, a person cannot be forced to donate blood, since the patient gives written consent before the procedure. The questionnaire can be completed online, however, according to fact-checkers, many blood centers do not accept such applications. In most cases, the patient must fill out the consent to donate in the presence of a doctor.

As for the message itself from the user in one of the local telegram channels, the fact checkers did not find this comment. As they explain, one comment is obviously not evidence that “Lviv residents are forced to donate blood”. Probably, it was forged and distributed in the Ukrainian telegram segment, and then deleted.

There is no significant shortage of blood in Ukraine, which means there is no need to force people to donate it either. At the same time, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine indicates that sometimes there is a need for a rare blood type, but there is no critical shortage. In April, the agency also said that thanks to donors, the daily supply of erythrocyte blood components has increased, but there is a shortage of donors with negative rhesus blood.

Propagandists systematically spread fakes and manipulation about the alleged lack of blood in Ukraine. Thus, the authors of the messages are trying to convince that everything is bad in Ukraine and that there are many wounded who are not being given worthy assistance, since there is no blood. We managed to refute several fakes on this topic. For example, one of the fakes said that Ukraine forbids all foreign citizens from becoming blood donors. We also verified the authenticity of a message on social networks that a Ukrainian woman left her husband because he was “transfused with the blood of Russians”.

Anonymous telegram channels spreading pro-Russian rhetoric publish information that it is currently impossible to buy antidepressants in Ukraine due to their shortage. Like, upon returning from the front, the Ukrainian military “swept away” them from pharmacies. It's fake.

When looking for antidepressants in Ukrainian pharmacies, even online, you can find the exact addresses of pharmacies where you can buy them at the moment. This is not about the presence of several items, but about a wide selection of antidepressants. Moreover, even if such a deficit did occur, it is impossible to confirm whether it was the military that provoked it or not. Civilians living in the stress of war can also buy these drugs, and antidepressants are even on the list of drugs provided under the government's “Affordable Medicines” program.

Thus, Russian propagandists want to discredit the Ukrainian Armed Forces and demoralize Ukrainian society. They say that allegedly the Ukrainian soldiers cannot withstand the war, which means that they must give up and start negotiating.

In fact, the topic of mental health for both military and civilians during the war is quite important. However, Russian propaganda stigmatizes it. It seems that taking care of one’s mental health is the business of “weaklings”. However, the trauma of wartime experiences can interfere with a return to normal life.

Such information was disseminated in social networks and propaganda media. Reports say that allegedly the Ukrainian government does not allocate funds for the rehabilitation of military personnel with post-traumatic stress disorder. Allegedly, Zelenskyi “spends all the money on something else”. It is not true.

Analysts of the VoxCheck project investigated this case and found that, in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On social and legal protection of military personnel and members of their families”, the state provides free psychological assistance:

to military personnel who do military service on the territory of Ukraine and perform military duty outside its borders;

to the military, who became persons with disabilities due to a disease associated with the passage of service;

to members of volunteer formations of territorial communities.

That is, the law regulates the process of providing free psychological assistance, so the thesis about “non-allocation of funds by the government” is unfounded. Analysts believe that the basis for creating this fake was the material of The Economist, in which journalists talk about a military rehabilitation center for the treatment of PTSD, located in the Kharkiv region. The material also said that all this was “new” for Ukraine, since until 2014 the military had received almost no psychological assistance.

It is worth noting that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic mental disorder that can develop after a traumatic event. Persistent thoughts about the traumatic event last more than a month and usually occur 6 months after the event. Intrusive thoughts appear involuntarily when some kind of trigger reminds of trauma.

Such information was disseminated in social networks, in particular, in telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The reports say that from March 1, 2023, only “full-blooded Ukrainians” will be able to become blood donors, and all foreign citizens are prohibited to do so. The authors of the messages in the publication add a probable announcement that talks about this ban. Allegedly, such an “announcement”, according to the authors, was distributed by the Ukrainian service for finding doctors “DOC.UA”, because it depicts the logo of the service. It is not true.

Analysts of the NotaYenota project drew attention to this case and determined that the ad was not real. Ihor Liski, Head of the supervisory board of the group of companies “Effective investments”, which includes “DOC.UA”, denied the creation of this “announcement”. As he explains, the service does not collect blood and workers could not receive proposals, for example, from the Ministry of Health on the so-called changes in the blood collection system, because this is beyond their competence. In addition, Ihor Liski confirmed that no such announcement was made on behalf of the “DOC.UA” service.

At the same time, analysts emphasize that both Ukrainians and foreigners who have a permanent residence permit in Ukraine can donate blood in Ukraine. Any capable citizen of Ukraine over the age of 18 who weighs at least 50 kg and has passed the appropriate medical examination in a medical institution before blood sampling and has no contraindications can be a blood or plasma donor.

By spreading such a fake, the propagandists nourish the narrative of Nazi Ukrainians who supposedly recognize only so-called “full-blooded Ukrainians” and despise everyone else.

Messages are being spread on telegram channels that allegedly the Prime Minister of Moldova, Nataliia Havrylytsia, admitted that weapons and donor organs are smuggled into Moldova from Ukraine. Like, Moldova has become a real black market for selling the organs of wounded soldiers. Reports claim that on October 20, 2022 a law was passed allowing organ transplants in private clinics in Moldova. After that, the number of wounded Ukrainian soldiers allegedly increased, who are allegedly taken to Moldova for treatment, and instead are used as donors. This is manipulation.

Propagandists have been manipulating themes of organ trafficking and arms smuggling since the start of the full-scale invasion. However, not once did they provide evidence of these crimes. The Prime Minister of Moldova did not say that donor organs of the Ukrainian military get from Ukraine to Moldova. Nataliia Havrylytsia noted that the country needs additional support from the EU to combat the increase in cases of human and arms trafficking from Ukraine. In particular, in July 2022, the EU created the Support Center for Internal Security and Border Control in Moldova. It deals with combating the trade in firearms and people. Forced transplantation, which propagandists talk about, is only one of the components of the concept of “human trafficking”, as well as recruitment, transportation, sale, involvement in criminal activities, forced labor, etc. So the problem is much broader.

According to VoxCheck, the Ukrainian military is sent for rehabilitation to the Netherlands, France, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Poland, Germany, Italy, Romania, the USA and Israel. There is no official information about treatment in Moldova. Reports of “black transplantology” in the Ukrainian army have also been repeatedly refuted.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to discredit international support for Ukraine and worsen partnerships between Ukraine and other states. Earlier, propagandists spread messages that in Poland a refugee from Ukraine was sold for organs, and in Donbas, wounded Ukrainian soldiers and locals with pro-Russian views became victims of black transplants.

Telegram channels spread information that there are allegedly not enough ambulances in the Volyn region, since they are regularly transferred for the needs of the 14th separate mechanized brigade named after Roman the Great. Also, many doctors were allegedly mobilized into this brigade, so there is an alleged shortage of professional personnel in the region. This is manipulation.

Reports of a shortage of doctors and ambulances are “fictitious”. The Volyn region indeed handed over nine ambulances to the military hospital and the 14th separate motorized brigade. Three more were donated by Lithuania as humanitarian aid. In addition to ambulances, SUVs and buses purchased with volunteers' money were handed over.

As VoxCheck fact-checkers found out, the messages are illustrated with photographs from the final meeting of the medical council of the Volyn medical center for emergency medical care and disaster medicine. During the meeting, the head of the Center, Volodymyr Shmal, said that 72 emergency teams were working in the medical center in November, provided with everything necessary. In December, another 7 brigades were formed. The center's car park was also updated - 5 new ambulances were bought. As for doctors, the official noted that certain personnel changes are now taking place. However, they are not associated with mobilization - some doctors have retired, and some have changed jobs. Shmal did not say anything about the lack of staff due to the mass mobilization of doctors. Moreover, according to the legislation, hospitals have the opportunity to “book” specialists from mobilization.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to undermine trust in the authorities and local governments and scare Ukrainians that they will be left without proper medical care. Previously, for this purpose, fakes were spread about the business trips of doctors to the combat zone.

In social networks, reports are spreading that the Lviv clinic for reproductive medicine “Alternative” offers its clients “reproductive tissues of the defenders of Azovstal”. Like, for advertising, the clinic used the slogan “Restore the nation!” and the emblem of Azov. It's fake.

The clinic “Alternative” does not offer its clients “reproductive tissues of the defenders of Azovstal”. As the fact-checkers of the project “Beyond the News” found out, the screen of the clinic’s advertising post on Facebook was falsified in a photo editor. The name of the clinic was written incorrectly, despite the fact that the contact details are real: address, mobile number, license number of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. Fake Ukrainian-language advertising was mostly shared on Russian resources, and English-language advertising was shared on Twitter. The photo of the boy used in the ad is most likely generated by ThisPersonDoesNotExist.com, which uses artificial intelligence algorithms to create photos of people that look as real as possible, but who never existed. The administration of the clinic did deny the existence of such services as well.

Russian propaganda systematically spreads fakes in relation to the people of Azov, nazism and fascism in Ukraine, for which Russia allegedly has the right to punish.

This message was circulated on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The reports say that in the temporarily Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, life is not just going on, and healthcare is flourishing, but high-tech operations are being carried out with the most modern equipment. The publications add that allegedly the administration of the temporarily occupied region, Kherson in particular, is working to improve the healthcare sector.

In fact, as VoxCheck project analysts explain, Russians have a shortage of doctors in the temporarily occupied territories, because local Ukrainians refuse to cooperate with the occupiers. To replenish the medical staff, the Russians import doctors from their country and encourage them with additional payments from 4.5 to 18 thousand rubles.

In addition, there have been cases when Russian doctors treat only their own personnel. For example, in the Henichesk district of the Kherson region, the Russian military is modifying kindergartens as field hospitals, because the hospitals are overcrowded.

At the same time, only wounded Russian soldiers are treated, and local residents are forbidden to come to hospitals. Russia is silent about the robbery of medical equipment by the Russian military in Skadovsk, Nova Kakhovka and other occupied cities.

By spreading such a message, propagandists are trying to convince people that life is good in the temporarily occupied territories under the leadership of Russia. Russia creates the appearance that after the so-called liberation - which is occupation - ordinary people began to live better than under the criminal Ukrainian government. However, in reality, as practice shows, the cities and villages that the Ukrainian army liberates from Russian infidels are in a terrible state. Such a situation could be observed in the liberated Kyiv region, Kharkiv region, Chernihiv region, as well as in the liberated Kherson. In particular, in Kherson, after the withdrawal of Russian troops, the critical infrastructure did not work, there was no water, food, medicines. That is, there was no talk of any development of medicine under the conditions of Russian occupation, on the contrary, by constant shelling and robbery, the Russians provoked devastation in the city.

This message was spread by propagandists on social networks and the Kremlin media. The report says that the hospitalization of Ukrainians in Kyiv is ending. According to the propagandists, this was due to “overcrowded beds by the military from the front”. Like, because of the large number of wounded, there are no more places for sick civilians.

As VoxCheck explains, in early December, the Ministry of Health did recommend that regional military administrations consider suspending planned operations and hospitalizations. However, the reason was the systematic massive shelling of the energy infrastructure by Russia, and, accordingly, threats of a possible complete blackout. The recommendations refer to the stabilization period of the energy supply.

However, the recommendation does not mean a complete ban on hospitalization, and subsequently a possible operation. The final decision is made by the doctor depending on the patient's condition.

This message is aimed at destabilizing the mood of Ukrainians and discrediting the “incompetent” government. It seems that at the front “everything is so bad” that civilians are not given the opportunity to receive decent treatment.

The news was spread by Russian media and picked up by pro-Russian TV channels. Like, the decision to supply Western tanks Abrams and Leopard 2 to Kyiv will not only lead to a military escalation, but also pose a threat to the health of civilians. Allegedly, tanks are dangerous due to the fact that they use shells with depleted uranium. Allegedly, due to the use of shells, the area is polluted and outbreaks of oncological diseases occur. Also, allegedly, Russia can consider the use of these shells as the use of a dirty bomb. This is manipulation.

International organizations, in particular the IAEA, the UN Environment Agency, the Scientific Committee on Risks to Health and the Environment of the EU Commission, have come to the general conclusion that the impact of radioactive radiation from depleted uranium is insignificant. Radiation exposure from depleted uranium is very low compared to natural radiation. According to the results of medical examinations of military personnel who used such projectiles during hostilities, they did not find the effect of depleted uranium on their health.

Russian propaganda is conducting an information campaign to discredit German and American tanks that are being planned to transfer to Ukraine. They had previously argued that these tanks would not change the situation at the front. Like, American Abrams tanks are unsuitable for use in Ukraine in winter. It was also argued that Russia would consider Germany a “party to the conflict” if there was permission to supply tanks to Ukraine. More details.

Social networks are spreading messages about a critical shortage of blood and its components in Ukrainian hospitals. Sometimes they spread information about the requirement to donate blood. It's fake.

The Ministry of Health denied this information. According to the Ministry of Health, a systemic planned donation has been built in Ukraine, which ensures constant supplies of blood and its components. The delivery of blood supplies and its components from other regions is coordinated by the specialized state institution “Ukrainian Center for Transplant Coordination”.

In the conditions of a full-scale war, Ukrainians quite actively respond to all calls to donate blood. As a rule, voluntary donation makes it possible to meet the needs for blood and its components for civil and military medical institutions.

In social networks, allegedly, a photo of the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated December 7 on the business trip of 1,796 doctors from state medical institutions of the “Lviv, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk and Uzhhorod” regions to medical institutions in Mykolaiv, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions is distributed. The reports claim that the decision was published on the website of the Cabinet of Ministers, and a few minutes later removed. It is not true.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine did not make such a decision, and a photo of the document was created in a graphic editor. Fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project note that there are many errors in the fake document. For example, the Transcarpathian region is indicated as Uzhhorod region, the norms of official record keeping are not observed. On the website of the Cabinet of Ministers under the number 1363, a decree of December 6 is indicated with a completely different content.

Such information was disseminated by anonymous telegram channels posing as Odesa ones. They mix posts with declarations of love for Odesa and its history with explicit Kremlin narratives, the Center for Strategic Communications reports.

According to them, allegedly in Odesa there is a business to collect biomaterial from dead Ukrainian soldiers who become posthumous donors. They say that the remains of the bodies are burned, the dead are given the status of “missing”, and biomaterials are taken out to Lviv twice a week. It is not true.

In fact, Russian propaganda has been constantly promoting the message for the past eight years that Ukraine is a “supplier of spare parts for Americans and Europeans” and has become a center for illegal transplants and organ trafficking.

Anonymous telegram channels write about this. Like, the morgues of Zaporizhzhia are overflowing with the bodies of the dead Ukrainian military, so the city council decided to create another morgue. It is not true.

The original source of the fake was the telegram channel of the collaborator from Zaporizhzhia Volodymyr Rohanov. According to the fact-checkers of the Zaporizhzhia Investigation Center, in fact, the city council decided to create a public utility company “Patological and anatomical bureau”. The need to create such a bureau is justified by the fact that Zaporizhzhia has communal hospitals that do not have pathoanatomical departments. The pathological and anatomical bureau has nothing to do with the storage of the bodies of the dead in Zaporizhzhia: neither civilians nor military personnel.

Also, the fact checkers established that the picture published by Rohov was actually taken in the morgue of the Russian city of Novokuznietsk in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.