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

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

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

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

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

A Russian disinformation campaign is actively spreading the narrative that the Ukrainian government might negotiate peace with Russia, bypassing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi. Such claims, including remarks by Russian State Duma deputy Svitlana Zhurova, aim to paint a picture of chaos within Ukraine's leadership and undermine trust in its leaders. This was reported by the Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security.

Russia has also attempted to propose alternative negotiators, such as Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, though these efforts have failed. Putin has gone further, labeling Ukraine’s entire executive branch as illegitimate. The Kremlin seeks to create the illusion that it is willing to negotiate with any entity—parliament, the government, the military, or loyal political figures—while these claims completely ignore the reality. The Ukrainian government operates cohesively, defending the state’s interests, with the international community recognizing and supporting it as the legitimate authority.

The essence of this disinformation is to weaken Ukraine, discredit its leadership, and erode trust in Zelenskyi. However, the strong unity of Ukrainian society and robust international support render the Kremlin’s manipulations ineffective.

The acting governor of Russia's Kursk region, Khinshtein, claimed that 17 cultural heritage sites were damaged in Rylsk on December 22 due to missile strikes, accusing the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). “The Nazi regime is trying to destroy not only peaceful residents but also our historical and cultural heritage…”, he stated.

This was reported by the Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security. Its experts found that the scale of the damage Khinshtein described appears minimal, with the circumstances surrounding the alleged incidents remaining unconfirmed. In contrast, Russia is actively destroying Ukraine's cultural heritage. As of December 2024, 1,222 damaged landmarks have been recorded across 18 regions of Ukraine. In November alone, Russia carried out 43 new strikes on such sites, including in the Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, and Khmelnytskyi regions. The Kharkiv region suffered damage to 322 such objects, while the Kyiv region and the city of Kyiv recorded 81. The most high-profile incident occurred on December 20, with the shelling of the St. Nicholas Catholic Cathedral in Kyiv. Ukraine is demanding an international investigation into these acts of cultural vandalism, which constitute violations of international law.

Russia spreads such disinformation for several reasons. First, it seeks to divert attention from the destruction it inflicts on Ukrainian cultural heritage by accusing Ukraine instead. This helps create an illusion of moral equivalence between the aggressor and the victim. Baseless accusations of damage to cultural objects aim to undermine the reputation of the Ukrainian military internationally and domestically. Russian propaganda appeals to emotions by exploiting themes of cultural heritage to mobilize support among its population. This disinformation also serves to justify Russia’s aggressive actions as “defending” its historical legacy. Moreover, such narratives are intended to sow doubt within the international community about the credibility of Ukraine's accusations of war crimes against Russia.

Propagandists stepped up their efforts in December, launching a new disinformation campaign about women's mobilization. This came after the military registration rules were updated, which apply only to voluntary basic training. The Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security wrote about the selection of messages as part of the campaign.

A total mobilization of women is supposedly starting on January 1st

This is a baseless statement. According to the legislation of Ukraine, women can register for military service only if they wish and only if their professions correspond to military specialties. There is no provision for mass mobilization of women. The spread of this message is intended to create panic among women and their families.

Women are allegedly being forcibly mobilized and thrown into the barracks

Hostile propagandists cite stories or videos that are usually staged. Such statements are designed to instill fear of the authorities and military structures, although in reality women in Ukraine can only join the Armed Forces voluntarily.

90% of women supposedly die in the first minutes of combat

This is a false statistic used to discredit the Armed Forces of Ukraine. There is no confirmation or official data indicating such losses among women. On the contrary, women who serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine usually have a high level of training.

Women are allegedly being mobilized through deception

This message is aimed at discrediting state institutions, undermining trust in military commissariats, and creating an atmosphere of fear.

The general goal of such fakes is to undermine public peace, create distrust in the authorities, demoralize society, and create information chaos that is beneficial to Russia.

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

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

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

The head of the Polish National Security Bureau, Jacek Siewiera, said in an interview with Polskie Radio that Poland currently has no plans to send peacekeepers to Ukraine. One of the reasons for this decision is the desire not to contribute to the spread of Russian disinformation about Warsaw's alleged plans to annex the western regions of Ukraine. This is reported by the Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security.

“This narrative that Poland is allegedly interested in seizing western Ukraine has been used for years, but since the start of a full-scale war it has been further intensified. If our troops are involved, it will receive additional fuel”, Siewiera noted.

At the same time, he suggested that the possibility of sending European peacekeepers to Ukraine remains potentially discussable in the future. However, for Moscow, this is an undesirable scenario, which is why Russian propaganda is intensifying the information war, trying to “mine” the public space with fabricated fakes.

Russian propaganda spreads disinformation about possible Polish plans to annex western Ukraine to achieve several goals. It creates the impression that Poland has hidden geopolitical interests in Ukraine, which could cause tension between the countries. The spread of such messages is intended to sow doubts about the sincerity of European countries' support for Ukraine. These messages are designed to turn Ukrainians against Poland and split the unity of the West.

Propagandists are spreading information about alleged “atrocities” by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region. In particular, Russian State Duma deputy Mykola Ivanov accuses the Ukrainian military of creating “torture chambers in the homes of civilians”, burning down villages, and destroying social infrastructure. Proponents place particular emphasis on the “fate of 45 children” who were allegedly “taken to Ukraine for organ trafficking”, which “caused a drop in the price of donor organs in the West”. Additionally, there are allegations of “livestock and grain theft”.

The Russian People’s Deputy did not provide any independently verifiable confirmation of his statements. Similar statements are often spread by Russian propaganda for manipulation purposes without any factual basis. The claim about “decreasing prices for donor organs” is absurd and reinforces the already existing propaganda message about Ukraine as a “hub for illegal organ trafficking”. The organ transplant system has high standards of verification of their origin and international monitoring.

Such insinuations are aimed at diverting attention from Russia’s actions, in particular its aggression against Ukraine and the crimes committed within it by the Russian military. These statements are part of an information and psychological warfare aimed at discrediting Ukraine and creating a distorted reality for the Russian audience. In addition, in this way they aim to demoralize the opponent.

Russian dictator Putin has said that Russia's nuclear doctrine will remain unchanged, but with an increased number of missiles like the Oreshnik, it will supposedly be improved. This statement is part of the Kremlin's broader campaign of nuclear blackmail.

This is reported by the Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security. Its experts emphasize that Russia is actually using the Oreshnik missiles primarily for propaganda purposes to escalate fears and destabilize. After the missile strike on Dnipro on November 21, Russia intensified its information campaign: Belarusian dictator Lukashenko announced the deployment of missiles in Belarus on December 10, and Putin compared the Oreshnik to nuclear weapons. These statements are accompanied by appearances of Russian influence agents abroad, who amplify hysteria.

This coordinated informational and psychological operation aims to pressure the West into reducing military support for Ukraine. The operation's escalation followed a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, Emmanuel Macron, and Donald Trump in Paris on December 7, highlighting the connection between these actions and the strengthening of Ukraine’s support from its partners.

Propagandists continue to propagate myths about the “Ukrainian trace” in Syria, in particular, statements about the cooperation between Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) and groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, incorporating them into their speeches at international organizations. Media loyal to the Assad regime actively spread such fabrications as well. For example, the Syrian newspaper Al Watan reported an alleged recruitment of militants by General Budanov.

This is written by the Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security. Its experts noticed that Russian propaganda contradicts itself: on the one hand, it claims the elimination of militants in 2015, and on the other, it claims that they cooperate with Ukraine. After the collapse of the Assad regime, Syrian media admitted their fabrications, yet Russia continues to insist on its disinformation narratives.

This strategy to discredit Ukraine reveals the contradictions in Russian propaganda, which has fallen into its own trap, unable to explain its numerous fabrications. Claims that Ukraine is recruiting or arming Syrian militants are baseless and unsupported by any evidence. Their goal is to divert attention from Russia’s actions and its war crimes in Syria and Ukraine. Russian propaganda creates such fabrications to discredit Ukraine in the eyes of the international community and shift the focus away from Russia’s destructive actions in the region. This strategy is also aimed at legitimizing Russian aggression, portraying it as a supposed fight against global terrorism.

Pro-Russian propaganda resources are spreading statements by Verkhovna Rada deputy Artem Dmytruk, in which he accuses President Zelenskyi of “genocide of his own people” under the leadership of “Western curators”. However, this is untrue.

This is reported by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. Its experts note that Artem Dmytruk, although formally a deputy, is actually outside Ukraine, having illegally left the country. He actively cooperates with Russian propaganda, giving interviews to resources banned in the EU, in particular RT. In his speeches, Dmytruk promotes narratives about the “criminal regime of Zelenskyi” and accuses him of unleashing the war started by Russia and of the “genocide of the Ukrainian people”.

Accusations of “genocide” and other crimes are designed to undermine trust in President Zelenskyi and the Ukrainian government both among Ukrainians and internationally. Using traitors from Ukrainian politics, Russian propaganda creates the illusion of “internal resistance” in Ukraine. Dmytruk justifies Russia’s actions by shifting the blame for the war and its consequences onto Ukraine, which helps legitimize the aggression in the eyes of Russian audiences.

Propagandists are spreading messages on anonymous Telegram channels mocking Ukraine's decision to renounce nuclear weapons after the collapse of the USSR. They claim that Ukraine never actually owned the nuclear arsenal, asserting it was the property of the USSR and could only be controlled by Russia as its successor state. These messages portray Ukraine as a country lacking the resources to maintain nuclear weapons, and accuse it of greed and exploitation of the USSR’s legacy. The narrative emphasizes Ukraine’s betrayal of its own interests under pressure from the U.S. and Russia, reducing the Budapest Memorandum to empty promises.

This message is actually manipulative and built on distorting the facts, in particular regarding Ukraine’s nuclear status and the history of its disarmament. In reality, the nuclear arsenal in Ukraine after the USSR's collapse was the largest in Europe and the third largest in the world. The weapons were stationed on Ukrainian territory, which legally became part of Ukraine’s assets following its independence in 1991. Under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, Ukraine voluntarily gave up its nuclear weapons in exchange for security assurances and guarantees of territorial integrity from Russia, the U.S., and the U.K. It was Russia that violated the terms of the memorandum in 2014.

Ukraine had the technical capability to maintain the arsenal, as nuclear component manufacturing facilities were located within its borders. However, the weapons' operational control systems were indeed dependent on Russia. Claims that nuclear weapons “never belonged to Ukraine” are false, as after the USSR’s dissolution, each of the newly independent states inherited part of its assets.

Russia seeks to diminish Ukraine’s significance as an independent state and undermine its international commitments by promoting narratives of ingratitude and the illegitimacy of Ukraine's independence. This is a typical attempt to discredit Ukraine on the international stage and justify aggression.

The FSB said it had detained a Russian for drug production under the alleged supervision of Ukrainians, and the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs accused a Ukrainian of organizing fraud through crypto machines. However, no evidence supports these claims.

This is reported by the Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security. Its experts found that such stories have already become a standard part of the Russian information campaign aimed at shaping the image of Ukraine as the source of all internal problems. This strategy dates back to 2022, when stories about drug labs and groups allegedly overseen by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) began appearing in the media. Since then, the so-called Ukrainian trace has been systematically linked to fraud, terrorism, drug trafficking, and other issues in Russia.

An example is the story of the “Moscow Escobar”, who, according to propagandists, operated under the control of the SBU, but was later identified as a participant in Kremlin celebrations. Other cases include phone scammers, arson attacks on military registration and enlistment offices, unrest in Dagestan, and even cryptographic crimes.

Such accusations are part of a long-term campaign that not only fuels hostility toward Ukraine but also creates the illusion of an all-powerful enemy among Russians. This can lead to increased public paranoia as propagandists continue to present new “evidence” of Ukraine's involvement in Russia’s troubles on a daily basis.

Propagandists are spreading information via anonymous Telegram channels claiming that the commanders of Georgian units, which are part of the military committee of the Caucasus Union, have allegedly decided to return to Georgia, awaiting a signal from President Salome Zurabishvili to protect the population. 

This is false, reports the Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security. Its experts found out that the president immediately refuted this information, calling it a provocation. The following day, the Georgian Legion also denied these claims, emphasizing their unwavering support for Ukraine, where they have been fighting since 2014. They stressed that their fight against a common enemy continues. On December 3, Zurabishvili praised the official denial by the legion, noting the importance of such actions in preventing manipulation. Meanwhile, Russian propaganda continues to operate according to its typical scenario, spreading fake news to distort the truth.

By spreading fake news of this kind, Russia seeks to reinforce conspiracy theories that the protests in Georgia are allegedly orchestrated artificially with Ukraine's involvement. These actions are part of a broader information warfare strategy aimed at manipulating public opinion both inside Russia and internationally.

Russian Ombudsman Tetiana Moskalkova accused Ukraine of delaying prisoner exchanges and unwillingness to take back its servicemen who have been held in Russia for a long time. However, this is not true.

The Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security writes about this.

Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets categorically denied these allegations. He emphasized that Ukraine is ready to return all its citizens, particularly the seriously wounded and seriously ill, for which a mixed medical commission has been created. However, the Russian side is still ignoring the process of creating this commission, effectively blocking the possibility of exchanges. Such behavior of Russia, according to Lubinets, is a conscious and cynical tool of pressure on those who expect the return of their loved ones.

Lubinets also noted that Russia systematically uses disinformation aimed at manipulating public opinion and accusing Ukraine of disrupting the negotiations. The Ukrainian side remains open to dialogue and is ready to cooperate, in order to speedily return all its citizens home.

Russian anonymous Telegram channels are actively disseminating a statement by American commentator Jackson Hinkle that Zelenskyi should allegedly “thank Putin and God” for avoiding a ballistic missile strike. This statement is part of an information campaign aimed at discrediting the Ukrainian leadership and justifying Russian aggression.

Experts from the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security have found that Jackson Hinkle is a propagandist who has repeatedly spoken out in support of Moscow. His actions are part of Russia’s information operations aimed at an American audience. In fact, the ballistic missile strike that Russia used on November 21 is an escalatory step that violates international law. This type of missile is usually designed to deliver nuclear weapons. Such an act is not only a terrorist attack, but also a demonstration of disregard for diplomatic norms. It serves as a tool of blackmail, trying to intimidate the international community.

In this way, propagandists try to create an image of Russia's “peacefulness” and Ukraine's allegedly provocative role. Propaganda also tries to convince people that Western allies support “Ukrainian aggression”. They legitimize further Russian crimes, such as nuclear blackmail.

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

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

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

Russian propagandists are spreading the thesis that Ukraine has allegedly already lost the war, based on the material of The National Interest. They say that Kyiv has lost the war and it makes no difference how many more long-range missiles, tanks, artillery and air defense systems the US provides it with. However, this information is manipulative.

The Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security drew attention to this. Its specialists found out that the publication The National Interest belongs to Dmytro Simes, who actively supports Russian propaganda. After 2022, he will remain in Russia and is accused by the US Department of Justice of violating sanctions, which carries a penalty of up to 60 years in prison. The publication has long been associated with pro-Russian views, and Simes himself moderated events organized by the Kremlin and received funding from Russian government agencies.

The purpose of this message is to undermine faith in Ukraine's ability to win and encourage citizens to doubt their country's ability to continue the fight. Such rhetoric also helps to create the illusion of futility of aid to Ukraine, in order to demotivate Western countries from providing weapons and financial support. Simes thus justifies further Russian crimes, while simultaneously creating the appearance of strength and invincibility of the Russian regime for domestic audiences.

Russian media are actively spreading a narrative about the alleged oppression of the “canonical church” in Ukraine, meaning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP). This time, propagandists claim that Metropolitan Longin is being tried for his “loyalty to the church” and accuse the Ukrainian authorities of oppressing the clergy.

StopFake writes about this. Its experts note that in fact, the metropolitan, known as Mykhailo Zhar, is accused of inciting interreligious hatred. According to the SBU, he insulted the religious feelings of representatives of other faiths and provoked an escalation of the situation in the region with his statements. In addition, Zhar has repeatedly expressed anti-Ukrainian views, supported the Yanukovych regime, called for not fighting in the ATO, and in 2022 he said that Ukraine allegedly “started a war against God and the church”. After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, he blamed Ukrainians for the “sins” that, in his opinion, caused the war.

Russian propagandists are spreading a narrative about the alleged oppression of the UOC-MP in Ukraine in order to create the illusion of persecution of the “canonical church” by the Ukrainian authorities. This is aimed at discrediting Ukraine in the international community as a state that allegedly violates the rights of religious communities. In addition, it is aimed at distracting from the anti-Ukrainian activities of the UOC-MP and justifying its ties to the Kremlin. It is also part of a wider information war aimed at undermining the unity of Ukrainian society.

The decision of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi to use ATACMS missiles to strike Russian military targets has served as a pretext for manipulation by Russian propaganda, including the idea that Ukraine is allegedly doomed to destruction as a result of this decision. This is reported by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security.

In particular, statements by American blogger Jason Ginkle, who has no connection to journalism and cooperates with the Kremlin, are used to spread fakes. Ginkle previously disseminated disinformation, for example, about “ties between the Ukrainian Armed Forces and ISIS” or about “luxurious purchases” of Ukrainian officials.

The dissemination of statements by American blogger Jason Ginkle by Russian propaganda is an attempt to discredit Ukraine's decision to use ATACMS missiles to strike Russian military targets.

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

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

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

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

Pro-Russian anonymous Telegram channels claim that supposedly “the absolute majority of Ukrainians are ready to surrender”. As “proof” of this, they cite the results of an anonymous poll published by the treason suspect Oleksandr Dubinskyi. However, this is not so.

This is reported by StopFake. Its experts point out that on November 17, 2024, he published a poll on his Telegram channel with the question: “Are you ready for peace in exchange for territory?”. By the evening of November 18, more than 15 thousand people had voted, 62% of whom answered “yes”. However, the results of this poll are not representative, since it was conducted anonymously among Dubinskyi’s audience, who is known for his pro-Russian rhetoric. Without proper sampling, such data do not reflect the real opinion of Ukrainians. In particular, Dubinskyi is in pre-trial detention on suspicion of treason. The investigation established his participation in a pro-Russian organization that was engaged in discrediting Ukraine for the money of Russian intelligence.

At the same time, real sociological research conducted by the Democratic Initiatives Foundation in conjunction with the Razumkov Center and Kyiv International Institute of Sociology shows that the majority of Ukrainians are not ready for any territorial concessions, even for the sake of ending the war.

The purpose of spreading this disinformation is to create a false impression that Ukrainian society is ready for surrender and territorial concessions. This is aimed at undermining the morale of Ukrainians, discrediting the political leadership and creating the illusion of support for pro-Russian ideas in Ukraine. Such messages are also intended to weaken international support for Ukraine and promote the spread of narratives favorable to Russia among the public.

Russian and Belarusian propaganda resources are disseminating information in a coordinated manner on social networks, trying to present the Ukrainian Armed Forces as using the “human shield” tactics in the Kursk region. These accusations are based on the statements of an unnamed Russian soldier without any confirmation. This means that it is not true. This is what the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security writes.

The “human shield” message is typical of the Russian army, which has repeatedly used civilians in the occupied territories as cover since 2014. For example, in December 2023, the Ukrainian prosecutor's office opened a criminal case on the use of Ukrainian prisoners as a “human shield” in the Zaporizhzhia region. This is another attempt by Russian propaganda to shift the blame for its crimes to the Ukrainian side.

The purpose of disseminating disinformation about the alleged use of civilians in the Kursk region by the Ukrainian military as a “human shield” is to discredit the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the international arena and to increase hostility towards Ukraine among the Russian population and its presence in Ukraine to shift attention to the numerous war crimes committed by Russian troops, accusing the Ukrainian side of such crimes.

Below is an extended refutation of the theses voiced by the Russian President. Volodymyr Putin took part in the so-called Dokuchaiev Conference in Rostov-on-Don and declared the importance of solving environmental problems “in Donbas and Novorosiia”. In his statement, he and other representatives of the Russian authorities accused Ukraine of the environmental decline of the region, trying to blame it for the situation. However, the statements of Putin and representatives of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources do not correspond to reality and serve as a tool for manipulation aimed at justifying Russian aggression.

One of the main theses of Russian propagandists is the accusation that Ukraine is worsening the environmental situation in the region, even to the point of so-called “ecocide”. However, in reality, the main destruction of the environment in the temporarily occupied territories began in 2014 after the Russian occupation of part of the territory. The region has been under Russian occupation for more than 8 years. The main environmental damage occurs due to uncontrolled activities and violation of the rules of warfare by Russia.

The destruction of industrial facilities, mines, water supply and drainage infrastructure caused by shelling and illegal exploitation of resources has significantly worsened the state of the environment. Flooding of mines and damage to water supply systems lead to the ingress of toxic substances into the soil and water. For example, the lack of control over mines forced to stop operations due to military actions contributed to the contamination of water bodies with toxic substances, including heavy metals, which creates a significant danger to public health and the environment.

Today, Russia is trying to use the “ecocide” thesis as a justification for its actions, viewing it as a pretext for intervention and subsequent occupation. These statements are aimed at an international audience to create an image of Russia as the “savior” of the region’s ecosystems, while in fact it is the main factor in the ecological decline. It is Russia’s military aggression, in particular the deployment of heavy weapons in the temporarily occupied territories and the conduct of intensive military operations, that has led to serious destruction of the ecosystem, including the pollution of soil and water.

Events such as the Dokuchaiev Conference are aimed at creating the illusion of Russia's active participation in the restoration and protection of the environment in the region. However, the real facts indicate the opposite. The purpose of these statements is to demonstrate Russia's peacekeeping position and its readiness to help the newly annexed territories at the international level. In fact, despite all the statements about the “environmental humanitarian mission”, Russia does not implement real measures to improve the environmental condition of these territories, in particular, it does not ensure effective waste management, does not restore forests and water resources, but focuses on the exploitation of natural resources.

The accusation that Ukraine has not carried out environmental activities for decades is manipulative and unfounded. Before the war in 2014, Ukraine carried out environmental projects in Donbas aimed at cleaning water, restoring forests and developing environmental infrastructure. Now, unfortunately, Ukraine cannot carry out environmental activities in the temporarily occupied territories due to security threats from Russian occupation forces.

By spreading such messages, Russia is trying to shift the world community’s attention away from the fact that it is the source of environmental problems in the region due to its military actions and exploitation of resources in the occupied territories. Propaganda statements are aimed at creating an image of Russia as a defender of the environment, supporting its actions in the eyes of the world community and justifying the occupation of new territories. The presentation of Ukraine as a state that has neglected environmental issues in the temporarily occupied territories is aimed at discrediting Ukraine in order to reduce the level of support from other states and international organizations. Russia is trying to use environmental problems as a pretext for establishing control over the occupied territories, justifying its military and political influence by the alleged need to restore the ecosystem.

In the run-up to the second round of the presidential elections in Moldova, local pro-Russian Telegram channels distributed a video by Oleksii Arestovych, in which he says that if Moldovan citizens do not vote for Maia Sandu, “the Ukrainian army will come to Moldova with war”. Local propaganda Telegram channels interpreted this video in such a way that Kyiv is allegedly threatening Moldovan citizens and, accordingly, interfering in the elections.

In fact, the words of Oleksii Arestovych do not reflect the official position of the Ukrainian government, because today he is not its representative . On January 17, 2023, he was dismissed from the post of adviser to the Office of the President of Ukraine. This was preceded by a statement by MP Tetiana Tsyba with an appeal to the head of the OPU Andrii Yermak with a request to dismiss Arestovych after his statements that the tragedy of January 14, 2023 in Dnipro allegedly occurred due to the shooting down of a Russian missile by the air defense systems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In addition, at the same time, the MPs collectively appealed to the SBU, accusing Arestovych of treason.

After all, Ukraine respects international law and the territorial integrity of Moldova, and both countries have the status of candidates for membership in the European Union, so Arestovych’s statement about the Ukrainian army’s invasion of this neighboring country is also unfounded.

On November 1, 2024, the US Department of Defense announced another security assistance package for Ukraine worth $425 million. It included ammunition for HIMARS, NASAMS, and artillery systems.

In response to this, Russian telegram channels began writing that, given the allegedly colossal losses of specialists in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the reduction in the training periods for Ukrainian military personnel, it is becoming clear that NATO personnel are sitting at the control panels of this military equipment. Therefore, as the propagandists claim, the appearance of North Korean military personnel in the Russian-Ukrainian war is natural, and this should not be surprising.

By reporting on “NATO members” controlling Western military equipment, propagandists are trying to feed the narrative of Russia’s alleged war against the entire NATO bloc, and not just against Ukraine. That Ukraine is allegedly just a puppet in the hands of “NATO masters”, and that “NATO bases and troops” are located on its territory.

In addition, in this way, propagandists try to justify the involvement of North Korean troops in the war. They say that NATO members are fighting on the side of Ukraine, and accordingly, soldiers from the DPRK can allegedly fight for Russia.