This conspiracy theory claims that Western intelligence agencies, together with secret groups (the Freemasons), allegedly deliberately tried to bring people with "mental disabilities" to power in Russia in order to create a "fifth column" to weaken the state internally. According to adherents of this theory, such manipulations allow the West to bloodlessly conquer society and take control of the country. They say this has already happened in the Baltic countries and Moldova. Supporters of this theory are convinced that only a “small fry” of officials loyal to Russia under the leadership of Putin, a “real hero”, resist Western influence, saving the country from collapse.

There is no evidence to support the claim that the West secretly controls governments and allegedly installs “mentally defective” people into power en masse. Political decisions in most countries often contradict Western policies. In addition, although the Baltics and Moldova have experienced difficulties since the collapse of the USSR, their current state is the result of their own internal policies, not external “undermining”. The use of the image of a “hero fighting for the country” contributes to the division of society and reinforces the idea of the need for an external enemy to bring division and weaken the state. This is a common propaganda technique for strengthening authoritarian control.

Russia uses this conspiracy theory to justify its aggressive actions against Ukraine and to give them a supposedly “defensive” character. Within this conspiracy theory, the Ukrainian government is portrayed as a “Western-controlled” force that threatens Russian influence and “traditional values”. By claiming that the West is “coercing” post-Soviet states into submission, Russian propaganda justifies the invasion of Ukraine as a supposedly necessary response to an imaginary threat. It also serves as a tool to mobilize support among the population due to fears of losing national identity.

The conspiracy theory of the Anaconda plan or the Anaconda loop allegedly describes a Western strategy aimed at completely isolating Russia by creating a belt of “hostile states” along Russia’s borders. This concept is based on the American tactics of the Civil War of the 1860s, when the North blockaded the South to destroy its economy and win. The modern version of the plan in this theory is attributed by conspiracy theorists to American political scientist Zbigniew Brzezinski, who in his book The Grand Chessboard noted the importance of “geopolitical control” to weaken Russia. The theory is now being spread by Kremlin-affiliated think tanks and research institutions.

According to conspiracy theorists, the strategy involves two main stages:

The Intermarium Project: the formation of a bloc of Eastern European states that would unite Poland, the Baltic States, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and the Balkans. The goal of this bloc would be to create a buffer zone between Russia and Western Europe, completely isolating Russia in the Baltic and Black Sea region.

Great Turan: An idea that would unite Turkey, the Turkic countries and the Central Asian regions (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Northern Iran, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan) in a cultural and political union that would, in theory, join NATO. This would form a second “belt” around Russia to the south.

However, this theory is not based on confirmed facts and is the result of Russian propaganda. Zbigniew Brzezinski did discuss geopolitical strategies in his works, but he never proposed creating a ring of hostile states around Russia. Real initiatives of international cooperation, intersecting in their features with the description in the theory or cooperation of Eastern European countries, are aimed at supporting sovereignty and security, and not at isolating or blockading Russia. In essence, this theory is a classic example of conspiracy thinking, seeking to find “hidden” explanations in the broad strategic plans of the West, exaggerating the threat and forming an image of the enemy for domestic consumption.

Propagandists use this theory to justify aggression, particularly against Ukraine, by emphasizing that Moscow is supposedly forced to “defend itself” against an artificially created threat from the West and South. They use this conspiracy theory to increase anti-Western sentiments among Russians, strengthen authoritarian measures at home, and strengthen unity in confronting the enemy created by propagandists.

The “dead internet” theory has been gaining popularity in certain circles since around 2016. It is based on the idea that the real internet has ceased to exist, with real users gradually being replaced by bots and algorithms created by corporations or governments. According to this theory, online content has become an illusion — most news, social media posts, and commentary are allegedly generated by artificial intelligence to manipulate public opinion, control the population, or spread disinformation. Accordingly, human users are trapped in closed information zones where they interact with fake bot profiles.

In reality, the Internet is too decentralized for any one government or corporation to fully control it. Millions of users from all over the world create content every day, which is verified by analytics and statistics from social networks and websites. In addition, initiatives such as volunteer movements, mass protests, or information campaigns on social networks are verified by live reports and testimonies of participants. They are the result of real public activity, not the work of bots or algorithms. Social media platforms such as Facebook actively work to detect bots and fake accounts.

Russian disinformation amplifies this theory in order to discredit Western and Ukrainian sources of information. In this way, propagandists promote the idea that international support for Ukraine is the result of bot manipulation, rather than a reflection of real public sentiment. In addition, they try to convince the Ukrainian audience that online activity, including volunteer initiatives, is only part of an information special operation by special services or external actors. The dissemination of such ideas undermines trust in information sources and disorients the population, which is one of the targets of the information war against Ukraine.

Conspiracy theories are an important tool of Russian propaganda, especially when it is necessary to discredit or undermine trust in international organizations such as the European Union (EU). The Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council explained this using the example of the spread of conspiracy theories regarding the new composition of the European Commission, in particular messages aimed at discrediting EU institutions and their officials.

Russian propaganda actively uses the idea of an “inevitable crisis” as one of the main means of manipulating public opinion. In this case, the main message is that the new composition of the European Commission will allegedly lead to a “deep political and economic crisis in European countries”. Forecasts of such crises without specific facts or evidence are typical of conspiracy theories, since they easily cause fear and anxiety among the audience.

One of the main targets of this disinformation campaign is the new EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos. Propagandists create conspiracy theories about abuses in the accession process of new countries to the EU, which undermines confidence in the EU enlargement process and causes fear among the population of EU member states. Using a specific person as a target is a typical strategy to divert attention from real problems and create an artificial enemy.

Another manipulation is the use of the new European Commissioner for Defense to promote the thesis of the transformation of the EU into a military-political bloc. This element corresponds to a typical conspiracy theory template, when changes in organizations are interpreted as part of a large and hidden plan that is aggressive or hostile in nature. In this way, Russian propaganda spreads fears among Europeans about a possible direct military conflict between the EU and Russia.

Another key element of propaganda is the manipulation of the topic of budgetary flows distribution in the EU. This is done to undermine trust between EU member states by speculating on issues of fairness and honesty of resource distribution. This approach contributes to the growth of tensions and conflicts within the European Union.

The main goal of the campaign is to provoke internal divisions within the EU. This is done by discrediting European institutions through the dissemination of conspiracy theories that question the legitimacy and fairness of EU processes. Russian propaganda also tries to hinder support for Ukraine’s struggle for independence and economic stability by weakening international ties through disinformation.

Conspiracy theories used by Russian propagandists are a complex mixture of catastrophic predictions, manipulation of facts and intimidation aimed at weakening European unity. These methods help Russia not only to spread disinformation, but also to create mistrust in the processes of integration and cooperation between European countries, which in the long term could have a destructive impact on the EU and its policy towards Ukraine.

Propagandists are spreading a conspiracy theory that Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris allegedly wore earphone earrings during the September 10 debates, according to the rules of their conduct. They say that is why the other candidate, Donald Trump, looked losing against her background. However, this theory is unfounded. It was refuted by journalists from The Washington Post.

Rumors that Kamala Harris' earrings are hidden headphones may have arisen from misinterpretations of photographs or videos. Conspiracy theorists note that Harris' earrings allegedly resemble headphones available for sale. However, upon closer inspection, journalists found that the earrings are not headphones and were found for sale.

The spread of this conspiracy theory has occurred primarily through social media and “alternative” media, which specialize in spreading unverified information. Conspiracy theories are often used to discredit political opponents or create distrust in the political process. This theory against Kamala Harris is actively used by the Russians and is part of their larger strategy to undermine her credibility and credibility as a politician, especially given that the candidate expressed support for Ukraine during this debate. Such conspiracy theories fuel polarization in American society and distract attention from important issues.

The “LGBT chemicals” conspiracy theory claims that certain chemicals added to food, water supplies, or vaccines supposedly have the ability to change a person’s sexual orientation, making them homosexual or bisexual. These chemicals are said to be intentionally distributed by governments or international organizations to reduce birth rates or control populations. Proponents of this conspiracy theory often use terms like “gay bombs” or “fluoridation” to describe these chemicals.

There is no scientifically proven evidence to support the existence of chemicals that can change a person's sexual orientation. Sexual orientation is a complex phenomenon that is influenced by genetic, biological, psychological, and social factors. The scientific community widely accepts that there are no chemicals that can have a significant impact on orientation.

Medical organizations like the American Psychiatric Association (APA) deny the possibility of “chemical influences” on sexual orientation. They emphasize that sexual orientation is not subject to change due to external influences of this type. This conspiracy theory is built on the manipulation of fears and prejudices of people in the LGBT community. Instead of real facts, its proponents use emotional arguments and false data to cause panic and distrust of scientific and medical institutions.

Russian propaganda uses the LGBT chemical conspiracy theory for several purposes. It attempts to portray Western countries as deliberately distributing dangerous substances in order to destroy traditional values and social order. This serves to undermine trust in Western governments and international organizations. Russian propaganda has traditionally been against LGBT rights, using such conspiracy theories to discredit the LGBT community and increase homophobia in society. Propaganda actively uses this theory to support nationalist sentiments, presenting the West as a threat to traditional values and cultural identity.

Russian propaganda is spreading a new conspiracy theory, which can be called the “Ukrainian deepstate theory”. It is built on the misconception that in Ukraine there is a hidden conflict between the military and political leadership, which allegedly undermines the unity of the state. This theory is based on a distorted and inverted view of the original deep state theory, which describes a secret, invisible force or group of influence that governs a country in defiance of the official government, taking into account not national, but exclusively hidden personal interests.

According to a new theory, there is a hidden power struggle in Ukraine between President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, military leaders such as Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Oleksandr Syrskyi and other influential figures, in particular Kyrylo Budanov. Russian propagandists claim that these figures are allegedly acting against the interests of the state, engaging in intrigue and preparing secret plans that will lead to the political collapse of the country.

In fact, there is no basis for the existence of such a conspiracy. Ukrainian military and political leadership operates in close coordination. Conspiracy theories like the “Ukrainian deepstate” have no basis in reality and are part of a broader Russian disinformation campaign. The theory of the “Ukrainian deepstate” is nothing more than an attempt by Russian propaganda to transfer a Western concept to Ukrainian realities in order to sow distrust among citizens and international partners of Ukraine.

Russian propaganda is trying to create the illusion that Ukraine is supposedly torn by internal conflicts and intrigues, which makes it weak and vulnerable, unlike Russia, where there should supposedly be no contradictions among political figures. Such messages are aimed at undermining faith in the ability of the Ukrainian leadership to effectively combat Russian aggression and ensure security and stability in the country, putting a false sign between dictatorship and stability.

The message that Ukraine and its government are allegedly “curtailing religious freedoms” by banning the activities of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC-MP) has become increasingly popular in Western conservative circles and has become systemic, as they have long been spread by conspiracy theorists. They claim and convince human rights activists and Western political elites that Ukraine’s actions against the UOC-MP are allegedly aimed at suppressing religious freedom and sabotaging Russian culture.

Supporters of this theory note that such actions by Ukraine are exclusively politically motivated. They believe that measures like the bill to restrict the activities of the UOC-MP are aimed at strengthening “Russophobia” in Ukraine and “artificially strengthening” national identity, separated from Russian cultural and religious ties. They say that such actions by the authorities are not something “natural” from Ukraine.

According to this theory, attempts to limit the activities of the UOC-MP in Ukraine are classified as a “witch hunt”. They say that they are humiliated only because they represent an alternative view of all the events currently taking place in Ukraine, especially after the start of a full-scale Russian invasion. Proponents of this theory believe that this is an attempt to limit the religious rights of Ukrainian Orthodox Christians, which allegedly undermines the image of Ukraine as a legal and free country.

Conspiracy theorists also suggest that Western countries, in particular the United States and European states, are encouraging or supporting Ukraine's actions against the Moscow Patriarchate. They say this is part of a broader strategy to weaken Russia and expand Western influence in Eastern Europe. Therefore, the theory of “church persecution in Ukraine” is closely intertwined with the theory of “cultural attrition of Russia”, since such actions of Ukraine are described as efforts directed against Russian culture and heritage within its borders. The purpose of this, according to conspiracy theorists, is the deliberate destruction of the Moscow Patriarchate, which is “at the heart” of Russian values and culture. They say that the West is leading Ukraine to “immorality and disaster”, while Russia is defending “traditional values” in Ukraine.

This conspiracy theory exaggerates the scale and intentions of the Ukrainian government's actions. Although legal and administrative measures have been taken against individual members of the Moscow Patriarchate, they are often based on specific allegations of wrongdoing rather than on a general policy of religious suppression. Ukraine has repeatedly justified its actions against the Moscow Patriarchate on legal and security grounds. The Moscow Patriarchate has taken an active role in supporting pro-Russian separatism in the country and is seen as an intermediary of Russian political influence. Due to its close connection with the Russian political elite, the UOC-MP is suspected of espionage and undermining Ukrainian sovereignty.

In 2018, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) was created, which received autocephaly (independence) from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. This move was seen as a significant step towards Russian religious independence. The creation of the OCU was supported by the Ukrainian government, and Moscow perceived it as a threat to its influence. In particular, Russian propaganda is trying in every possible way to discredit the OCU and its activities, launching a large number of fakes and manipulations in relation to it. They say that the OCU is not a real church, but the UOC-MP is real. Thus, Russia divides people into “right” and “wrong” based on religious preferences.

On July 15, 2024, an assassination attempt was made on Donald Trump. The incident occurred during his speech at one of his election rallies in Butler. The attacker opened fire, but Trump was evacuated in time and was not seriously injured. Propagandists took advantage of this information drive and began to massively disseminate a number of conspiracy theories on this topic.

Joe Biden's Order

Propagandists and members of Trump's team, in particular his vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance, claim that current US President Joe Biden allegedly ordered the assassination attempt on Trump in order to eliminate him as a political rival. They say that after the disastrous debate and a number of ensuing scandals, Biden and his team were left with no other options other than to physically eliminate Trump in the elections.

Supporters of this theory claim that Biden allegedly hinted at the need to eliminate Trump, including in the literal sense. They also accuse journalists of stirring up the atmosphere around the ex-president, which could become a trigger for the attacker. Conspiracy theorists also accuse Biden that the US Secret Service (the security detail assigned to every living US president, sitting or not) did not do enough to protect Trump or even personally have a hand in the incident after Biden directed it.

A number of US Democratic Party figures, including Biden himself and Barack Obama, condemned the attack. The current president said that the fight between him and Trump should take place exclusively within the framework of elections, and the use of violence against one of the candidates is unacceptable. He also promised to tighten security for Trump.

Ukraine is to blame for everything

Conspiracy theorists and Russian propagandists also began to spread the theory that Ukraine was involved in the assassination attempt on Trump. They say that Trump’s anti-Ukrainian rhetoric during the election campaign, and especially the situation around the aid package adopted by Congress, is a motive for this. Conspiracy theorists say: Ukraine has been resorting to such methods for a long time, so this would not be anything strange. As an example, they point to the fact that the Ukrainians allegedly blew up Nord Stream 2.

Deep State

According to this theory, the assassination attempt on Trump was organized by an invisible power structure within the US government (deep state), which wants to destroy Trump because of his anti-system policies. Detector Media previously wrote about this theory and its main messages, in which Trump is the main character.

Proponents of this theory exploit the current crisis of trust in government structures, partly related to the previous theory, since the “deep state” is also associated with the US Democratic Party.

Red Herring

There is also a theory that the assassination attempt was allegedly staged by Trump supporters or his team to divert attention from other political scandals surrounding him, particularly court cases, and also to give him a final advantage in the election campaign. Current opinion polls show that even after all the tension surrounding the Biden campaign, the gap between the candidates is minimal.

Russia uses these conspiracy theories to achieve several strategic goals. In particular, the spread of conspiracy theories contributes to increasing political division and mistrust between different groups of the population of the United States. With their help, Russians also undermine trust in democratic institutions and the electoral process as a whole. Spreading disinformation about other countries helps Russia divert the attention of its citizens from domestic economic and political problems. It also reinforces the illusion that Russia is still influencing the international agenda and advancing its geopolitical interests by weakening its main adversaries.

Conspiracy theorists and propagandists using this theory argue that the Ukrainian government is deliberately erasing the Russian language and culture from public life, education and the media, and therefore infringes on its speakers and creates a reason for Russia to protect them on the territory of Ukraine. They say that Ukraine is allegedly being pushed to do this by the West, which is using it as an instrument of its hybrid war against Russia.

One of the triggers for this theory is the issue of language. Legislative initiatives, such as the Language Law, which requires the use of Ukrainian in educational institutions, government agencies and the media, are considered by supporters of this theory as oppression of the Russian-speaking population. The closure or reformatting of Russian-language schools is also perceived.

Changes in school textbooks, which focus on the glorification of Ukrainian national heroes and emphasize the negative aspects of the joint history with Russia, are seen as a way of artificially creating an anti-Russian narrative. Conspiracy theorists also provide confirmation of their arguments by the fact that Russian literature and history are excluded from educational curricula. The introduction of restrictions on the broadcasting of Russian television channels and radio stations, as well as the ban on Russian books and films, has the same reaction. They say this proves that Ukraine is not a democratic and European country. All these elements are the main components of this theory.

Russian propaganda actively uses this theory to strengthen anti-Ukrainian sentiments both within the country and in the international arena, carrying out the replacement of concepts and using tactics of reflection, since it was Russia for centuries that tried to erase Ukrainian culture and show it as inferior. The Ukrainian government is portrayed as exclusively nationalistic and persecuting Russian-speaking citizens and suppressing their rights. In view of this, Russia presents itself as a defender of the Russian-speaking population, both in Ukraine and in other countries in the region, justifying its aggressive policies.

The spread of false information about linguistic and cultural repression within Ukraine is also aimed at causing the international community to question the legitimacy of the Ukrainian government's actions. To do this, Russia uses international platforms and media in an attempt to influence public opinion and reduce the level of support for Ukraine abroad.

The use of the theory of “cultural attrition” is also necessary to mobilize public support within Russia, emphasizing the need to protect the “brotherly people”. By portraying Ukraine's policies as dictated by the West, propaganda attempts to stoke anti-Western sentiment and fears of loss of cultural identity.

The Ukrainian “energy manipulation” conspiracy theory is one of the new conspiracy theories, according to which the West is allegedly deliberately provoking an energy crisis by supporting Ukraine. Proponents of this theory believe that the United States and European countries are using the war in Ukraine to achieve their own economic and political goals, in particular, increasing energy prices and increasing the profits of their energy corporations. They say that the main problem is the “shortage of oil and gas” in the EU, and the attacks on the Ukrainian energy grid are allegedly fiction or exaggeration.

Conspiracy theorists claim that the West is allegedly deliberately creating a shortage of energy resources through sanctions against Russia. Propagandists note that sanctions lead to higher prices on world markets, which benefits Western energy companies. Part of the theory also includes the idea that energy companies are using the situation to strengthen their position in the market, increasing their income and influence with governments, without thinking about ordinary residents.

By spreading and using this theory, Russians are replacing the concept in the current situation. The main reason for the crisis in the energy sector is Russian aggression against Ukraine, which results in sanctions against Russian energy resources and attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

This conspiracy theory is actively spread by Russians through social networks, blogs and alternative media. It is often accompanied by misinformation and distorted facts, making it difficult to refute. The main goal of such conspiracies is to undermine trust in governments, international organizations and traditional media. For example, disseminating reports that electricity in Ukraine is being turned off allegedly in collusion with the Territorial center of recruitment and social support for easier mobilization. However, in fact, these shutdowns are not related to the mobilization process in Ukraine.

Russia is using this conspiracy theory in its information war against Ukraine and the West to justify its military aggression against Ukraine. They say that its actions are a response to the West’s “economic war” against Russia. This conspiracy theory is helping to fuel anti-Western sentiment both within Russia and among international audiences. This undermines trust in Western governments and their actions. The spread of this theory also contributes to the destabilization of the unity of Western countries and leads to internal disputes in European countries and the United States over their policies of support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.

Russian propagandists are actively spreading the conspiracy theory “Eurabia” (Europe + Arabia), according to which the mass migration of Muslims to European countries will allegedly lead to gradual Islamization and the loss of European culture, identity and political independence. The theory arose at the intersection of anti-immigrant and Islamophobic sentiments, and is also popular among far-right groups and used as a political tool.

Conspiracy theorists claim that there is a deliberate plan to increase the number of Muslim immigrants in Europe to displace the indigenous population. They accuse European politicians and the media of promoting Muslim immigration under the guise of political correctness, multiculturalism and human rights. Proponents of the theory fear that the growth of the Muslim population will lead to the disappearance of European traditions, cultural norms and Christian values. Conspiracy theorists also play on fears of the introduction of a replacement of the secular system of law with Sharia (rules of Muslim law, religious and ritual guidelines) and the strengthening of the political influence of Muslim communities, which, in their opinion, could lead to the loss of democratic freedoms and rights.

This conspiracy theory is based on inciting hatred, xenophobia and Islamophobia. Scientific research and demographic data do not support predictions about the rapid Islamization of Europe. This conspiracy theory contradicts the idea of multiculturalism and the inherent tolerance of cultural diversity in the European value system. In addition, allegations of a deliberate plan for “Islamization” have no factual evidence, but are based on false beliefs and stereotypes.

Russia and its propaganda use this theory to justify its aggression against Ukraine and show its “superiority” over the West. They say that Russia is proactive and really wants to “protect” Europe from the Muslim invasion. One of the indicators of Russia’s professing of this theory is its increased support for European right-wing radical movements that are disseminating this theory in the political dimension.

Russian propagandists are actively spreading a conspiracy theory according to which the West is allegedly conducting a secret operation to destroy world leaders who do not support Western policies and oppose “globalist interests”. Proponents of this theory believe that the attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and the helicopter crash carrying Iranian leader Ibrahim Raisi may be interconnected and part of a broader Western plan. Detector Media has already looked at this case in more detail.

Conspiracy theorists focus on “target identification”. They say the attempts against them are politically motivated. In particular, Fico does not support Western political interests, especially in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine. Ibrahim Raise had an open anti-Western position. Proponents of the theory also refer to “precedents” that allegedly indicate that the West has been using such methods for a long time. For example, they recall the case of Imran Khan, the Pakistani prime minister who visited Russia after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and is now in prison with his wife. Shinzo Abe, the former Japanese prime minister, was also allegedly killed precisely because he tried to improve relations with Russia. Although in fact the investigation found that Abe was killed for his support of religious sects.

Raisi's helicopter made a hard emergency landing. It was caused by heavy fog, but even propagandists explain the unfavorable weather conditions as politics. But the man who attempted to assassinate the Prime Minister of Slovakia could be associated with the pro-Russian paramilitary group Slovenskí Branci, which does not really agree with the Russian version of the “Ukrainian trace”.

This conspiracy theory is connected with the theory of the new world order, according to which the war in Ukraine is supposedly not the actions of Russia, but a plan of the globalists. Using a combination of these, Russia wants to deepen its population's mistrust of the West, justify its actions and make Western support for Ukraine toxic and dangerous. Like, if you don’t do everything the States tell you, your leader will be killed. This situation is an example of how propagandists use conspiracy theories to explain current events.

The “deep state”, according to conspiracy theorists, is a hidden network of members of the federal government (particularly in the US intelligence agencies) who collaborate with high-ranking financial and industrial institutions to control the elected government of the United States from within.

However, the term first emerged in the 1990s as a reference to the “deep state” in Turkey. It also has its roots in at least the 1950s, but back then it meant more of the concept of the military-industrial complex, which involves the collusion of generals and defense equipment manufacturers who enrich themselves due to endless wars in other countries. Subsequently, it began to be used for the American government, especially during the administration of President Barack Obama in a slightly different context. The theory gained widespread publicity during the presidency of Donald Trump, who spoke of a “deep state” allegedly working against him and his policies. Trump's use of his social media account Twitter (now X), along with other elements of right-wing populist movements during his presidency, helped develop the theory into one of the fundamental elements of the QAnon movement.

Public opinion polls conducted in 2017 and 2018 indicate that about half of all Americans believe in the existence of the deep state.

Russian propagandists use this theory in different contexts on the topic of Ukraine. In particular, they are trying to justify the actions of the Russians by saying that it is in fact the United States that is subservient to the elites and artificially continuing the war. Proponents of the conspiracy theory argue that the rich and intelligence agencies are pushing the parties towards war and even determine US policy, so elections are supposedly meaningless, and Ukraine cannot end the war with victory. Or that in general both Russia and Ukraine are supposedly pawns in their hands and they need to go and negotiate peace. In addition, in this way they also express their distrust not only of the United States, but also increase their distrust of Ukrainian institutions and the state as a whole. Like, if this is how the States work, then in Ukraine, especially, everything is controlled by a limited elite and special services.

Propagandists use various conspiracy theories to justify the crimes of Russians, as well as to discredit the Ukrainian government and its foreign partners. In this case we are talking about the theory of “currency wars”.

The theory comes from a book by Chinese author Song Hongbin called Currency Wars, first published in 2007 and re-released in 2009. Literary critics call it the first known book in the genre of economic nationalism. According to the book, Western countries are allegedly controlled by a group of private banks manipulated by the countries' central banks. In 2009, more than 200 thousand copies were sold, plus about 400 thousand unofficial copies in free circulation. The book became a bestseller in China; it has been read by many government officials and business leaders across the country. However, it has been criticized in Western media as spreading false information and being based on conspiracy theories. The New York Times criticized the book at the time for promoting anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.

According to Hongbin and supporters of his theory, these large private banks that allegedly control countries use currency manipulation to enrich themselves by first lending money in US dollars to developing countries and then selling their currencies. They say that this is why a number of financial crises occurred, including the “Japanese lost decade”, the Asian financial crisis of 1997, the Latin American financial crisis, etc. It is also claimed that the Rothschild family has a fortune of 5 trillion dollars, while Bill Gates has only 40 billion. Like, it is this family that controls the world and creates a new world order. Conspiracy theorists also believe that the US Federal Reserve System is allegedly not a government agency, but several private banks controlled by the interests of the Rothschild family.

Russian propagandists began to spread this theory in the context of providing military and financial assistance to Ukraine, as well as the sanctions policies of its allies. This theory has acquired particular proportions in TikTok, where users are being intimidated with its help by the collapse of the global financial system. They say that with sanctions against Russia, the West is only making the ruble stronger due to the influence of the state, while the American economy is declining. In addition, there are supporters of this theory who claim that the war is exclusively economic in nature, and Ukraine is only an attempt to externally redistribute the world. However, just like the assertion that the US Federal Reserve is not a government institution, the versions of conspiracy theorists about the reasons for the Russian full-scale invasion are not true.

Propagandists use various conspiracy theories to discredit the Ukrainian government and its foreign partners. In this case, it is about the “CIA drug dealer” theory. Accusations and conspiracy theories about the involvement of American intelligence in the drug trade have been circulating for decades in the context of historical events and the confidentiality of the CIA's activities.

Some of the allegations stem from the CIA's involvement in covert operations during the Cold War, particularly in Southeast Asia and Latin America. For example, during the Vietnam War, there were reports of opium trafficking by CIA-backed guerrilla groups in the Golden Triangle region.

One of the most famous cases fueling these conspiracy theories is the Iran-Contra scandal in the 1980s. It involved secret arms sales to Iran (despite the embargo) to finance Nicaraguan rebels known as the Contras. Conspiracy theorists claim that the drug trade was allegedly used to finance these operations, although official investigations have found no direct evidence of CIA involvement in drug smuggling.

Journalist Harry Webb's 1996 San Jose Mercury News investigation, “Dark Alliance”,  revived interest in allegations of CIA drug trafficking. Webb claimed that the CIA-backed Contras were trafficking cocaine into the United States illegally, contributing to the cocaine epidemic. However, subsequent investigations and analysis contradicted some of his claims. While some investigations have acknowledged CIA involvement with individuals and groups involved in drug smuggling, they have generally concluded that there is no systemic CIA collusion in drug smuggling.

Consequently, although allegations of drug smuggling have been the subject of intense investigation, concrete evidence to support these allegations has not yet emerged. However, the continued existence of these conspiracy theories highlights broader questions about transparency, accountability and public trust in government institutions.

Russian propagandists use this conspiracy theory to promote the impression that Ukrainians are a nation of drug addicts. They say that they also participated in the Revolutions under the influence of drugs. Let us recall, for example, the “pricked oranges” that supposedly created a feeling of euphoria during the Orange Revolution “orchestrated by the collective West” and the “State Department cookies” in 2014. Propagandists are also spreading the message that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are supposedly also fighting drug addiction, and USAID (an American local assistance organization) supplies them with whole batches of drugs. They also want to toughen the message against the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi, created by Ukrainian political strategists in 2019. Now the Russians claim that he is allegedly a drug addict, and the CIA supplies him with drugs. Russians use different methods to spread this message: from fake covers and animated series to fake comments from stars on this matter.

Propagandists use various conspiracy theories to justify Russian aggression against Ukraine. In this case, we are talking about the Bilderberg Club - a real-life private annual meeting of world leaders. It was originally held to prevent a world war, but now, according to its participants, it is an unfiltered discussion about the future of the world.

However, the confidentiality surrounding the group has not only led to various criticisms of it and its activities from different political positions, but also to a number of conspiracy theories. Different categories of conspiracy theorists have different versions about the group's intentions. Some left-wing or less specifically oriented political groups accuse the Bilderberg group of either covertly imposing or generally supporting capitalist dominance and corporate power, while right-wing activists and Russian propagandists are accusing them of imposing or promoting world government and global planned austerity. Right-wing conspiracy theorists typically view the group as a central decision-making body, or at least attribute significant importance to its role, while most left-wing or apolitical conspiracy theorists view it only as one of the institutions that help promote international corporate interests and ideology.

In August 2010, former Cuban President Fidel Castro wrote an article for the Cuban Communist Party newspaper Granma in which he referenced Daniel Estulin's 2006 book, “Secrets of the Bilderberg Club”, which Castro said described “the ill-fated Bilder lobby groups”. They say they are manipulating the public “to establish a world government that knows no boundaries and is answerable to no one but itself”.

Russia is spreading this theory, emphasizing that the war in Ukraine is also a plan of this club. Like, it wasn’t Russia that started it, but Russia was framed. This theory is another form of the world government theory that we wrote about earlier. According to him, the world is ruled by a separate elite, which creates a bunch of crises in order to reduce the population.

Propagandists use various conspiracy theories to justify Russian aggression against Ukraine. One such example is the idea of “gay propaganda” and the “blue mafia”. “Gay propaganda” or “homosexual propaganda” is a term used in religious circles to disparage the promotion of cultural acceptance and normalization of non-heterosexual orientations and relationships. They say that in Western countries there is a circle of gay elites - the “blue mafia”, which “forcibly” promotes the “superiority” of LGBT couples over heterosexual ones. Children allegedly become LGBT persons after viewing LGBT-related content. According to conspiracy theorists, such methods are used to reduce the world's population. Although the “blue mafia” theory initially concerned only showbiz and fashion, later conservative activists and especially Russia dragged it into politics.

The term “gay agenda” actually originates from the United States and is actively used in other countries with active anti-LGBTQ movements, such as Hungary and Uganda. It was made popular by a video series produced by California-based religious group Springs of Life Ministries in 1992. A series of these videos were circulated in many Christian organizations and spoke of “gay propaganda”.

Conservative activists and conspiracy theorists also include efforts to change government policies and laws regarding LGBT rights as gay propaganda. In particular, American conservative activists use the term to refer to changes in LGBT rights legislation, such as same-sex marriage and protection against discrimination. Russian propagandists took this into account and adjusted it to the local context. They say that liberal forces in the USA and the EU are forcing Ukraine to recognize LGBT couples as more important in the legal field than heterosexual ones, from which Russia supposedly has to save us. They say we cannot allow a future where LGBT couples have more rights than heterosexual couples.

Russia adapted these theories not only in its propaganda, but also in its legislation. In particular, on June 11, 2013, the State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted a law prohibiting “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” among minors. This law supplements the Code of Administrative Offenses (CAO RF) with an article providing for administrative liability for “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” among minors, and also makes changes to the federal law “On the protection of children from information harmful to their health and development”, according to which Information prohibited for distribution among children also includes information “promoting non-traditional sexual relationships”. In addition, the law introduces amendments similar to the law “On Basic Guarantees of the Rights of the Child in the Russian Federation”.

On November 30, 2023, Judge Oleg Nefedov of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation declared it an “extremist organization” and banned the “international public movement of LGBT people”. With this decision, the Supreme Court satisfied the claim of the Russian Ministry of Justice, sent on November 17, 2023. Since the beginning of Russian aggression against Ukraine, the condition of the LGBT community in the Russian Federation has deteriorated significantly. Thus, in 2022, a law was passed banning LGBT propaganda among adults, and in July 2023, a law banning transgender transition. According to human rights activists, the Russian authorities were thus trying to distract the conservative electorate from the failures in the war with Ukraine, strengthening homophobia and transphobia in society.

Sexual orientation (regardless of whether it is heterosexuality or homosexuality) is natural and does not depend on the work of the media, fashion, ideology or the activity of any social groups. Detector Media has repeatedly debunked absurd Russian fake news aimed at reinforcing the “gay propaganda” narrative.

Movement Propagandists use various conspiracy theories to justify Russian aggression against Ukraine, sometimes even satirical ones. Satirical conspiracy movements are created to ridicule real theories and their adherents. However, Russia often resorts to presenting satire as reality. One example of this is the satirical Birds Don't Exist movement. Its creators claim that birds, such as pigeons, are supposedly drones operated by the United States government to spy on American citizens. The movement began in January 2017 when Peter MacIndoe created this theory during protests. After a video of him and his “Birds Don't Exist” sign during the Women's March in Memphis went viral, the movement gained popularity. Subsequently, the founders of the movement organized rallies in support of this theory and even created a special truck that traveled around the country and distributed it.

The theory is that the US government exterminated all birds between 1959 and 1971 and replaced them with surveillance drones. Claims within this theory, such as that birds charge on electrical wires or use defecation for tracking, are not always consistent. Supporters of the movement are holding demonstrations with “Birds Don't Exist” signs and erecting billboards, and are calling on companies like Twitter to change their logos. The movement had hundreds of thousands of fans in 2021, according to MSNBC.

Russian propagandists love to demonize the West, using both this satirical theory and other materials of a satirical and humorous nature, passing them off as reality. For example, they once wrote about a copy of Mein Kampf allegedly found during an IDF raid. They say that the military Azov left her. This thesis was actually invented in a satirical telegram channel. And there are many such examples. Russian propaganda wants people to stop distinguishing between what is truth and what is a joke and to believe in everything. They say that the modern world is so unpredictable that something that seemed absurd and funny just a few years ago can happen. It is precisely because of this uncertainty about the future that people turn to conspiracy theories - they provide quick answers to urgent questions.

Propagandists use various conspiracy theories to justify Russian aggression against Ukraine. One of them is the Sovereign Citizens Movement. This is a group of people in the United States that is common in other countries. They are united by anti-government activities. This group includes activists, litigators, tax protesters, financial fraudsters and conspiracy theorists. They adhere to their own pseudo-legal ideology, which is based on distorted interpretations of common law. They say that they are not limited by government laws if they do not agree with them.

According to the FBI, sovereign citizens are “anti-government extremists” who consider themselves separate from the United States despite living within its borders. They reject the authority of courts and government laws, believing that they can avoid legal obligations through various tactics. This includes refusing to pay taxes, ignoring laws, and rejecting official documents such as Social Security numbers and driver's licenses. Although the arguments of sovereign citizens have no legal validity and have never been recognized by the court.

The movement often attracts individuals facing financial or legal problems or those who consider government actions to be discriminatory. As a result, it grows during periods of economic or social crises. Although it was first associated with racist and right-wing groups, it now includes people of various ethnic backgrounds, including a significant number of African Americans. Most sovereign citizens do not support violence, but their methods often involve illegal activities. Some of them were convicted of tax and financial fraud, as well as traffic violations. The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation classifies the Movement as domestic terrorists.

Sovereign citizen legal theories reinterpret the United States Constitution through selective readings of legal dictionaries, state court decisions or specific rules, and other sources, including the Bible. They routinely ignore the second clause of Article VI of the Constitution, which establishes it as the fundamental law of the land and the Supreme Court as the final authority for interpretation. In addition, many in the Movement consider the county sheriff to be the most important law enforcement officer in the country, with powers greater than those held by federal agents, elected officials, or local law enforcement agencies. This argument is now becoming more used in the context of events occurring around US immigration policy and the recent decisions of the Governor of Texas on defending the state border.

In the post-Soviet space, the Movement is represented by the Union of Slavic Forces of Russia (USSR), also known as “citizens of the USSR” and “necrocommunists”. It is an informal social movement, whose supporters believe that the USSR (and/or the Russian Empire) as a sovereign state and subject of international relations still exists, they consider themselves citizens of this state and do not recognize the Russian Federation, do not comply with its laws and do not obey her government, an ideological movement that believes in conspiracy theories and anti-Semitism.

The ideology of the movement is used to justify Russian aggression towards Ukraine and to stop providing assistance to it. The idea of a “USSR that still exists” has formed the basis of Russian state ideology and is the motivation for the disinformation campaign waged by the Kremlin on a global scale.

Propagandists often try to explain current events with mysterious circumstances or wild speculation instead of facts. One way to do this is to use the theory of subconscious programming. This is a theory that the government or other aforementioned entities use pop culture as a tool of mass mind control to make the population more accepting of future events. This is the definition given by Ohio State University. This phenomenon was first described by researcher Alan Watt, who defines the concept as “the exercise of a psychological task through the media to make the public aware of planned social changes that will be introduced by our leaders. If and when these changes are implemented, the public will already be familiar with them and will accept them as natural extensions, thereby reducing possible public resistance”. It was then popularized by famous American conspiracy theorists Alex Jones and David Icke. The most famous use of this theory are examples of “predictions” from the series “The Simpsons”. They say that the authors of the animated series know something, and that’s why they “predicted”, in particular, Trump’s presidency, Biden’s reign, and even an attempted insurrection in the United States in 2021.

Scientists do not consider the theory of “subconscious programming” to be unfounded, since there are several contradictions when considering the possibility of such an influence. However, this theory has been refuted by scientists because, unlike the claims of conspiracy theorists about a guaranteed desired reaction, in fact the reaction of the subconscious is not so predictable. Additionally, while conspiracy theorists try to present this concept in a purely negative light, in fact this type of programming can also be used for positive purposes, such as reducing the trauma of a population from a tragedy.

Propagandists use this theory by spreading either existing examples or inventing examples of “subconscious programming” related to Ukraine. For example, at one time a fake was invented that “The Simpsons” supposedly foresaw a war in Ukraine. They do this to strengthen their narrative that the West allegedly planned the war long ago and provoked Russia into it. Like, there is no point in doing anything, since everything has already been decided for us a long time ago. In this way they give the false impression that democracy does not work and that wars or global tragedies are actually planned in advance to increase support for ineffective governments.

Propagandists are trying to destabilize the situation in the world by supporting various conspiracy movements and using them as part of Russian aggression against Ukraine. Often, conspiracy theories are created based on popular figures. An example of this is the theory that American singer Taylor Swift is allegedly a Pentagon spy and that she “fights against disinformation” with her songs.

In January, on FOX NEWS' Jesse Watters Primetime, host Jesse Watters asked viewers how they thought Swift became so popular. Noting that he had no evidence, he theorized: “About four years ago, the Pentagon's psy-ops team was considering turning Taylor Swift into a tool during a NATO meeting. What kind of tool? A psy-op to combat online disinformation”. He called her a psy-op, a person secretly involved in psychological operations, usually hired by the government, military or police to influence the beliefs, emotions and behavior of the masses. Watters showed a video of someone talking about Swift's influence, commenting: “Yes, this is real. The Pentagon's psychological task force suggested that NATO turn Taylor Swift into a tool to help the Biden administration”. The presenter repeatedly disseminated narratives about the war in Ukraine, consonant with, for example, calling it a “proxy war”.

In fact, the video was taken from an academic conference on disinformation organized by NATO in 2019. The woman who spoke—Alicia Marie Bargar—was not a Pentagon official or associated with NATO, but an engineer at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Bargar told Business Insider that her words were taken out of context. She discussed cybersecurity challenges and used Swift as “a random example of a famous person to explain the concept of social media analytics to an audience”.

A Pentagon spokesman commented on the theory to Politico noting, “With this conspiracy theory, we're going to shake it off”, a reference to Taylor Swift's song Shake It off.

This theory did not come out of thin air. Right-wing commentators in the United States blamed Swift for the key defeats of Republican politicians. Although Swift did not endorse any candidate in this election, she publicly supported Biden in 2020 and reminded her fans to vote in 2022.

After Swift was named a Person of the Year 2023 by the TIME Magazine's, similar allegations resurfaced from conservative commentators that she was part of a larger election conspiracy. Former Trump adviser Stephen Miller said Swift's fame “is not organic”. Far Hand activist Laura Loomer said Swift is “who Democrats are counting on to interfere in the 2024 presidential election”. Anonymous telegram channels that spread pro-Russian rhetoric also disseminate messages with a similar message.

Russian propagandists use this theory to try to interfere in domestic American politics and neutralize the influence of American popular culture in Europe. In addition, in this way they support people committed to the Russian worldview in American political circles.

For years, propagandists have been trying to explain current events with conspiracy theories, trying to shift responsibility for problems with real political actors to imaginary “world governments”. Some of these theories go back to the century before last, such as the well-known falsification of the late 19th - early 20th centuries called The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

This text was first published in 1903 in the Russian Empire, although it existed in handwritten versions earlier. It outlines the types of plans of a certain Jewish organization to establish world domination. The real authorship of the text is unknown; certain parts of it were copied from ancient pamphlets, thus it is a compilation of conspiracy theories of the anti-Semitic ideas of that time.

Why did such a “document” gain popularity in Russia? The main theses of the imaginary plan of the Jews are the use of various ideologies, from Nietzscheanism to communism, to undermine the “traditional” foundations of society that interfere with the establishment of world domination. The main enemies of Jews and Masons, according to the “Protocols”, are the institutions of the Catholic papacy and the Russian autocracy. This view of political and social processes suited Russian monarchist conservatives, who defended the tsar as the only real obstacle to the “satanic forces” to seize power.

Modern Russian propaganda does not use the Protocols, although conspiratorial anti-Semitism in general often appears even in the expressions of senior representatives of the Putin regime, not to mention more marginal propagandists. However, it can be noted that the approach of conspiracy theories has not changed. Also, modern “evil”, from Ukrainian “Nazism” to Western “cultural Marxism”, seeks to destroy “everything good” that exists in the world, and the only one who “resists” this is the Russian Tsar, who is now called the president. Now, it seems that instead of the conditional Jews of the world, a conditional “global government” threatens the world.

With this primitive technique, propagandists strive to achieve two goals. Firstly, shift responsibility for public problems from real representatives of power, primarily the same tsar-president, who has been in power for decades, to someone else. Secondly, to rally the population around the “traditional” authorities, because they are supposedly the only ones who can protect against growing problems (in fact, inspired by this government). However, at the beginning of the twentieth century, the Protocols of the Elders of Zion did not help the Russian Tsar and his propagandists retain power. From their example, one can clearly see that conspiracy theories are not capable of resolving social contradictions, and authoritarian regimes often fall suddenly and harshly, primarily for their leaders.

Propagandists have been trying to destabilize the situation in the world for years by supporting various conspiracy movements. An example of this is the situation with “pastel QAnon”.

QAnon, as we have previously written, is an active American conspiracy and political movement centered around the baseless claims of an anonymous person or persons known as Q. In their statements, they claim that there is a certain secret organization of satanic cannibals involved in sexual abuse of children. Allegedly, it is in charge of the global process of child trafficking and coordinated the conspiracy against former US President Donald Trump.

“Pastel QAnon” is a set of tactics and strategies that use “soft” aesthetic elements, particularly pastel colors, to attract additional audiences to the QAnon conspiracy theory. This phenomenon often unfolds on major social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Telegram and YouTube.

Social media influencers associated with “pastel QAnon” focus on aspects of QAnon theory that appeal to maternal instincts, particularly issues about preventing child sexual abuse and human trafficking. They use an emotional and engaged presentation, which is popular among influencers in the field of health, yoga and new age. The term was coined by Marc-André Argentino, a researcher at Concordia University in Canada.

QAnon fans have moved from encrypted pages and anonymous forums to major platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. “Pastel QAnon” uses them to spread messages about child “protection”, child trafficking, health and other topics. They exemplify what the movement is about. The presentation is deliberately done using an informal style. Posts do not always indicate their views on QAnon, and their authors often deny any ties to the movement but promote the same conspiracy theories as QAnon. Often this is done by using already existing popular hashtags, distorting the meaning of the original intentions of their creation and the efforts of organizations involved in combating human trafficking. This is the situation with the #SaveTheChildren hashtag, which was used by QAnon activists.

Pastel QAnon uses soft aesthetic elements such as pastel colors, glitter effects, washed out colors, strokes, illustrations of nature, fashion, makeup, and the language of spiritual and motivational quotes. This visual aesthetic includes elements that are familiar to target groups due to their popularity in product and service advertising, which contributes to its appeal among the audience.

Russia not only supports the development of this movement in a foreign context, but also uses it or similar tactics in its propaganda. This approach was used to create visual materials for last year's protests against the President of Ukraine in Odesa. Then Russians created an information campaign to protest rolling blackouts.

In addition, propagandists often use spiritual quotes in their materials on Russian aggression against Ukraine and soft visual aesthetics. This is done in order to spread your messages among those who find the usual presentation style too aggressive. This is also used by Russian propagandists working abroad.

Propagandists have been trying for years to influence the situation in states that can actively support Ukraine’s further European integration path and oppose Russia’s plans in Europe. In particular, through the support of conspiracy theories in different countries of the world. An example of this is the 2022 German coup plot situation.

In December 2023, charges were brought against members of the Patriotic Union group, arrested a year ago. According to the investigation of the German police, the purpose of the group was to restore the German Empire through a coup d'etat in conditions of civil war. It has been planning an armed attack on the Bundestag since at least November 2021, in addition to the public detention of politicians for civil unrest. The Patriotic Union believed that parts of the German security forces would show solidarity with their efforts. German prosecutors have declared the group a terrorist group.

In a confiscated policy document, the group describes its goals in detail: in addition to patrolling the streets, its members, if they gained power, would also be responsible for the “neutralization of counter-revolutionary forces”. These conspirators included supporters of left-wing political views and Muslims. In addition, during the recruitment of candidates for the inner circle of “Prince Royce” (the head of the group), consultations with experts on paranormal phenomena and astrologers were recorded.

The group had a far-right ideology, regularly promoted anti-Semitic theories and shared the views of the American QAnon community, whose representatives believe that the United States is led by “satanists, cannibals and pedophiles”. The Patriotic Union's planned coup included an assault on the Reichstag, similar to the attack on the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Russia is directly involved in the activities of the group, even though the press secretary of the Russian President Dmytro Pieskov at one time denied any connection with the conspiracy group. In particular, it was financed by citizens of the Russian Federation through contact with Royce’s partner “Vitalii B.”, as the investigation found.

Recently, Russian propagandists have been trying to destabilize the situation in Ukraine, in particular, by fueling the idea of a coup. The example of the Patriotic Union shows well what such a conspiracy can look like, on what ideological basis it can exist, and also how conspiracy theories can become a destructive force for society.