Russian media are spreading yet another fake, claiming that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy openly stated in his interview with the American TV channel Fox News that he was preparing terrorist attacks in Russia using U.S.-made Tomahawk missiles. In this way, propaganda is trying to discredit Ukraine amid discussions among allies about the possibility of providing Kyiv with long-range missiles. This fake was debunked by StopFake fact-checkers.

In reality, President Zelenskyy spoke only about the possible use of Tomahawk missiles to strike exclusively military targets on Russian territory. In his interview on October 12, 2025, he emphasized that Ukraine acts within the framework of international law and does not strike civilian populations. The head of state stressed that, unlike Russia, which deliberately terrorizes Ukrainian civilians, Ukraine adheres to the norms of international humanitarian law and plans to use Western weapons to destroy the aggressor’s military infrastructure.

During a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine is discussing with its allies ways to effectively use long-range weapons to reduce the Kremlin’s ability to continue the war. He noted that Russia fears not only the missiles themselves, but also how Ukraine might combine new systems with other types of weaponry.

Any attempts to portray Ukraine’s actions as “preparations for terrorist attacks” are disinformation. Under the UN Charter, Ukraine has the full right to self-defense against armed aggression. Attacks on occupying forces’ military bases are lawful actions under international law. Meanwhile, Russia continues to violate a number of international agreements, including the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, the Paris Charter, and the Geneva Conventions.

Russian propaganda is spreading yet another fake through anonymous Telegram channels, claiming that the blackout in the city of Shostka in the Sumy region is a “result of the policies of the Kyiv regime leading to the collapse of the municipal system”. This disinformation was debunked by fact-checkers from Detector Media. The blackout in Shostka is a direct consequence of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, not the result of actions by the Ukrainian authorities. Thanks to the efforts of energy workers, municipal services, and volunteers, the city is gradually returning to normal life.

What actually happened?

On 4 October 2025, Russian forces carried out massive shelling of Shostka in the Sumy region, deliberately targeting critical infrastructure facilities, including the railway station. As a result of the attacks, one person was killed and about 30 were injured, including three children. Due to damage to energy facilities, the city was left without electricity, gas, water, and partially without mobile communications.

Why is this a fake?

Claims about an “infrastructure collapse caused by the Kyiv regime” are part of a Kremlin campaign to shift responsibility for its own crimes. Russia systematically attacks Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure in an attempt to break the spirit of Ukrainians and sow panic. By spreading fakes, propaganda seeks to justify aggression and undermine trust in the Ukrainian authorities.

Russian media, Telegram channels, and anonymous accounts on the social network X (formerly Twitter) are widely spreading a video that allegedly shows fragments of a Ukrainian drone on Lithuanian territory. However, this video is fake and part of another Russian information attack.

This was reported by Ukrinform.

The analyzed clip uses a large amount of graphics, and the rapid change of shots makes it difficult to identify the filming location. This points to professional editing, which is not typical of amateur footage. All of this indicates that the video was created deliberately for the purpose of disinformation.

The original source of the video is a TikTok account under the username katelynltu, which was created solely to publish this fake. The channel contains only six uninformative videos with a small number of views. The profile avatar – a photo of a girl against a winter landscape – is also used by at least two other accounts, indicating that this image is being reused for bot accounts.

PHOTO 48

The video also tags Oleksii Stefanov, a correspondent for the Russian propaganda outlet Russia Today. In 2024, he was expelled from Latvia, where he had previously worked. There, Stefanov was also sentenced to one year in prison for propaganda.

This fake emerged against the backdrop of real Russian drone attacks on the Baltic states and Eastern Europe. In particular, on 28 July 2025 a Russian drone launched from the territory of Belarus violated Lithuania’s airspace. The Lithuanian government confirmed the incident. On 1 August, another drone again entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus. On 10 September, Russia carried out a massive drone attack on Poland, launching around 20 UAVs. On 13 September, yet another Russian drone was detected in Romanian airspace.

The information operation about a so-called “Ukrainian drone” is intended to divert the international community’s attention away from the facts of Russia’s real violations of NATO countries’ airspace.

False information is spreading on social media claiming that a photo of Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, allegedly taken inside the damaged Cabinet of Ministers building, was digitally manipulated. Anonymous users assert that she supposedly inserted her face into a photo taken in a different building using photo-editing software. In reality, this is a fake.

This was reported by VoxCheck.

The photo is authentic, and the interior shown in the prime minister’s image matches footage taken by foreign diplomats and journalists who visited the damaged building after the missile strike.

On the night of 7 September 2025, Russian forces carried out a massive attack on Kyiv, during which an Iskander-9M727 missile hit the Cabinet of Ministers building. This was the first direct strike on a government building since the start of the full-scale war. No one was injured, but the upper floors suffered significant damage, and fuel from the missile tanks ignited, causing a fire inside the building.

After the attack, the Ukrainian government organized tours of the damaged premises for foreign diplomats. Photos from these visits show the same office as in Yuliia Svyrydenko’s picture. Identical features include the window openings with characteristic damage, scorched brick walls, destroyed floor slabs, and a passageway in the wall.

The authenticity of the photo was confirmed, among others, by the Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova, who also published images from the very same room. Foreign journalists likewise documented the office from different angles in their reports.

Thus, claims that the photo is fake are unfounded – it is authentic and accurately reflects the real condition of the damaged government building after the Russian missile strike.

The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine reports an increase in the intensity of Russian special information operations conducted through foreign platforms and proxy resources. In recent weeks, a wave of disinformation has been recorded aimed at undermining trust in the Ukrainian authorities, discrediting the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and weakening international support for Ukraine.

This was reported on the website of the Foreign Intelligence Service.

Among the main narratives promoted by the Kremlin are claims about the “illegitimacy of the Ukrainian government”, the “demoralization of the Armed Forces of Ukraine”, and the country’s alleged “external governance”. Despite EU sanctions, Russia continues to use both state-owned and pseudo-private media outlets (including RIA Novosti, RT, Gazeta.ru, TASS, and Lenta.ru), as well as a network of loyal foreign resources.

The list of such proxy media includes:

Last week, these platforms massively disseminated speculative publications citing Russian media outlets that are under European sanctions.

Other international resources were used to attack Ukraine’s defense forces:

These platforms spread fakes about the “collapse of Ukraine’s defenses”, the “terrorist methods of the Armed Forces of Ukraine”, and their alleged “inability to hold the front”.

In addition, the Hungarian outlet Magyar Nemzet, which the Foreign Intelligence Service also identifies as a proxy resource, regularly publishes materials with manipulative claims about the “illegitimacy of the authorities” and the “corruption of Ukraine’s political leadership”.

A separate line of Kremlin propaganda remains the promotion of the idea that the war can end “only through concessions by Kyiv” and that Moscow’s interests must be taken into account. Such narratives are disseminated through outlets such as The American Conservative (USA), Reseau International (France), as well as the already mentioned CZ24.news.

The Foreign Intelligence Service notes that Russian propaganda is currently focused primarily on the political dimension – attempting to undermine the unity of the Western anti-war coalition and to destroy partnerships with Ukraine.

At the same time, Ukrainian intelligence continuously monitors Russia’s activities in the information space and takes appropriate countermeasures, including in cooperation with foreign intelligence services.

The Foreign Intelligence Service calls for adherence to information hygiene, especially outside Ukraine, as a key element in countering Russian aggression.

Since early September 2025, Kremlin propaganda has once again revived the old, mothballed narrative about alleged “U.S. biolaboratories in Ukraine”, which it claims are a source of global biological threats. Analysts from the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security drew attention to this renewed disinformation campaign.

Recently, fact-checkers debunked a claim by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova that as many as 36 such laboratories supposedly exist in Ukraine.

However, the Russian information machine did not stop and continued its offensive: a segment by host Dmitry Kiselyov – the same figure who once threatened the United States with “nuclear ash” – aired on the Russia 1 TV channel. The report used excerpts from an interview by the controversial American journalist Tucker Carlson with Cornell University professor Dave Collum.

According to Kiselyov, this conversation supposedly “revealed” Ukraine’s involvement in the spread of the coronavirus and the millions of deaths caused by the pandemic. Why this is pure fake and manipulation will be explained below.

As we have repeatedly demonstrated in previous materials, and as Ukrainian and international fact-checkers have confirmed, the narrative about “U.S. biolaboratories in Ukraine” is a fabrication of Russian propaganda. This is a key point for understanding the context.

Further: yes, Tucker Carlson’s interview with Professor Dave Collum did indeed take place on August 20, 2025, on Carlson’s channel (https://surl.li/zwszjp). However, Russian propagandists “unearthed” this material only two weeks later, which points to a coordinated effort aimed at reviving and amplifying this topic.

For the sake of completeness, it is worth noting that Dave Collum, despite his status as a professor at Cornell University, is known for his eccentric views. He is an active anti-vaxxer who, in public appearances, promotes conspiracy theories about a “world government”, shadowy puppet masters behind the scenes of power (even behind U.S. President Donald Trump), and other conspiratorial narratives. Collum often refers to another prominent anti-vaccine activist, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Similar statements can be found in his numerous interviews and publications.

Third, in the original interview, Collum does not link Ukraine in any way to the spread of COVID-19, nor does he claim that the virus was allegedly “transported” from the United States (in particular, from North Carolina) to Wuhan, China. The professor uses phrases such as “I think”, which clearly indicate a subjective opinion or speculation rather than fact. Moreover, he provides no evidence whatsoever involving Ukraine. Instead, he refers to a book by Kennedy that allegedly “exposes a conspiracy” about testing COVID-19 vaccines on children from shelters.

However, Kiselyov presents these words as an indisputable truth. Moreover, he inflates the claim by suggesting that if Ukraine was supposedly “involved” in the spread of the virus, then it is also responsible for the millions of deaths caused by the pandemic. This is complete nonsense and a classic manipulation that has no connection to reality.

Furthermore, Collum’s version is baseless, conspiratorial, and anti-scientific nonsense.

Fourth, to dispel any remaining doubts, it is worth recalling the official COVID-19 timeline. The first confirmed case of infection in Ukraine was recorded on March 3, 2020 – long after the pandemic had begun in China and spread worldwide. There were no “biolaboratories” or “transportation” of the virus from Ukraine involved in this at all.

The Kremlin uses fakes about “biological weapons” to justify its invasion as a form of “defense against a threat”. Claims about laboratories allegedly developing viruses against Russians (including “ethnic weapons” or COVID-19) create a narrative portraying Russia as acting preemptively.

These fakes are also aimed at undermining trust in U.S. assistance by depicting it as a form of “military-biological expansion” against Russia and the world. Propaganda links these laboratories to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ebola, or avian influenza in order to convince audiences that the West is “creating viruses” to cause global chaos.

Russian propaganda claimed that on September 4, 2025, a ballistic missile strike hit an industrial facility in Chernihiv. In reality, the target of the attack was neither an industrial nor a military site, but an international humanitarian demining mission. The fake was exposed by StopFake.

At around 14:55, Russian forces launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile at an area near a checkpoint at the entrance to the village of Novoselivka outside Chernihiv. As a result of the strike, employees of the international humanitarian organization the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), who were carrying out demining operations to restore access to infrastructure, agricultural land, and residential buildings, were injured. Two people were killed and eight others were wounded.

Ukraine’s Human Rights Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets described the attack as a gross violation of international humanitarian law. The DRC stressed that “humanitarian workers should never be targeted while carrying out life-saving work”. Deputy Minister of Economy Ihor Bezkaravainyi confirmed that this was the first recorded case of a missile strike directly hitting a humanitarian mission during its operations.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called the strike evidence of the Kremlin’s unwillingness to end the war.

The attack on the humanitarian mission was yet another episode in Russia’s systematic strikes on civilian targets. The Kremlin regularly attacks hospitals, schools, and Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, and then spreads disinformation in an attempt to justify its war crimes.

Russian Telegram channels are once again spreading disinformation about the war in Ukraine. This time, propagandists claim that Ukrainian artillery is shelling its own cities in Donetsk Oblast in order to blame Russia for the attacks.

Journalist Serhii Horbatenko spoke about this in a comment to Ukrainian Radio.

Claims about the “self-shelling” of Ukrainian cities are yet another baseless fake. It is known that such messages are spread through local Telegram channels, often citing so-called “eyewitnesses”.

In particular, a Telegram channel in the city of Kostiantynivka circulated information alleging shelling by Ukrainian forces from Druzhkivka. The post also attempted to justify the actions of Russian forces, claiming that “Russian pilots strike only military targets”.

In addition, hostile propaganda is actively promoting fakes about a “rapid offensive” in northern Donetsk Oblast—likely to create an illusion of a breakthrough and sow panic among the local population.

Information attacks about so-called “self-shelling” are a cynical attempt by Russia to shift responsibility for strikes on civilian infrastructure onto Ukraine.

Russian propaganda is actively spreading disinformation about Ukrainian politician Andrii Parubii, who was killed on September 30 in Lviv, accusing the former Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of organizing the shootings on the Maidan, the arson attack on the Trade Unions House in Odesa, and an alleged “coup d’état” in Ukraine. These narratives are part of a coordinated information war aimed at discrediting Ukraine and its public figures. StopFake has debunked the key propaganda fakes about Andrii Parubii.

Fake 1: Andrii Parubii “commanded snipers” on the Maidan

Debunking: There is no evidence that Andrii Parubii was involved in the shooting of protesters during the Revolution of Dignity in 2013–2014. According to the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, violent crimes and killings on the Maidan were committed by Ukrainian law enforcement officers acting on orders from the authorities in power at the time, under significant influence from Russia. Oleksii Donskyi, head of the Maidan Department, stated that Russia had a “huge influence” on these events, including through cooperation between Russia’s FSB and Ukraine’s SBU in the information sphere.

One of the widely circulated fakes involves photos and videos allegedly showing Parubii helping snipers leave the Hotel Ukraina. In reality, these materials relate to events on April 1, 2014, at the Dnipro Hotel, not February 2014 as claimed by propaganda. This disinformation has been repeatedly debunked by the StopFake project.

Fake 2: Parubii “organized the arson” of the Trade Unions House in Odesa on May 2, 2014

Debunking: The investigation by the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine found no evidence linking Andrii Parubii to the events in Odesa on May 2, 2014. The fire at the Trade Unions House was the result of mass riots, not a premeditated act. According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, the fire started inside the building due to the actions of individuals who threw incendiary bottles to prevent opponents from entering. The “chimney effect” led to the rapid spread of smoke, which caused the deaths of people on staircases and in adjacent spaces.

In 2019, the State Bureau of Investigations opened proceedings following a complaint by pro-Russian politician Andrii Portnov, but this did not result in any charges against Parubii. In 2025, the European Court of Human Rights, in the case Vyacheslavov and Others v. Ukraine, pointed to the inaction of local authorities during the unrest and the role of Russian disinformation in the tragedy, but did not mention Parubii.

Fake 3: Parubii was the “architect of a coup d’état” in Ukraine

Debunking: The narrative about a “coup d’état” is one of the key elements of Russian propaganda, used to justify aggression against Ukraine. The Revolution of Dignity in 2013–2014 was a popular uprising against the corrupt regime of Viktor Yanukovych. After his flight, elections in Ukraine were recognized as legitimate by the international community, including Russia. There is no evidence of a “coup” or of Parubii’s involvement in one.

Fakes about Andrii Parubii are part of a broader Russian propaganda campaign aimed at distorting the history of the Revolution of Dignity and the events in Odesa. Analysis by the Osavul platform revealed a surge of identical comments on social media, indicating coordinated activity by bots or trolls. We encourage readers to verify information and rely only on credible sources in order to counter disinformation.

Russian claims about alleged “serious procedural violations” in the work of the Arbitration Tribunal of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and an “illegitimate composition of the court” are unfounded and aimed at diverting attention from the Kremlin’s real goal – avoiding responsibility for aggression against Ukraine. The manipulations were exposed by StopFake.

Back in November 2018, Russian military forces rammed, shelled, and seized three Ukrainian naval vessels together with their crews in neutral waters of the Kerch Strait. The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ordered Russia to immediately release the 24 Ukrainian sailors and return the vessels Berdyansk, Nikopol, and Yany Kapu to Ukraine. However, already at the hearing stage, Russia refused to participate in the proceedings and from the outset demonstrated its readiness to ignore any decisions.

In April 2019, Ukraine filed a claim against Russia in arbitration under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Permanent Court of Arbitration acted as the registry in this case, and hearings began in the autumn of 2021. Russia attempted to challenge the tribunal’s jurisdiction and even sought the disqualification of judges, inventing “procedural violations” to delay the process, but all these attempts failed.

On July 29, 2025, the Arbitration Tribunal dismissed Russia’s objections and confirmed its legitimacy by four votes to one, with only the Russian judge Alexander Vylegzhanin voting against. After that, the Kremlin announced its withdrawal from the process, which propaganda presents as a “halt to the proceedings”. In reality, Russia’s formal withdrawal does not mean the termination of the case, and Ukraine continues to defend its position.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine emphasizes that the Kremlin’s actions are an attempt to evade international legal responsibility for the seizure of Ukrainian naval vessels and the nine-month detention of 24 sailors in Russian prisons. “Realizing the inevitability of responsibility, Russia hastily declared its withdrawal from the process at the final stage,” the MFA stressed.

Russian Telegram channels are claiming that former US ambassador to the USSR, Jack Matlock, ‘exposed Ukraine's fake about Bucha’, stating that there is no evidence proving Moscow's responsibility for the tragedy in Bucha. Propagandists refer to Matlock's words during a broadcast on CNN.

However, the StopFake project clarifies that Matlock merely expressed doubt about whether what happened in Bucha was done under Moscow's orders. In his opinion, additional evidence is needed to establish this. During the broadcast, Brian Klaas, an Associate Professor of Global Politics at University College London, disagreed with Matlock, stating that it is impossible for such crimes [as those in Bucha] to occur without at least the awareness of senior Russian military officials.

It is important to note that this broadcast took place in the spring of 2022. Today, numerous independent investigations have confirmed the facts of mass killings of civilians in Bucha and the involvement of Russian soldiers, as well as the higher military command of Russia, in these crimes.

The Russians have taken advantage of the former US ambassador's old words for their own self-serving purposes - to fuel the narrative of a ‘staged’ event in Bucha. By spreading this disinformation, the agitprop seeks to deflect attention from the war crimes committed by the Russian military and once again accuse Ukraine of ‘staging’ the events. Earlier, we analyzed the Russian fake claiming that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are allegedly preparing a ‘new Bucha’ in Sudzha.

Russian propagandists are spreading messages in the media, particularly in anonymous Telegram channels, claiming that the main goal of Russia's actions against Ukraine is allegedly to "restore respect for international law". They argue that the West has done everything to destroy its norms and principles. However, this is not true.

This message is an example of propagandistic distortion aimed at justifying Russia's aggressive policy and discrediting the West. It asserts that Russia's goal is to restore international law, but its own actions show the opposite. The anti-Ukrainian aggression initiated by Russia in 2014 violates the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity of other states. The annexation of Crimea is part of this systematic violation. Russia's attempt to position itself as a defender of international law seems contradictory, given its aggressive policy. The accusations against the West for destroying the international order through "double standards" are unfounded. Such arguments are exaggerated and used to justify Russia's actions, which systematically undermine international norms.

The claim that the Minsk agreements were a ‘fraud’ to lull Russia into complacency is also manipulative. These agreements were aimed at halting hostilities in Donbas, and their implementation depended on all parties, including Russia, which was a signatory. They gave Ukraine time to strengthen its defense capabilities. Moreover, it was Russia that systematically violated these agreements.

The rhetoric of this message is based on emotionally charged phrases and distorted facts. The use of terms like ‘great deception’ creates an emotional context that distracts from objective analysis. This is a typical tactic to shape public opinion in the desired direction.

The international order is indeed under threat, but the main reason for this is the violation of states' sovereignty and the disregard for international obligations. Russia's aggression against Ukraine, interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and its destabilization of regions are key factors undermining global stability. Statements about defending international law by a country that violates it are merely a way to divert attention from its own actions. Restoring the international order is only possible through the adherence to its norms by all states, including Russia, which currently remains one of the main threats to global security.

Russian propaganda continues to spread false information about Ukraine supposedly “selling children from Donbas”. To create these fakes, individuals who have betrayed Ukraine are used, such as a former SBU employee, as well as representatives of the occupying authorities of the so called DPR, including the so called children’s ombudswoman. According to their statements, Ukraine allegedly kidnaps children from families in Donbas and "sells them abroad, to pedophiles, or for organs". However, this is not true.

This was reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council. Its experts found that this message is a classic example of Russian disinformation aimed at diverting attention from its own crimes. In fact, it is Russia that is systematically deporting Ukrainian children from the temporarily occupied territories, as evidenced by numerous investigations. The International Criminal Court even issued arrest warrants for Putin and the Russian Ombudsman Lvova-Belova for these crimes. Fakes about Ukraine are created to discredit its image and manipulate the international community. This is yet another attempt to justify Russia’s actions by shifting the blame onto the victim of aggression.

Russian propagandists also spread disinformation about Ukraine allegedly “selling children from Donbas” to create a false impression of Ukraine as an inhuman state and to discredit its international reputation.

Russian media and anonymous Telegram channels are actively spreading the statement of the Kremlin press secretary Dmytro Pieskov that Ukraine is allegedly striking civilian targets in Russia using drones. At the same time, they claim that the Russian army is allegedly striking exclusively military targets. However, this is disinformation.

This was noted by experts from the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. They emphasize that in fact, Ukraine strictly complies with international humanitarian law, while Russia systematically attacks civilian infrastructure. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has destroyed 227 medical institutions and damaged 1,714. Also, 3,798 educational institutions have been seriously damaged, of which 365 have been completely destroyed. Particularly egregious examples are the airstrike on the maternity hospital and children's hospital in Mariupol on March 9, 2022, and the missile strike on the Okhmatdyt children's hospital in Kyiv on July 8, 2024, when 627 children were in the hospital. Russia uses attacks on civilian infrastructure as a tool to intimidate the population, which is a violation of the laws of war.

Russia is trying to create the impression that its actions in Ukraine are “defensive” or “responsive” to Ukraine’s actions, despite real evidence to the contrary. Claims of attacks on civilian targets are intended to portray Ukraine as violating international law in order to undermine its support in the international community. Disinformation is used to strengthen domestic propaganda, motivate Russian citizens, and justify continuing the war. Distortions are intended to create doubts among Ukraine’s allies about providing further military and humanitarian aid.

Pro-Russian anonymous Telegram channels are spreading a statement by Russian President’s press secretary Dmytro Pieskov that the Russian military allegedly “treats Ukrainian civilians with caution” and strikes exclusively at military targets. However, such statements contradict numerous facts and international reports that confirm the mass casualties among civilians as a result of Russian attacks.

This is reported by StopFake. Its experts claim that, according to the UN Monitoring Mission, more than 12,000 civilians have been killed since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, and more than 26,000 have been injured. For example, in Kryvyi Rih, a ballistic missile hit a residential building, destroying an entire family with three children. During another attack, a children’s hospital and residential areas were damaged.

Amnesty International calls such actions war crimes, as shelling of civilian objects violates international humanitarian law. In addition to civilian casualties, strikes on energy infrastructure are causing a humanitarian catastrophe, worsening the living conditions of millions of Ukrainians.

The purpose of spreading such disinformation is to create the illusion of the “morality” of the Russian army, to try to justify war crimes before the international community, and to manipulate the perceptions of citizens of Russia and other countries. This disinformation is aimed at minimizing the consequences of attacks on the civilian population of Ukraine, shifting the blame for the victims to the other side, and discrediting objective reports by international organizations.

On the evening of November 17, 2024, Russians launched a missile attack on a nine-story building in Sumy. At 08:47 on the morning of November 18, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported that as of that time, 89 people were known to have been injured (including 11 children) and 11 people were killed (including 2 children) as a result of the attack. In turn, Russian propagandists write that the cause of the tragedy was not a Russian missile, but allegedly the unsuccessful work of the Ukrainian air defense.

However, this information is not true. This was reported by the Center for Counteracting Disinformation, citing the Sumy Region Prosecutor's Office. According to them, on November 17, using methods of warfare prohibited by international law, the Russians launched a missile strike on a densely populated residential area in Sumy. This, and not the work of the Ukrainian air defense, was the cause of the tragedy.

With this fake, Russian propagandists are trying to justify yet another war crime by the Russian army – the murder of civilians.

November 18-19 in Sumy have been declared days of mourning for those killed as a result of Russia's strike on the city. This was reported by the acting mayor of Sumy, Artem Kobzar.

On October 14-15, more than 1,500 fake bomb threats were sent out in Ukraine, targeting schools, universities, business centers, media, courts, and diplomatic missions, including the US Embassy. Among the institutions that received these letters were also more than 60 Ukrainian embassies abroad, the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security reports.

The author of the letters accused Radio Svoboda (Liberty) journalists Iryna Sysak, Valeriia Yehoshyna and Yuliia Khymeryk. The reason was their investigation into the FSB recruiting children to commit arson. Investigators from Scheme established that the sender of the letters lives in occupied Crimea and has a Russian passport. The letters were signed on behalf of the Fire Cells Group, a group that calls for attacks on Ukrainian military personnel and the Territorial center of procurement and social support employees via Telegram, promising a reward of up to $1,000 for the execution of crimes.

The SBU considers these actions to be part of a Russian information and psychological operation aimed at increasing panic and destabilizing society, in particular by undermining trust in government institutions and the military.

Russian propagandists used the flooding in Poland to create anti-Ukrainian sentiment and sow discord between Ukrainians and Poles. One of the main messages was that supporting Ukraine allegedly weakens Poland's ability to help its citizens. Propagandists spread information that Ukrainian refugees received more aid than the affected Poles, which caused negative emotions and fueled discontent. This is written by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security.

Examples of manipulations:

Accusations against Ukrainians of looting in areas evacuated due to flooding.

Using fake videos and data from other countries to exaggerate the scale of the disaster.

Manipulation of the numbers of dead and missing in order to distort the real state of affairs.

According to the PAP press agency, from September 13 to 25, 23,000 disinformation messages were recorded online, reaching around eight million users. The campaign also aimed to incite hostility, weaken the strategic alliance between Poland and Ukraine, and undermine unity in confronting Russian aggression. This is part of a broader information war aimed at isolating Ukraine on the international stage and reducing support among key partners. In response, the Polish authorities emphasize the continuation of comprehensive assistance to Ukraine in the fight against the aggressor.

Russian authorities have blocked the Discord messenger, popular mainly among gamers and students. The blocking of Discord did not stop even the fact that it is used by the Russian military. Now “war correspondents” (that is, the same propagandists) are criticizing Roskomnadzor, accusing it of almost sabotage.

The formal reason for blocking is the presence of “illegal and extremist content” and the unwillingness of the messenger’s management to remove publications at the request of the Russian authorities. However, as reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation, the Kremlin’s decision to block yet another Internet resource of Western origin is part of a strategy to isolate Russians from information so that they do not have access to any information alternative to Russian propaganda.

Earlier, Russian authorities blocked Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and some other resources. YouTube is facing restrictions in its work. The CPI adds that the blocking of independent resources in Russia will probably continue until the creation of the so-called "sovereign Internet" completely controlled by the Kremlin.

Information is being spread online that Ukrainian children with disabilities are allegedly being illegally taken to EU countries, where they are illegally adopted, in particular by same-sex families and drug addicts, or sold for organs. In their publications, propagandists cite the head of the Anti-Repression Foundation, Mira Terada.

However, it turned out that Mira Terada is a Russian citizen spreading Russian propaganda, and not an independent international human rights activist. There is no evidence that Ukraine is trafficking children from the war zone.

The Anti-Repression Foundation itself is an organization created by Yevhenii Pryhozhyn, the founder of the Wagner terrorist organization within the Russian army,  which is recognized by the Ukrainian parliament as an international criminal organization.

By spreading disinformation that speculates on the life of children in war conditions, in particular the so-called children of Donbas, Russian propaganda seeks to discredit Ukraine and the Ukrainian government in the eyes of both its own and Western society.

In the stories of Russian propaganda about the life of children in the occupied territories and in the combat zone, the Ukrainian authorities and military are portrayed as ruthless “punishers” whose goal is to exterminate the so-called people of Donbas, who “voluntarily chose to be with Russia”.

Former adviser to the US Secretary of Defense Douglas MacGregor made a statement that allegedly French journalists conducted an investigation and received testimony from eyewitnesses who claimed that there were no Russians in the Ukrainian cities where mass killings were recorded. According to him, Ukrainians killed their fellow citizens to create the impression that these were crimes of Russian troops. This is written by the Center for Countering Disinformation.

However, this statement is baseless and contradicts the findings of numerous international investigations that have confirmed Russian war crimes in cities such as Bucha, Izium, Mariupol and others. Russian troops are responsible for mass killings of civilians, which has been documented by various human rights organizations and journalists. Such fake news is spread in order to whitewash Russia's reputation and discredit Ukraine.

Russian propaganda seeks to shift the blame for war crimes onto Ukraine itself, diverting attention from the real facts and documented evidence of Russian military atrocities. The purpose of spreading such claims is to encourage foreign audiences to question the objectivity of international investigations and accusations against Russia in order to ease pressure on it from the international community. Through such fakes, pro-Russian narratives attempt to discredit the Ukrainian army and leadership, creating the false impression that Ukraine is allegedly committing crimes against its own people, which could reduce support from Western countries. This type of disinformation is part of a broader Russian hybrid warfare campaign, where propaganda messages are used to undermine trust in Ukrainian institutions and attempt to raise doubts about international support for Ukraine. Russia systematically attempts to create a parallel information space where the events of the war are distorted in order to legitimize its own actions and justify aggression.

The spread of fakes about cooperation with terrorist groups is aimed at destroying Ukraine’s reputation with its international partners. It is an attempt to create an image of Ukraine as a country that supports terrorism. Accusing Ukraine of recruiting militants is aimed at distracting attention from Russia’s own actions, which are actively recruiting Syrian mercenaries to fight against Ukraine. This is part of a broader Russian propaganda strategy. This fake is also aimed at a domestic audience, where such statements can undermine trust in the Ukrainian government and military. Russia is trying to create fear and mistrust in the Ukrainian defense forces, making people believe that they are using “dubious” mercenaries to defend the country.

Experts from the Center for Countering Disinformation have recorded an information campaign by Russian media broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. Citing the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, they claim that Ukraine, “at the instigation” of the United States, is preparing a staged Russian missile strike on one of the children's institutions in Ukraine.

The fakers were unable to provide any evidence to support their false thesis. That is, Ukraine is not planning any “shelling”. Russia shells Ukraine almost every day, destroying civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, hospitals, schools, and kindergartens. The propagandists explain that Moscow allegedly does not resort to terrorist attacks, but targets “decision-making centers”. They say that the Kremlin only attacks facilities where military equipment is located or servicemen are present, and therefore does not violate any norms and customs of warfare.

In fact, Russia is trying to hide its criminal actions against peaceful Ukrainians, hiding behind the term “decision-making centers”. But it finds an excuse that shelling military facilities is the norm for war. However, Ukrainian cities are suffering from Russian missiles and drones.

But the infidels do not aim at “decision-making centers”, but purposefully commit genocide against Ukrainians, killing them in their homes, in public places. At the same time, Moscow tries to whitewash itself and deny any crimes. But documented cases of Russian terror show what the terrorist country is actually doing.

By spreading disinformation that speculates on the life of children in war conditions, in particular the so-called children of Donbas, Russian propaganda seeks to discredit Ukraine and the Ukrainian government in the eyes of both its own and Western society. In the stories of Russian propaganda about the life of children in the occupied territories and in the combat zone, the Ukrainian authorities and military are portrayed as ruthless “punishers” whose goal is to exterminate the so-called people of Donbas, who “voluntarily chose to be with Russia”. By telling such stories, Russian propaganda seeks to turn reality upside down and show that nothing will stop the Ukrainian authorities and armies from achieving their goal.

Read also: Ukrainians whom Moscow is turning into enemies: how Russia justifies the deportation of Ukrainian children

On September 3, 2024, Russian troops launched a missile attack on the Institute of Communications in Poltava. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry points out that the time interval between the alarm and the arrival was short and caught people during their evacuation to a bomb shelter.

As of September 5, 55 people were killed and 297 were injured.

Russian telegram channels are spreading information that as a result of Russia's missile strike on the Military Institute of Telecommunications and Informatization in Poltava, the number of victims is allegedly actually 600-700 soldiers killed. This is allegedly confirmed by unnamed Ukrainian sources. The strike allegedly occurred during the formation of personnel.

But fact-checkers VoxCheck noted that the number of 600 was voiced by former Ukrainian MP Ihor Mosiichuk. Although he mentions 600 injured and dozens of dead, this does not coincide with the official data.

At the same time, Ihor Mosiichuk is not a reliable source. He has already been noticed in the dissemination of fakes and narratives of Russian propaganda. In particular, Mosiichuk promoted theses about the illegitimacy of Zelenskyi, accused the Ukrainian authorities of the Russian invasion, and claimed that the war could have been avoided through diplomacy.

Russians are creating fake pages of the Coordination Headquarters for the Collection of Confidential Information. This was reported by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security.

Fraudsters create so-called “doubles” of official resources, promising Ukrainians alleged “help” in finding relatives who have been captured by the enemy or “assistance” in obtaining information about them. These fake sites and pages are created with the aim of misleading citizens and forcing them to voluntarily provide their personal data.

According to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, such actions by the Russian side are aimed not only at collecting information, but also at having more dangerous consequences. The enemy seeks to gain access to private data for further blackmail and recruitment of Ukrainians, using the vulnerability of the families of prisoners of war. In addition, the enemy can manipulate public sentiment, creating an atmosphere of fear and mistrust.

The purpose of these fraudulent actions is to destabilize Ukrainian society by using the families of defenders for psychological pressure. The enemy can also use the information obtained to threaten the safety of prisoners of war and conduct reconnaissance on military operations.

The Coordination Headquarters reminds: never provide your personal data, phone numbers, bank accounts or data of your loved ones through unverified resources, as well as third-party applications and anonymous sources. Disclosure of such information on fake sites can seriously harm not only Ukrainian prisoners of war, but also endanger the lives of their fellow prisoners. Do not give the enemy the opportunity to manipulate emotions and use you for their own purposes.