Russian sources are spreading information that the United States began supplying weapons to Ukraine as early as September 2021, preparing it for aggression against Russia. To support this claim, propagandists refer to an interview with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for The New York Times.

In fact, this information has been debunked by VoxCheck. On January 4, 2025, Antony Blinken did indeed comment on the Biden administration's policy towards Ukraine in an interview with The New York Times. However, he emphasized that the supply of weapons in 2021 was aimed at strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities in response to the threat of a Russian invasion.

“We were able to anticipate the beginning of the conflict and ensure readiness not only for ourselves but also for our allies, partners, and Ukraine. We took care to quietly provide Ukraine with significant amounts of weaponry starting in September and continuing in December before the Russian aggression began. This allowed Ukraine to be equipped with everything necessary for defense, including systems like Stinger and Javelin. They played a key role in deterring Russian aggression: they helped prevent the capture of Kyiv, the occupation of the country, its erasure from the map, and forced Russian troops to retreat”, said Blinken.

It is important to note that the assistance provided by the US in 2021 included only defensive means: anti-tank systems, small arms, ammunition, radios, and medical equipment. Ukraine was not supplied with heavy equipment necessary for an offensive. Moreover, this assistance was a response to the Russian troop buildup near Ukraine’s borders. In the spring of 2021, Russia concentrated around 100,000-120,000 soldiers and heavy weaponry there. By January 2022, Blinken warned that such a concentration of Russian forces posed a real threat of full-scale invasion, which necessitated strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities.

Furthermore, the supply of weapons to Ukraine was not secret. Both Ukrainian and international media openly reported it. In September 2021, Ukraine and the US signed a Framework Agreement on Strategic Defense Partnership, which officially confirmed a new military assistance package worth $60 million to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities.

Russian propaganda manipulates the facts to portray Ukraine as the aggressor and justify its own invasion. These manipulations also aim to undermine trust in Western support for Ukraine and reduce the volume of international aid. Earlier, we debunked the claim that Western countries started refusing to supply Ukraine with weapons because they want to stop supporting the war.

Pro-Russian Telegram channels are spreading information that 70% of Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel use alcohol to fall asleep, and that 80% of those with an addiction had already encountered this problem before mobilization.

However, this is a manipulation that experts from VoxCheck have drawn attention to. In late December 2024, Hromadske published an article in which military personnel expressed their views on the situation with alcohol in the army. However, there is no official data on the level of addiction among military personnel.

Indeed, a company commander did note that some soldiers may drink alcohol to fall asleep: “I think about 70% of personnel take 50 grams just to sleep peacefully. But there’s a difference between drinking for sleep. One person takes a little, sleeps, and is ready for any task in the morning. The other can’t get out of bed without 100 grams. It’s these people who are the problem. They drink as long as they have something to drink, and they always do”.

At the same time, the senior sergeant of the 93rd Brigade noted that someone who didn’t abuse alcohol before joining the army won’t become an alcoholic in the military. According to his observations, about 80% of soldiers who abuse alcohol already had such a problem in civilian life.

Through this manipulation, propagandists are trying to deflect attention from problems in the Russian army by creating a distorted reality. For example, according to a 2023 report by the UK Ministry of Defence, referencing a Russian Telegram channel, information was released about the “exceptionally high” number of incidents, crimes, and deaths among Russian soldiers caused by alcohol use. 

“Russian commanders likely see widespread alcohol abuse as a serious threat to combat effectiveness. However, since alcoholism is common in Russian society, it has long been tacitly accepted as an inherent part of military life, even during combat operations”, noted British intelligence.

Russian agitprop manipulates facts to discredit the Ukrainian army, creating an impression of its weakness and moral decay. Such manipulations aim to undermine trust in the Ukrainian Armed Forces both among Ukrainians and international partners, as well as demoralize society.

Russian propaganda Telegram channels are spreading a video in which ABC meteorologist Mike Rizzo, when a screenshot of a news story with Volodymyr Zelenskyi appeared on the studio screen by mistake, says: “This is not a storm, this is a little spinach”. In fact, this information is not accurate. In January 2024, during a broadcast, when the host was commenting on an approaching storm in the region, a spinach image indeed appeared on the screen, prompting Rizzo to joke, “This is not a storm, this is a little spinach”. However, propagandists distorted the context by replacing the image of spinach with a fake BBC news story. In this manipulated version, an image of Volodymyr Zelenskyi appeared alongside a fabricated claim that, supposedly, the Pentagon had stated that over a million Ukrainian soldiers had died.

However, such information is fake. In November 2024, in an interview with Kyodo News, Volodymyr Zelenskyi stated that the number of Ukrainian casualties on the front since the beginning of the full-scale invasion was much less than 80,000.

“Some recently in the American press reported that 80 thousand Ukrainians had died. But I want to tell you, no, it’s less. Much less”, the President said.

According to estimates by The Economist, based on leaks from Western intelligence agencies, by the end of November 2024, at least 60,000–100,000 Ukrainian military personnel could have died during Russia's full-scale invasion. Around 400,000 others were injured, making them unable to continue serving in the army.

Russian agitprop manipulates facts and distorts contexts to sow distrust in Ukrainian leaders and reduce international support for Ukraine. Such manipulations create an atmosphere of doubt and uncertainty, which, in turn, can weaken Ukraine’s ability to effectively counter Russia’s aggression.

Russian propaganda Telegram channels are spreading a video claiming that a Ukrainian soldier allegedly took revenge on a police officer who had previously mobilized him. According to the video, the soldier reportedly gained the officer's trust, invited him for a drink, spiked his drink with sleeping pills, and assaulted him once the officer fell asleep.  

This claim is entirely false. Propagandists manipulated a segment from the Ukrainian TV program Ukraine Today, which aired on its YouTube channel on January 10, 2025. In the original segment, host Kateryna Nesterenko mentions that such a story had been circulating on TikTok. However, she explicitly states that apart from TikTok and certain Telegram channels, there is no evidence to corroborate the story and does not confirm its authenticity.  

Propagandists altered the video by cutting out the part where the host questions the story's credibility, presenting it as if the incident was real.  

Further investigation revealed that this manipulated video was circulated exclusively within the pro-Russian segment of the internet, with at least 14 propaganda Telegram channels sharing it.  

This manipulation is part of an ongoing effort by Russian propagandists to discredit the mobilization process in Ukraine. Similar tactics have been used before, such as the debunked claim that three employees of a Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center were found dead in Odesa.

A Russian ‘war correspondent’ has spread claims that, due to a shortage of its own fighters, Ukraine's so-called ‘neo-Nazi’ Azov Brigade has announced recruitment efforts targeting English-speaking ‘mercenaries’. The propagandist attributes this information to a report by The Guardian.  

The January 10, 2025, article from ‘The Guardian’ does indeed discuss efforts by Ukraine's Azov Brigade to bolster its ranks with English-speaking fighters. However, the publication does not refer to the brigade as ‘neo-Nazi’, nor does it use the term ‘mercenaries’, as this characterization is inaccurate and misleading.  

Propagandists deliberately misuse the term ‘mercenaries’ instead of the correct term ‘combatants’ when describing foreign fighters serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the Geneva Conventions, mercenaries participate in armed conflict illegally. They are neither citizens nor official servicemembers of the state involved in the conflict, distinguishing them from combatants, who act lawfully as part of a nation's armed forces.  

Previously, we analyzed similar Russian disinformation, such as false claims that the Ukrainian Embassy in France was openly recruiting ‘mercenaries’ without interference from French authorities.

Propagandists are actively spreading information in pro-Russian media and Telegram channels claiming that US President Joe Biden recently admitted to a nuclear provocation against Russia. However, these statements are a distortion of Biden's words.

Experts from the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security have pointed out this manipulation. In reality, the US president stated that Putin’s aggression against Ukraine has become a strategic defeat for Russia, which is now weaker than before the war. Biden emphasized that Russia has not achieved its goals in this war, as Ukraine remains independent, and the international community has united to support it. In his speech, Biden highlighted two main objectives: to unite an international coalition to defend Ukraine and to prevent war between nuclear powers. He stressed that these goals have been achieved, underlining that the threat of nuclear conflict is provoked by Russia's aggressive policies, not by US support for Ukraine.

Kremlin disinformation in this case is aimed at distorting reality and creating the illusion of Western aggression, diverting attention from Russia’s provocative actions.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi of ‘blackmail and begging’, a claim that is actively picked up by Russian propagandist outlets to discredit Ukraine. However, this is a manipulation.

Experts from the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security have debunked this claim. They note that in response, Zelenskyi explained that Ukraine had offered Slovakia compensation for the period of adaptation to the loss of Russian gas transit, but this proposal was rejected by the Slovak prime minister.

Slovakia’s dependence on Russian gas remains critical, reaching nearly 90%. Other countries, such as Austria, which were even more dependent, managed to fully stop energy supplies from Russia.

Fico avoids rational explanations for Slovakia's continued gas dependency, unlike the rest of the EU, which is actively reducing its energy dependence on Moscow. Instead, he uses accusations against Ukraine as a way to justify his policy, which is likely based on shadow agreements with Russia.

Russian media outlets are spreading claims that former spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, Yurii Ihnat, allegedly admitted that the F-16 fighter jets transferred to Ukraine “cannot compete in air battles with Russia's 'technological aircraft’”. Propagandists cite a purported quote from Ihnat:  

“Yes, we received older modifications of the F-16s from our partners. These planes lack powerful radars and long-range missiles to compete independently in air battles against Russia’s technological aircraft”.  

In reality, the words of the former Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson were distorted, according to a report by StopFake. The claims reference a January 7, 2025, post on the official Facebook page of the Ukrainian Air Force, where Ihnat praised the achievements of a Ukrainian pilot who, during a large-scale attack on December 13, 2024, set a record by destroying six (!) cruise missiles in a single sortie.  

Later in the post, Ihnat did acknowledge that Ukraine received older modifications of the F-16, but this did not diminish their combat effectiveness. Here is what he actually stated: “Of course, we would prefer to receive more advanced F-16 modifications with stronger radars and long-range missiles, as competing in air battles against Russia’s technological aircraft alone is quite challenging. But our young Ukrainian pilots prove every day that they are the best—whether in the cockpit of a Soviet or an American fighter jet!” 

This statement underscores Ihnat’s recognition that more advanced F-16 models with upgraded technology would better address modern warfare challenges. However, it does not imply that the existing F-16s are ineffective or incapable. Moreover, he praised the professionalism and skill of Ukrainian pilots, directly refuting the Russian narrative about the “insufficient effectiveness” of F-16 jets.  

Previously, we analyzed false Russian claims alleging that Ukraine’s partners provided defective F-16 fighter jets.

Russian propaganda Telegram channels are spreading claims that Ukrainians who fail to update their information on the Reserve+ system in time will supposedly receive a 50% discount on fines if they “don’t sue the employees of Military Recruitment And Social Support Centers”. Propagandists suggest that this bill strips Ukrainians of their ability to defend their rights in court against potential violations.

In reality, propagandists are distorting the content of Bill No. 12093, which was passed in the first reading on January 9, 2025. This was reported by the StopFake project.

The text of the bill does indeed state that conscripts who fail to update their information—such as phone numbers, email addresses, or current residence addresses—within the specified timeframe will receive a 50% discount on their fines if they acknowledge the violation and choose not to appeal it in court. Propagandists interpret the last condition—the requirement not to appeal the fine in court—as a refusal of the right to sue Military Recruitment And Social Support Center employees for any wrongdoing. However, such a provision is absent from the bill. It simply states that individuals who accept the fine’s legitimacy and choose not to challenge it in court may pay half the penalty.

Previously, we analyzed a fake video claiming that employees of the Odesa Military Recruitment And Social Support Center were allegedly serving draft notices dressed as Santa Clauses.

Russian sources have claimed that Ukraine is allegedly using UN personnel as ‘hostages’ to protect its energy infrastructure. They attribute this to an article in The New York Times (NYT), citing a letter from Ukraine’s Parliamentary Committee on Energy to the UN, requesting the deployment of permanent monitoring groups at critical substations to prevent provocations by Russia.  

However, the fact-checking project VoxCheck reports that propagandists have distorted the content of the NYT article titled How Will Ukraine Keep the Lights On This Winter? While the article does mention the Ukrainian Parliamentary Committee's appeal to the UN to station permanent monitoring groups at substations crucial for nuclear power plants, the claim that Ukraine intends to use UN personnel as ‘hostages’ is baseless and fabricated.  

The NYT article cites Jan Vande Putte, a nuclear expert at Greenpeace, who noted that Russia may be hesitant to target sites monitored by UN staff, given its dependence on exporting nuclear technology, which requires International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) approval. The Ukrainian Parliament has not publicly confirmed whether such an appeal to the UN was made, and nowhere in the NYT article is there any suggestion that Ukraine intends to use UN staff as human shields.  

The IAEA's mission explicitly includes ensuring that peaceful nuclear facilities and materials are not used for military purposes, including monitoring nuclear sites in conflict zones. Consequently, Ukraine's request for UN personnel to monitor nuclear power plants and other critical infrastructure falls within the agency’s mandate and cannot be equated to using them as hostages. Furthermore, the NYT article does not criticize Ukraine’s request.  

The IAEA has already conducted periodic monitoring missions at substations vital to Ukraine's nuclear power plants. Since September 2022, the agency has maintained a permanent monitoring group at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. As of January 2023, permanent IAEA missions have also been stationed at the Chornobyl, Rivne, South Ukraine, and Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plants.  

Previously, we debunked a fake claim alleging that the IAEA accused Ukraine of attacking one of the agency’s vehicles. 

Russian sources have spread the claim that McDonald's is planning to return to Russia. This conclusion was drawn from the fact that the company submitted over 50 applications to the Russian patent office for the registration of trademarks, including names of drinks and dishes, as well as company slogans.

However, these conclusions are premature, and updating its patents does not mean the chain will return to Russia. According to StopFake, McDonald's is renewing its trademarks and patents in Russia to protect its intellectual property and prevent unauthorized use of its brand or technologies by third-party companies. This helps avoid unfair competition, where local businesses might use the recognizable brand to mislead consumers.

McDonald's announced its intention to retain its trademarks in Russia back in 2022, in a press release where the company announced its exit from the Russian market: “The company intends to begin the process of ‘de-arching’ these restaurants, which involves discontinuing the use of the name, logo, branding, and menu of McDonald's, although the company will continue to retain its trademarks in Russia”. The company sold all its outlets to the new Russian chain Vkusno i Tochka - though with the option to repurchase them within 15 years. Therefore, there is no basis to believe that McDonald's is returning to the Russian market: the company has made no such statements in its official communication channels.

Last year, there were claims about Starbucks and Visa returning to Russia. Given that neither of these companies has announced a return to the Russian market, McDonald's' return to Russia also seems highly unlikely.

Pro-Russian resources are spreading information that the leader of the German opposition bloc CDU/CSU, Friedrich Merz, said during a speech in the Bundestag: “We must work harder because Ukraine needs money”.

In fact, Merz's words were distorted, as reported by investigative journalists from the German Correctiv. The video fragment that is being distributed online comes from Merz's speech at the vote of confidence on December 16, 2024. In it, he said that Germans need to work harder to strengthen the German economy. Merz did not mention Ukraine in this context. At the same time, in his speech in the Bundestag, Merz spoke of a united will to end Russia's aggressive war as soon as possible.

The CDU and CSU want to support Ukraine with “diplomatic, financial and humanitarian means, as well as arms supplies”, as stated in their election platform for the 2025 Bundestag elections.

With this manipulation, propagandists are trying to convince citizens of European countries that their officials are more concerned about Ukraine than about themselves. Accordingly, in this way, Russia seeks to turn Europeans against supporting Ukraine and influence the reduction of aid.

Previously, we analyzed the Russian manipulation that Ukrainian refugees in Germany would be forcibly returned to Ukraine.

Russian resources are spreading information that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi made his New Year's address against the backdrop of the Motherland monument illuminated in the colors of the US flag. The propagandists add: “As they say, 'an independent and sovereign state'”.

In fact, this is another manipulation by propagandists, the StopFake project reports. During President Zelenskyi's New Year's address to Ukrainians, the Motherland monument was illuminated in the colors of the Ukrainian flag for the vast majority of the time. At the same moment when Zelenskyi spoke about Ukraine's allies and thanked them for their support, the monument was illuminated in the colors of the flags of other states, including the colors of the US flag. Then Zelenskyi said the following: “Because our friends are with us. And from the first minutes of this war, America was with Ukraine. And I believe that America will be with Ukraine in the first minutes of peace”.

This manipulation is intended to assert that Ukraine is actually ruled by “overseas masters” and is not a sovereign state at all. We previously wrote about how Russian propagandists twisted Zelenskyi’s words in an interview with CBN.

Russian propaganda sources are spreading manipulative information about the alleged forced return of Ukrainian refugees in Germany to Ukraine for recruitment into the defense sector. This was allegedly stated by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to the German publication Welt. Presidential Advisor for Strategic Affairs Oleksandr Kamyshin emphasized that Germany and Ukraine have already concluded such agreements.

However, the information was manipulated, and this is reported in VoxCheck. Welt did indeed publish a news item with the headline “Prime Minister wants to return Ukrainian refugees”. Denys Shmyhal was quoted in it as saying that he had discussed the technical details of the return of Ukrainians with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a visit to Berlin. “We agreed with the German side and our new Minister of National Unity to work together and find a solution on how we can return all Ukrainians as quickly as possible”, the Prime Minister said. However, there was no mention of the forced return of Ukrainian refugees.

The spread of fakes about the deportation of Ukrainians from EU countries is part of a disinformation campaign by Russian propaganda. The European Union is consolidated in its position that they do not deport anyone against their will. According to EU law, all Ukrainians who arrived in the region after the start of a full-scale invasion fall under the Temporary Protection Directive.

Russian propaganda sources are spreading manipulative information that since the start of the full-scale invasion, “Polish transplantologists are breaking records” allegedly due to the use of organs from killed Ukrainian soldiers.

“2024 was a record year for Polish transplantology. 2,197 organs were transplanted, which is a historic result on a national scale”, the propagandists write.

However, the information was manipulated, and this is reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation. Propagandists deliberately link the statistics of the increase in the number of organ transplants in Poland with the beginning of a full-scale invasion. Thus, they confirm the theory of “black transplantology”, according to which the bodies of deceased Ukrainian soldiers from the front line are sent to Poland for “selling organs”.

Black transplantology in Ukraine is a conspiracy theory that the Russians have been developing for decades. The constant return to the topic indicates its importance for Russia. These messages are promoted to both domestic and international audiences. However, their refutation in foreign and Ukrainian media prevents the campaign from having the desired impact for the propagandists. Among the goals pursued by Russian propaganda within the framework of this topic are discrediting the military-political leadership of Ukraine and reducing trust in it, creating a negative image of the state in the eyes of the international community, and justifying Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Russian propaganda resources are spreading the alleged words of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi regarding the faith of Ukrainians: “Because of this war, we have all become more religious. People are fighting and praying. And this is important. People need help, any help. Ukraine is a very religious country, very religious. Of course, we have to rely on our own strength, but we believe that God will help Ukraine”. As “proof” that the Ukrainian president really said this, the propagandists even add a corresponding video with Russian subtitles and English voiceover.

In fact, Zelenskyi's words were manipulated - the subtitles and voiceover for the video that propagandists are spreading online are fake. In particular, the President of Ukraine did not say, “we believe that God will help Ukraine”.

This is an interview with Zelenskyi on the Christian television and radio company CBN dated December 9, 2024. Answering the interviewer's question about what hopes Ukrainians have for the newly elected US President Donald Trump, Zelenskyi said:

“... Ukraine is a very peaceful state, very peaceful people. A very religious state, by the way... Very religious. You know that the largest Protestant community in Europe is in Ukraine. We have the largest council of churches. We have people of different faiths, different religions, but a very religious state. And that's why they have hope today that Trump... and he has the position of a strong president, at least that's how we understand it... that through this force... and Putin understands only force... that next to us, next to me, there will be a strong president of the country, and that we will achieve peace through force. That's why people have such hope today for the new administration of the United States, for the new president, and people believe in what he says”.

These words were uttered at 9:09-10:03 of the interview. CBN also transcribed the interview and translated it into English on its official website. This text version with Zelenskyi's corresponding words can be found here.

Previously, we analyzed a fake that a Ukrainian refugee allegedly “shot” a church icon in Zurich.

Propagandists are spreading claims in the media that the Pentagon referred to Ukraine as one of the most corrupt countries. These claims cite the quarterly report of the U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General (July–September 2024). However, this is a manipulation.

This was reported by StopFake. Experts from the project clarified that the report does acknowledge corruption in Ukraine as a challenge but emphasizes significant progress in combating it. According to the report, Ukraine is actively reforming its anti-corruption institutions, strengthening the rule of law, and increasing transparency in areas such as defense procurement, corporate governance, and democratic civilian oversight of the military. These efforts are aimed at sustainable progress toward integration with the EU and NATO.

Additionally, the Pentagon specifically noted the absence of evidence of any misuse of military or humanitarian aid provided by Ukraine's partners, despite Russia's ongoing disinformation campaigns suggesting otherwise. The report highlights that the economic war waged by the global community against the aggressor demonstrates worldwide solidarity with Ukraine.

Russian propaganda deliberately takes statements out of context, ignoring detailed descriptions of Ukraine's achievements. These actions are intended to create a false perception of Ukraine among international audiences, aiming to reduce support for the country. Russian media continues to manipulate issues related to Ukraine’s integration into NATO and the European Union, attempting to discredit its aspirations.

Russian sources are distributing a video in which journalist Yurii Butusov said at a rally that he was going to win a court case against Volodymyr Zelenskyi. Another protester, leader of the Democratic Axe party, Yurii Hudymenko, read out the protesters' demands, including Zelenskyi's resignation.

But this is manipulation. The video was distributed without specifying that the action took place in December 2021. Therefore, it could have been given the impression that the video was filmed in 2024. Since it was the Defend Ukraine — Stop the Coup action of December 1, 2021. The same shooting angle, Butusov’s identical clothes, the  Channel 5 logo at the top right — all this coincides in the original video and the excerpt that was taken out of context.

Butusov also stated in the video that he was going to file a lawsuit against the President of Ukraine “to refute those words that contain factual untruths”. The incident was about the incident when, on October 26, 2021, the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed a Russian D-30 howitzer with a drone in the uncontrolled part of Donbas.

Information is circulating online that the Odesa City Council has unanimously decided to demolish the Pushkin monument, which is under UNESCO protection. It was allegedly built 135 years ago with funds donated by local residents.

“Of course, they can't build anything themselves, and there's no one to erect monuments to... but if they have to destroy and demolish something, it's a nice gesture”, Russian propagandists comment.

But UNESCO rules do not prohibit the demolition of the Pushkin monument, it was installed with the funds of the Russian propaganda union with the support of the local governor-general. And on December 4, 2024, the Odesa City Council did support the decision to allocate funds for the dismantling of a number of monuments with imperial symbols, including the bust of the Russian poet Oleksandr Pushkin on Prymorskyi Boulevard and his sculpture on Italiiska Street.

The deputies acted in accordance with the law On the Condemnation and Prohibition of the Propaganda of Russian Imperial Policy in Ukraine and the Decolonization of Toponymy. This law prohibits the honoring of figures who supported, glorified, or justified Russian imperial policy in monuments. Pushkin falls under the law, as he is part of the colonial legacy imposed on Ukrainians. In his works, he described Russian culture and people as superior to others, approved the aggressive policy of the Russian empire, and justified genocides.

The thesis that the bust was erected at the expense of Odesans is false. In fact, the collection for the monument was organized by the Slavic Charity Society, which was engaged in the propaganda of Russian imperialism and culture. A significant part of the collection was closed by the society itself with the support of the local governor-general. Ordinary Odesans did not show enthusiasm for the opening of the monument.

On social networks and pro-Russian websites, propagandists are actively spreading information that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has allegedly recognized the ban on the “St. George ribbon” in Ukraine as a violation of freedom of expression. However, this is a manipulation designed to discredit Ukraine and fuel Russian narratives.

This was written by experts from the StopFake project. They found out that in fact, in the case of Borzykh against Ukraine, the ECHR ruled that the ban on the use of the “St. George ribbon” was justified and did not contradict Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The decision emphasizes that the ribbon acquired a symbolic meaning associated with the aggressor in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The ban was partial, allowing its use in awards until 1991. The claimant, Yurii Borzykh, a former military man, claimed that he wanted to wear the ribbon on May 9. He could not prove that the ban significantly affected his life or caused psychological suffering. The ECHR recognized Ukraine’s actions as falling within the state’s discretion, aimed at protecting national security during the war.

Therefore, the claim that the ECHR recognized the ban on the “St. George ribbon” as a violation of freedom of expression is untrue. This is an attempt by Russian propaganda to create a disinformation effect and discredit Ukraine's measures to counter symbols associated with hostile aggression.

Pro-Russian sources are spreading reports that the newly elected US President Donald Trump may allegedly cancel the $20 billion loan provided to Ukraine by the United States. In making this claim, the propagandists refer to the text of The New York Times, noting that for this to happen it would be enough for Trump to lift sanctions on frozen Russian assets, which are intended to be used to pay off this loan.

In reality, the Russians manipulated The New York Times material. This is reported by the StopFake project. The text of the publication, titled “U.S. Transfers $20 Billion Loan to Ukraine Backed by Russian Assets”, mentions that the G7 countries had already agreed on the loan earlier this year in case Trump won the presidential election, as he had promised to reduce support for Ukraine. This means Ukraine will receive the funds regardless of the new U.S. leader's policies.

On Tuesday, December 10, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury already sent funds to the World Bank, which will later transfer them to Ukraine. The New York Times only briefly mentions in the text that Trump “could try to cancel” the loan by lifting sanctions on frozen Russian bank assets. At the same time, the article notes that Republicans would challenge such a decision, and it would not affect the European portion of the loan, which amounts to $35 billion. Therefore, in the material of The New York Times, this initiative is depicted as a reliable and safe way to transfer funds to Ukraine, with the likelihood of the loan being canceled being minimal.

Earlier, we documented a fake claim that Ukrainian soldiers began surrendering more often after Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election.

Russian sources are spreading claims that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi allegedly said that he would “ask Biden to invite Ukraine to NATO, since there is no point in talking about it with Trump”.

In reality, Zelenskyi’s words were taken out of context. This is reported by the StopFake project. The statement in question was made during Zelenskyi’s remarks following his meeting with German chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz in Kyiv. During the press conference, Zelenskyi  mentioned that he planned to call Biden to discuss the issue of Ukraine’s invitation to NATO.

“As for the invitation to NATO, it is still difficult to talk with President Trump because he is not yet in the White House and does not have all the legal powers. I plan to call President Biden in the near future, if he has the opportunity to talk with me, to raise the issue of the invitation to NATO because he is currently the sitting president of the United States, and much depends on his position”, Zelenskyi said.

In other words, Zelenskyi meant that since Trump is not currently in the White House and has not assumed the powers of the U.S. president, the issue of Ukraine’s invitation to NATO should presently be discussed with the sitting president, Biden.

American billionaire and Trump supporter Elon Musk shared a corresponding video of Zelenskyi on his X social media account, accompanied by a surprised emoji. However, social media users added context to the video, clarifying that “Zelenskyi is simply saying that Trump cannot invite Ukraine to NATO yet because he is not currently president”. This clarification appears under all similar manipulations on X.

This propaganda manipulation aims to undermine U.S. support for Ukraine and discredit Ukraine on the international stage. Previously, we debunked claims that a school in Kyiv replaced a portrait of Biden with one of Trump.

Russian propagandists claim that over 99% of Ukrainians who left the occupied territories are returning due to their inability to settle in the territory controlled by Ukraine. The propagandists write that these figures were allegedly provided by Ukrainian journalist Yuriy Butusov, citing People's Deputy Maksym Tkachenko.

However, this information is not true. This is reported by the VoxCheck project. First of all, on Yurii Butusov's pages on social networks there is no post with a link to the words of People's Deputy Maksym Tkachenko. However, on November 24, 2024, in an interview with Ukrinform, Tkachenko commented on the return of internally displaced persons. Then his words were quoted by the media outlet Censor.NET, where Butusov is the editor-in-chief.

In an interview, Tkachenko said:

“Already about 150 thousand internally displaced persons have returned to the temporarily occupied territories. For example, according to available data, 200 thousand Mariupol residents left their city, fleeing the war that Russia brought to our land. At the same time, every third of them returned home, to Mariupol, to the occupation. According to estimates, this is approximately 67-70 thousand people”.

He noted that people decided to leave because they did not receive proper assistance from the state: housing, social support, compensation, and work.

However, the day after the interview was published, Tkachenko denied his statement:

“There is no such data. It was my unfounded and emotional assumption”.

He clarified that there are individual cases when Ukrainians go to the regions occupied by Russia for various reasons. However, we are not talking about hundreds or even tens of thousands, because “general verified statistics cannot even theoretically exist”.

It is worth noting that in this interview the MP did not mention 99% of internally displaced persons who allegedly returned to the occupation. Presumably, the creators of this fake twisted the words of the former Deputy Minister for Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons, Heorhii Tuka. On November 24, 2024, on the air of Espresso, he commented on the departure of Ukrainians to uncontrolled territories:

“I have been observing the process of refugees returning to the temporarily occupied territories since 2015, when I headed the Luhansk Military Administration and then worked in the ministry. I have repeatedly communicated with people and I do not even have any hints of condemning these people. I do not know a single person who would return to the TOT of their own free will. 99% of people return because they were unable to establish a normal life in the territories controlled by Ukraine”.

Later, the editorial staff of Espresso corrected the headline. It was like this:  “Almost 99% of refugees are returning to the occupied territories because they could not establish a normal life in the controlled part of Ukraine, former Deputy Minister for TOT Tuka”, and now - “almost 99% of refugees with whom I spoke are returning to the occupied territories because they could not establish a normal life in the controlled part of Ukraine, Tuka”.

After all, it was only about the people the former employee communicated with, not 99% of internally displaced persons throughout Ukraine. That is, this is his personal assessment, not a calculation based on real statistics.

Previously, we analyzed Russian manipulation, saying that 77% of Ukrainians are ready to give up the occupied territories.

Russian propaganda resources, referring to the text of the Politico publication, report that only the western regions of Ukraine can supposedly be accepted into NATO. Thus, the propagandists write: “It is noted that the West has the idea of taking only certain regions of the former Ukrainian SSR into NATO. This list will include only the western regions, and the Kyiv region and Kyiv city, taking everything into account, will not be considered part of the alliance. Politico calls this the “German model”.

In fact, this is another manipulation by Russian propagandists of the material of an authoritative Western publication, the StopFake project claims. After all, the corresponding Politico text does not say that western Ukraine will join NATO separately from other regions.

Instead, the authors presented several models for ending hostilities in Ukraine. In particular, they presented the “German model” - an option for providing NATO security guarantees exclusively to the western regions of Ukraine or to those territories that are currently under Ukrainian control. This model became the subject of manipulation by propagandists.

Ukraine can receive an invitation to the North Atlantic Alliance only within its internationally recognized borders, while security guarantees can be offered depending on the military and political situation in a particular region.

Previously, we analyzed the Russian manipulation that former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg allegedly agreed to Ukraine's territorial concessions to Russia.

Russian sources are spreading information that only the western part of Ukraine might be admitted to NATO, allegedly citing the publication Politico.

“The West has an idea to include only specific regions of the former USSR in NATO. This list will reportedly include only the western regions, while the Kyiv region and Kyiv itself, apparently, will not be considered part of the alliance”, propagandists write.

However, the original Politico article does not state that western Ukraine will join NATO separately from other regions. Instead, the article presents several models for ending the armed conflict in Ukraine.

One such model, referred to as the “German model”, suggests the possibility of NATO providing security guarantees only to the western regions of Ukraine or to territories currently under the control of the legitimate Ukrainian government. Moreover, NATO membership can only be extended to Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. Security guarantees might be offered depending on the military and political situation in different regions.

In other words, the journalists cited models of conflict resolution, and did not come out with the news that this is exactly how it will happen. For example, the article also wrote about the “Israeli model”, under which the country “is not formally part of a defense alliance like NATO; rather, it is a close ally of the United States and many European countries, which supply a huge amount of weapons and also provide diplomatic support”. The advantage of such a model, according to the publication, is that it does not link Ukraine to an alliance that could drag other countries into a war with Russia, with its arsenal of nuclear weapons.

Another model discussed is the “Finnish model”, which would entail Ukraine abandoning its occupied territories and adopting neutrality. However, the article notes that this model would likely fail to protect Kyiv from future Russian aggression, as Ukraine had been neutral even before Russia invaded its territory.

Moreover, the journalists wrote that those were not necessarily peace plans but reflections on how relations between Ukraine and Russia might be structured to permanently end hostilities.