This statement was made by Putin during an interview with pro-Russian journalist Tucker Carlson on February 6, 2024. Like, “Ukrainians still feel like Russians, and in this sense, what is happening is to a certain extent an element of civil war”.

The Center for Strategic Communications and Security denied this information. In fact, the Russian-Ukrainian war is by no means “civil”, because its participants have been citizens of different states for many years.

Yes, Russians really live in Ukraine and some of them are defenders of the Ukrainian state. However, this fact alone destroys the propaganda narrative about the alleged “persecution of Russians” or that ethnic Russians in Ukraine are “waiting for their liberation” by Russia.

Russian propaganda continues to deliberately nourish the narrative of “civil war” and “protection of the rights of Russian speakers”, starting with the occupation of Crimea and the Russian war in Donbas in 2014. The Kremlin sees this as an element of justification for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

On February 6, 2024, during an interview with pro-Russian journalist Tucker Carlson, Russian dictator Putin said that the father of the current President of Ukraine Oleksandr Zelenskyi was a front-line soldier and fought against fascism.

This information is not true. This is written about in the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. Oleksandr Zelenskyi was born after the end of World War II - in 1947. Therefore, he could not possibly participate in the “fight against fascism”.

The dominance of neo-Nazism in Ukraine is the same fiction, while in fact its signs: the worship of symbols, the militarization of youth, the restriction of rights and freedoms, the seizure of foreign territories, are found precisely in Russia.

• Read also: Zelenskyi allegedly wore a sweater with Nazi symbols to a meeting with the Pope.

Social networks in the Russian segment are disseminating information that an employee of one of the local territorial recruitment and social support centers addressed the wife of a Ukrainian prisoner of war, saying that “she is a katsap’s (Russian) wife, and he is the master of his country”. Allegedly, this happened during a meeting between the relatives of the prisoners and the city administration of the city of Lozova, Kharkiv region. Photos are attached to the publication, which supposedly should testify to the words of an employee of the Territorial center of recruitment and social support . It is not true.

The VoxCheck specialists analyzed this case and found out that the quote from the so-called Territorial center of recruitment and social support employee was simply made up. After all, at first these messages were published on telegram channels of the Russian segment and subsequently replicated online without indicating the original source. A reverse search on Google showed that the photos used in the publication were actually taken in Lozova during a meeting of relatives of prisoners and missing persons.

Although representatives of the Territorial center of recruitment and social support were present at the meeting, they did not make any such statements, nor was there any mention of this in the media.

In the Russian segment of social networks, a document “transcript” of allegedly secretly listening to conversations between Valerii Zaluzhnyi and Oleksandr Syrskyi and Mykhailo Podoliak is being distributed. The transcripts of the conversations allegedly talk about criticism of the Ukrainian president and dissatisfaction with him. It's a lie.

The VoxCheck analysts took up the case and determined that the “groundwork” of the so-called investigators is not real, because, first of all, the documents published on anonymous telegram channels and from there were replicated by other resources. In the “transcripts” one can notice numerous errors, for example: in the text they wrote “relatively”, but it is correct to write “in relation to”. Also, Syrskyi’s surname was simultaneously written in both Ukrainian and Russian.

Or else the text is filled with classic Russian propaganda techniques: where Zelenskyi was called a “drug addict”, “comedian”, “clown”, etc.

That is, it is most likely that the text was created by the Kremlin’s henchmen and subsequently they distributed it on anonymous resources.

Anonymous telegram channels write that Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal proposed to exclude Slovakia and Hungary from NATO — according to anonymous telegrams, the prime minister said that those countries “are not keeping up with the times”. This is a lie.

The VoxCheck analysts managed to analyze the case and establish that the “news” was originally published in a satirical Telegram channel. Subsequently, the information was circulated in the Russian segment of social networks as if it were true and reliable. At the same time, it is impossible to find information about the official's so-called “statement” in Shmyhal's social networks or by reverse Google search.

Russian telegram channels are distributing a screenshot seemingly from the Instagram page of the German publication Deutsche Welle (DW) with an image of Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Chairman Valerii Zaluzhnyi. The screenshot shows provocative graffiti allegedly created by a group of Berlin artists of Sonice Development.

The Center for Countering Disinformation verified this “news” at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and found out that it was a fake. Also, the relevant information is not available on the official pages of the DW newspaper, including on the website. In addition, Sonice Development creates its drawings in a different style, and there have been no mentions of this group of artists in the news since 2014.

By spreading this fake news, propagandists are pursuing the goal of discrediting Zelenskyi, as well as providing even greater publicity to the topic of the conflict that may exist between the current President of Ukraine and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Previously, Detector Media denied information that Ukrainian schools were allegedly campaigning for Zaluzhnyi as President of Ukraine.

Information is being spread online that Ukraine plans to ban the sale of push-button mobile phones. Several Russian resources published messages on this topic. They say that Ukrainians are now massively buying push-button mobile phones so as not to receive electronic draft notices through the Diia application.

However, this information is false. There are no bills on the Verkhovna Rada website banning the sale of push-button mobile phones, deputies did not declare their intention to submit a corresponding bill, and the Ukrainian media did not write about it. This was reported by fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project.

There are similar messages online related to feature phones. In particular, users sell collectible or push-button phones for spare parts. However, such advertisements do not indicate mass demand for them.

Propagandists spread this misinformation, citing another fake about allegedly sending draft notices in the Diia application. However, the distribution of them in this application was repeatedly denied by the Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov. “There will never be any draft notices”, he assured on December 24, 2023.

Pro-Russian telegram channels are spreading a story about allegedly black transplantation in temporarily occupied Sievierodonetsk, when it was under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Propagandists claim to have found consent forms for the removal of organs and body tissues, allegedly filled out on behalf of Ukrainian army soldiers in 2022. The plot also features witnesses to black transplantation who seem to talk about how it all happened.

In fact, this plot has been staged. It contains fake heroes and evidence. This was reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation. In general, Russians have been spreading the message about black transplantology in Ukraine, in particular in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, since 2014. The goal is to discredit the military-political leadership of Ukraine and create a negative image of the state in the eyes of the international community.

To promote its lies, Russian propaganda systematically uses staged stories, fake articles and news distributed by Kremlin-controlled resources. More information about the propaganda campaign of information influence “Black Transplantology” can be found in the study of the Center for Countering Disinformation.

• Read also: The medical mission of FRIDA Ukraine is allegedly engaged in the transfer of organs

Propagandists are spreading information on social networks, especially in their Slovak segment, that pro-Russian blogger Gonzalo Lira allegedly died from torture in a Ukrainian prison. They say the US State Department has confirmed that Lira died in Ukraine. However, this is fake.

The lack of evidence for the propagandists’ thesis was noticed in the VoxCheck project. Fact-checkers have argued that there is no evidence that Gonzalo Lira was a victim of torture in a Ukrainian prison. Moreover, neither Ukraine nor the United States confirmed the blogger’s death.

Gonzalo Lira is a pro-Russian blogger with Chilean and US citizenship. He lived in Kharkiv and actively disseminated Russian fakes on social networks and on his YouTube channel. On May 1, 2023, the Security Service of Ukraine detained him for distributing fake news justifying Russian aggression against Ukraine and an administrative violation, namely illegally crossing the border with Hungary. On January 12, 2024, Keith Klarenberg, a writer for The Grayzone, tweeted about the death of Gonzalo Lira, noting that his family had confirmed this. Subsequently, pro-Russian propagandist Tucker Carlson claimed that Lira died in prison. The authenticity of the alleged letter from Lira, in which he described his state of health, cannot yet be verified. This information is published only on pro-Russian resources. All mentions of Lira on the US State Department website date back to January 22, 2024. No representative of the institution confirmed information about his death.

The topic of Lira is especially actively discussed among Trumpists and cospirologists. In the American information space, it arose again in December 2023, when the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi came to the United States. Then, on Network X, businessman Elon Musk expressed his vision of the rule of law and demanded that Lira be released because the United States is helping Ukraine financially.

Propagandists spread such fakes to discredit Ukraine. They say that there really is no freedom of speech, and Ukraine neutralizes everyone who criticizes its actions. Detector Media has already refuted other Russian inventions regarding the identity of Gonzalo Lira.

Users of social networks are disseminating information that allegedly Greek Catholics of Ukraine were exempted from mobilization. They say that proof of this is that the Kyiv Three Hierarchs Theological Seminary received a license from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine to conduct higher education in the Theology specialty. However, this is fake.

Specialists from the StopFake project drew attention to it. They found out that indeed, by order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine dated January 15, 2024, the Kyiv Three Hierarchs Theological Seminary of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) received a state license and was registered in the Unified State Electronic Database of Education. However, this does not mean that members of the Greek Catholic Church are exempt from the obligation to serve in the army according to constitutional requirements.

Lawyer of the Miller law firm Andrii Novak notes in a commentary to Ukrainska Pravda that, according to the legislation of Ukraine, religious beliefs do not exempt an individual from the obligation to defend the state. The country's constitution guarantees the equality of all citizens before the law and prohibits discrimination on religious grounds. The current version of the laws on mobilization preparation and mobilization does not provide for any exceptions for believers. The obligation to serve in the army is the same for both believers and non-believers.

At the same time, Article 35 of the Constitution of Ukraine provides for the possibility of replacing military service with alternative (non-military) service if the performance of military duty contradicts the religious beliefs of a citizen. There is a list of religious organizations whose supporters are prohibited not only from using, but even picking up weapons. The Greek Catholic Church is not included in this list. However, this rule applies only to conscript service in peacetime.

By spreading such fakes, propagandists want to arouse public distrust in government decisions and discredit the mobilization process in the country. Detector Media has already refuted other Russian fakes on mobilization.

Information is actively spreading online that the Ukrainian Oschadbank has begun to block the accounts of draft evaders - residents. Users share a screenshot of their phone, which shows what appears to be an SMS message from Oschadbank saying: “Your card is blocked due to failure to appear at the Territorial center of procurement and social support. You can find out more information at the Territorial center of procurement and social support where you are registered”. The image initially began circulating on anonymous Telegram channels and pro-Russian Facebook groups. However, this is fake.

The StopFake specialists contacted the press service of the State Oschadbank of Ukraine Joint Stock Company to find out whether Oschadbank really sends such messages to clients who did not appear at the territorial picking centers. Press service representative Leonid Ziabrev replied that this information was not true - Oschadbank does not send out such announcements. At the moment, blocking the accounts of draft evaders is impossible, since there are no legal grounds for this. However, in early February, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence Yehor Chernev said on a telethon that work is now underway on a new bill on mobilization, which may include measures of an “administrative and economic nature” to evade. However, administrative and criminal penalties are provided for violation of the procedure.

Propagandists spread such fakes to discredit the mobilization process in Ukraine, causing panic among the population and distrust in the actions of the government. Detector Media also wrote about other Russian fakes on the topic of mobilization in Ukraine. 

Propagandists are distributing a video on social networks that they are trying to present as a mocking video on behalf of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It depicts Ukrainian soldiers allegedly laughing at the counteroffensive, repeating the phrase “we carried out a successful counteroffensive in our pants”. However, this is fake.

Specialists from the VoxCheck project drew attention to it. They found out that this video is not on the official pages of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the General Staff on social networks, nor on their official websites. In addition, during editing, the propagandists made a mistake with the symbolism, using the cross of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine instead of the emblem of the Armed Forces. All ten frames from which the video is compiled are taken from open sources. For example, one fragment is taken from a video published on the Insider UA telegram channel, where fighters ask for financial support for the Kraken unit. Another excerpt was found in a video filmed on the day of the liberation of Kherson by the Defense Forces in November 2022.

This is not the first time Russian propaganda has used the phrase “successful counteroffensive in your pants” to discredit Ukraine. President Zelenskyi acknowledged that the Defense Forces' summer counteroffensive did not produce the expected results, mainly due to insufficient allied support and the lack of necessary weapons, but he did not call it a failure. Propagandists manipulate this. Detector Media also wrote about other Russian fakes regarding the counteroffensive.

Propagandists are actively disseminating information that The Times predicts that after the end of the war, half of the Ukrainian population will face mental illness. In addition, social networks are spreading the claim that Uliana Suprun, who served as the acting Minister of Health of Ukraine from 2016 to 2019, led to the death of Ukrainian medicine by destroying hospitals and rehabilitation institutions in the country. However, this is not true.

Specialists from the VoxCheck project drew attention to this. They found out that in an article dated January 27, journalist Anthony Lloyd talks about the psychological problems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, the statistics that 50% of Ukrainians face mental problems are not mentioned. According to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, between 3 and 4 million people in Ukraine (including military and civilian) require mental health care. It is estimated that up to 15 million Ukrainians may need psychological help after the war ends.

There are public and private centers in Ukraine that provide assistance to military and civilians with psychological trauma. Also, the state budget for 2024 provides 2.6 billion hryvnia for activities for mental, sports, physical, psychological rehabilitation and professional adaptation of military personnel and members of their families. In addition, Ukraine’s partners are ready to help overcome the psychological consequences of the war. For example, NATO member countries are exploring the possibility of funding recommended measures to improve the health care system in Ukraine in the area of mental health.

Propagandists spread such disinformation to intimidate Ukrainian society into accepting Russia's conditions. Detector Media has previously written about how Russian propaganda stigmatizes the topic of mental health.

Pro-Kremlin resources are disseminating information that the Kyiv City Council is allegedly considering the issue of demolishing churches of the canonical UOC - on the list, according to propagandists, there are more than 70 objects. And in the Vinnytsia region, bulldozers are allegedly working now.

Specialists from the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security drew attention to this news and denied it. They found that the website of the capital city council does not contain any news, statements or petitions on the destruction of religious buildings. A search at the request of the UOC reveals news there dated April 20, 2023 with a request from the Kyiv City Council to the Cabinet of Ministers and the National Security and Defense Council to take urgent measures to terminate lease agreements or use agreements with the UOC of the Moscow Patriarchate for state-owned religious buildings. And there is not a word here about the destruction of temples.

Nothing like this can be found on the official website of the Vinnytsia City Council. The newest news marked “UOC” dates back to April 28, 2023, which refers to an appeal to people’s deputies with a request to speed up the consideration of bills banning the activities of the Moscow Church in Ukraine.

The purpose of this disinformation is to once again try to quarrel Ukrainians on religious grounds. On the other hand, the Russians want to demonize the Ukrainian authorities, who allegedly “wanted to sneeze” at Ukrainian believers of the UOC. Learn more about how Russia blurs reality with a newspeak: sinners.

Pro-Russian resources are spreading information that London has developed a plan to secretly send NATO forces to Ukraine. Propagandists report that Great Britain has initiated a plan to introduce NATO troops to the right bank of the Dnipro and to the border with Belarus in order to “free up” the forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and send them to the “real war” zone.

In fact, this information is not true, writes the Center for Countering Disinformation. This is another disinformation spread by the Russians, based on manipulations around the British statement about the NATO training Steadfast Defender 2024. The training itself began near the borders of Russia at the end of January 2024.

Thus, propagandists seek to demonize NATO, in particular Great Britain, and assert that in the event of any “aggressive actions” by the North Atlantic Alliance, Russia will certainly “defend itself”. This fake feeds the Russian propaganda narrative that supposedly Russia is really fighting not against Ukraine, but against the “collective West”, which is interested in exhausting Russia. Ukraine seems to be nothing more than a tool in the hands of the West. Previously, we denied information that NATO countries would try to capture “six Russian regions”.

Pro-Kremlin media write that Zelenskyi assured that he is ready to “make” Ukraine a new US state instead of Texas. The publications refer to Ukrainian media, supporting the messages with a corresponding screenshot. It's a lie.

The VoxCheck project specialists investigated this stuffing and determined that a screenshot of news from Ukrainian media was compiled. More precisely, the title of the material from “Zelenskyi’s Evening Address: What Important Things the President Said” was changed to “Zelenskyi’s Evening Address: Ukraine is ready to join the United States instead of Texas”. Although such material does not exist, opposite the first one, it was published by journalist Maksym Zhuravel on the TSN website. The publication date and photo match the propaganda screenshot.

It is most likely that propagandists used this publication to spread misinformation.

Anonymous telegram channels broadcasting Kremlin rhetoric distributed a video with Valerii Zaluzhnyi, in which he allegedly calls for a coup. The authors of the publication claim that these are natural actions of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, because they are probably trying to remove him from office. It's a lie.

The VoxCheck analysts examined the video and found out that Valerii Zaluzhnyi did not make such statements, and the video was compiled using artificial intelligence technologies. According to a reverse Google search, propagandists used Zaluzhnyi’s address on the occasion of Armed Forces Day on December 6, 2023 to create a deepfake.

Also, the Kremlin is now instrumentalizing for its own needs the message about a likely change in the military leadership of Ukraine. After all, official communications from the state or a publication from the Ministry of Defense, several comments from officials and videos assured that this was not the case, in particular, Zaluzhnyi “was not fired”. And they also said that they would not “comment” on the stuffing of anonymous resources that they themselves legitimized. Now the Kremlin’s mouthpieces are circulating reports about the situation and demonstrating it as “undermining the Ukrainian agenda”. For example, Maryna Symonian, editor-in-chief of the propaganda television and radio company Russia Today, said that “chaos... is useful for Russia”. Read about it here. Thus, the Kremlin’s minions are trying to enrage the Ukrainian information space by talking about the failures of state communication around reports of Zaluzhnyi’s removal from the post of Commander-in-Chief.

Deepfakes remain an effective tool for spreading Russian propaganda. We have repeatedly analyzed such cases, for example, including other “statements” of Zaluzhnyi’s deepfakes. For example, on November 8, 2023, propagandists published a video with a deepfake of Zaluzhnyi, who called on Ukrainians to come to the main squares of their cities, and the military - not to obey “criminal orders of the authorities”.  Anonymous people use deepfake technology on many famous personalities; by distorting their faces, voices and facial expressions, they try to instill confidence in the audience in the “expressions” of the hero.

Among other things, we recommend reading in more detail about the use of artificial intelligence technologies, in particular deepfake ones, in spreading the pro-Kremlin agenda.

Anonymous telegram channels are distributing a video allegedly from the European media Euronews, which states that a Ukrainian refugee in a Paris museum broke the statue of the Swedish artist Anna Uddenberg “Journey to Self-Discovery”, imitating sexual intercourse with it. It's a lie.

The case was investigated by VoxCheck analysts, who determined that Euronews did not create such a story, and the video was simply assembled from different photos and videos that were not related to each other. For example, no information about such an incident could be found on the official media pages on social networks: on the media website, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube.

Using a reverse search on Google, it turned out that all the footage was used in the so-called story - can be found in the public domain. In addition, according to the information presented in the video, the statue was damaged and its limbs (arm and leg) were broken off. However, this was not shown on the video. No additional information about the destruction of the sculpture was found in other media.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to present Ukrainian refugees as criminals or terrorists, as a cultural and economic threat to the EU - in order to reduce support for Ukraine. We mentioned this in our own research.

Anonymous telegram channels are spreading information that Volodymyr Zelenskyi, through proxies, bought two yachts - “Lucky Me” and “My Legacy” - for $75 million. In support of such theses, the authors add photographs of the “bought” yachts and relevant “documents” that supposedly evidence of a purchase. And they link to the English-language media The Islander. It's a lie.

The VoxCheck analysts took on this case and found out that, first of all, the companies that own the yachts confirmed that no one bought them from them and they are still up for sale. Accordingly, the “documents” are fake and in no way claim to be authentic. In November 2023, The Islander media actually published an investigative material in which the authors establish the involvement of the Ukrainian president in the purchase of ships. However, the founders of this media are henchmen of the Kremlin. For example, the About Us section states that The Islander was co-created by Jerry Nolan and Chey Bowes. The latter works as a correspondent for the Russian propaganda television and radio company Russia Today.

Also, information about the purchase, in a traditional way for Russian propaganda, was published on an inactive YouTube channel, where the author allegedly talks about yachts that were bought by persons associated with Volodymyr Zelenskyi. The author of the video calls himself Shahzade Nasir. But open sources also do not contain any other materials from the author of the “investigation”, Shahzad Nasir. The search engine returns only the mentioned YouTube channel. It is unlikely that this is a real name.

The so-called investigations into the property of Ukrainian officials are turning into a systematic campaign to discredit them. Thus, propagandists or proxies of Moscow seek to portray Ukraine as a cradle of corruption schemes - which in the future could harm Ukraine’s European integration path. After all, the fight against corruption and its reduction is one of the main tasks of the state in order to become part of the European Union.

Here are other cases related to the “taking” of real estate with “stolen funds”: how Zelenskyi allegedly bought the villa of Hitler’s propaganda minister Goebbels for 8 million euros; or how propagandists lied that Zelenskyi’s mother-in-law purchased a villa on the coast of Egypt using Western humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Pro-Russian resources disseminate information that after the capture of Krokhmalne, Russian troops “liberated” the village of Tabaivka in the Kupiansk district of the Kharkiv region.

In fact, this information is not true. This was reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation with reference to the speaker of the Ground Forces Command, Volodymyr Fitio. According to him, as of 9:00 on January 29, 2024, fighting is taking place in Tabaivka. At the same time, the representative of the Ground Forces emphasized: “If it is possible to take the best positions in order to take up the defensive and then move on to offensive actions, improve the tactical position, this will be done”.

Regarding Krokhmalne, V. Fitio said that there were no civilians there anymore, and the village itself was completely destroyed. Ukrainian defenders retreated to more advantageous positions.

By spreading disinformation about the capture of Tabaivka, propagandists seek to exaggerate the achievements of the Russian army at the front in order to reassure Russians that “everything in the war is going according to plan”. Previously, we refuted information that Ukraine was allegedly preparing for the surrender of Kherson.

This information is published by pro-Russian resources and supported by “evidence”: a fragment of a video with an alleged comment by the head of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, on the air of a telethon. Basic Russian-made medicines are also imported into the territory of the Zaporizhzhia region in large quantities.

In fact, the Melitopol mayor did not say anything like this during the telethon, because such a video simply does not exist, and there are no comments on this topic on his official communication channel. This was brought to the attention of the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. The video itself was made using the deepfake method. It can be viewed here. The video shows facial expressions that are not typical for humans, a lack of speech pauses, and desynchronization of lips and direct speech. In addition, the video is of low quality, the date and time of inclusion are blurred. The last broadcast, where Fedorov commented on the medical situation in Melitopol, was on December 16, 2023. There he spoke, in particular, about the fact that the Russians are conducting medical experiments on Melitopol residents.

Thus, propagandists strive to assure that “Russia will come and restore order”. However, the reality is somewhat different. Considering the atrocities of the Russians in Bucha, Hostomel and Izium, it can be argued that this war is genocidal in nature, and Moscow’s ultimate goal is the complete destruction of the Ukrainian people.

• Read also: In Italy, a propaganda exhibition about Mariupol “revived” by the occupiers was banned.

Pro-Kremlin media write that there will soon be a breakthrough by Russian troops on the contact line, as the number of Ukrainian defenders is getting smaller. Russian troops are allegedly successfully moving forward along the entire front line. In asserting this, propagandists refer to former intelligence officer of the US Armed Forces Scott Ritter, who made a corresponding statement.

This information is fake, as reported by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. Ritter's statements duplicate Russian narratives. He has more than once predicted the “imminent collapse of Ukraine” and the “victory of Russia”, and frightened the Ukrainians with a “large-scale offensive by the Russians”. In November 2023, Ritter also said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces would soon be destroyed, but Ukrainian soldiers continued to hold the line. As for the supposedly successful advance of the Russians, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, said that the offensive operation of the Russian troops has been going on for two and a half months: “They have a certain advance in the fields, what happened near Avdiivka. But this is not what they expected. The occupiers wanted to reach the barrier line along the Black Stallion River in the Kharkiv region and the administrative border of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as quickly as possible. There’s nothing even close to that”.

Russians fill the information space with news demotivated by the Ukrainian people. This is all happening against the backdrop of the fact that the United States and the EU have been unable to unblock financial assistance to Ukraine in the amount of $61.4 billion and €50 billion, respectively. Therefore, the Ukrainian army suffers, which may not receive enough weapons and equipment necessary for waging war. Previously, we refuted Ritter’s assertion that “Ukrainian aviation has been completely destroyed”.

Pro-Russian resources are disseminating information that Ukraine needs to escalate the conflict in order to receive help from its allies. That is why the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi allegedly ordered the Ukrainian Armed Forces to strike civilian infrastructure facilities in Russia.

In fact, this information is not true. This is written about in the Center for Strategic Communications. The President did not give any such orders or instructions. The priority task for the Ukrainian Armed Forces military is, first of all, the de-occupation of the Ukrainian territories seized by the Russians. To limit Russia's ability to wage war against Ukraine, the Defense Forces are also working to deny the terrorist country access to natural resources (oil and gas); destroy its military-industrial complex, military infrastructure, bases and warehouses with equipment and weapons. In addition, legal targets on Russian territory include oil depots, gas storage facilities, and research institutions, but not residential buildings with a civilian population - Ukraine understands this and acts in accordance with the laws of war. The blame for the deaths of Russian civilians lies primarily with the Russian air defense forces.

With this fake, Russian propaganda discredits Zelenskyi and tries to convince everyone around him that he has gone crazy, so Russia is now forced to defend itself - it is supposedly a victim of the current situation. However, the aggressor was and is precisely Russia, which invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022 in order to realize its imperial ambitions. Previously, we denied information that Zelenskyi is allegedly one of the richest politicians in the world.

Russian Telegram channels are distributing a screenshot of the message attributing it to one of the users of the Diia application. The message states that the specified person must appear at the Zhytomyr Regional Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support at the specified time and date. The electronic draft notices allegedly came from the head of this center, Serhii Martyshchenko. However, this is fake.

Specialists from the VoxCheck project drew attention to it. The Zhytomyr Regional Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support denied information about such agendas in Diia.

First, screenshots of these visible electronic draft notices appeared on the telegram channel “TRUKHA” (a Russian resource with a similar name to the Ukrainian one) on December 26, 2023. However, the Zhytomyr Regional Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support reject information about the draft notices in Diia and confirmed that this is another fake of Russian origin.

Several flaws indicate editing of this image. For example, the “urgent email” text in the second screenshot is in bold, which is not the case in the first. There is also an extra space between the “No.” and the numbers, as well as “electronic draft notice No. 0273” and the main text. The agenda must also have the signature of the manager, who is not in the screenshot. Errors in the arrangement of words, in particular in the phrase “Zhytomyr, Serhii Paradzhanov (Baranov) st., 4” also indicates editing.

Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov, responsible for the development of Diia, previously emphasized that draft notices would not be sent through the application. Additionally, the redesign of the Diia application, unveiled at the Diia Summit on December 19, 2023, eliminated the Messages section, as shown in the fake screenshot. Users who have updated the application can find “Messages” in the general “Menu” tab.

This fake is a new attempt by the Russian side to introduce hostile sentiments into Ukrainian society. Detector Media has previously refuted Russian fakes about mobilization.

Propagandists are distributing a video on social networks where a man in military uniform claims that mining of the borders with Hungary has begun in Transcarpathia. In the comments, social media users suggest that this is being done to stop border violations or because of the presence of Hungarian troops. However, this information is unreliable.

Specialists from the VoxCheck project drew attention to it. The State Border Service of Ukraine (SBS) has denied information about mining of the borders with Hungary. Project analysts were also unable to identify the serviceman depicted in the video, and Ukrainian media did not have relevant reports on this topic. Instead, the State National Security Service reported the continuation of mining of the borders with Belarus. According to the speaker of the State National Security Service Andrii Demchenko, the direction to Belarus is a priority for Ukraine from a security point of view.

Propagandists spread this misinformation to create panic among the population. They say that an attack is already underway on the western borders of Ukraine.