Propagandists continue to resort to conspiracy theories to justify Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and to explain world events. In particular, they use a conspiracy theory that Britain and France are allegedly orchestrating coups around the world to profit from oligarchs by bribing elites who support a military takeover. Conspiracy theorists claim that the coups are allegedly financed with the money, thugs, and weapons of the aforementioned states. At the same time, democracies are portrayed as vulnerable to corruption, and authoritarianism is presented as a superior and divinely justified type of government.

Adapting the theory to the recent protests in Georgia and Syria, propagandists argue that these protest movements are supposedly the result of external influence, when Western states, through bribery of elites and support for opposition groups, seek to destabilize political regimes in order to achieve their own interests. In Georgia, in particular, conspiracy theorists see the “hand of the EU” through funding for civil society projects. In Syria, Western support for the opposition and rebels can also be interpreted through the prism of this theory as part of a “global strategy of manipulation and coups”.

Russia uses this theory to justify its aggression against Ukraine, claiming that Western powers, through their agents, financial and political interests, are inciting destabilization in Ukraine. This is how they explain, in particular, the events of Euromaidan. Russian propaganda claims that by bribing the elites and supporting the protests, the West supposedly wants to create chaos in Ukraine and uses it as a tool to achieve its own goals. Thus, conspiracy theorists and propagandists justify the Russian invasion of Ukraine, presenting it as protection against the “threat from the West”.

This theory is part of Russian propaganda, which tries to shift the responsibility for aggression onto Western states and their influence. The reality is that Russia is an aggressor that violates international law and the territorial integrity of other states. Protests in Ukraine and other states are the result of internal reasons, such as the political and economic situation, and not external incitement. Western states, European and international institutions, on the contrary, support Ukraine in its right to self-determination and sovereignty.

Russian propagandists in their media, including Telegram channels, are spreading new fakes, accusing the Ukrainian military of inhumane crimes, such as killing civilians in Donbas, dumping bodies into wells, and destroying churches and drinking water sources.

This is what experts from the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council write about. They found out that these statements are based on unconfirmed “testimonies” of Russian military personnel or residents of occupied territories who are spreading rumors without any facts.

Propagandists purposefully spread such stories to discredit the Armed Forces of Ukraine, undermine the international community’s trust in Ukraine, and justify their own numerous war crimes, including the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure and violence against civilians. Such manipulations are a classic tool of information warfare aimed at creating a false image of the enemy.

Information about the alleged occupation of part of the Sumy region, in particular near the village of Oleksandriia, which is being spread by propagandists on anonymous Telegram channels, is false.

This is reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council. The Sumy Regional Military Administration confirms that the situation on the border remains fully controlled, with no recorded hostilities or enemy breakthroughs. The spokesman for the State Border Service, Andrii Demchenko, also noted that the border with Russia functions as a front line. The Ukrainian Defense Forces firmly hold their positions, providing protection and countering any attempts by the enemy to penetrate the territory of Ukraine.

Propagandists are spreading disinformation about the alleged occupation of part of the Sumy region for several reasons. Such messages are intended to cause panic among Ukrainians, causing distrust in the actions of the authorities and the military. Fake news about breakthroughs or occupation is designed to create an impression of the weakness of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It is important for Russian propaganda to maintain the narrative of its “successes”, even if they are not true. This may also be an attempt to divert attention from the real problems and defeats of the Russian army.

Anonymous propaganda Telegram channels are spreading claims that Ukrainian instructors from the GUR are in the Syrian province of Idlib, allegedly training Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militants to fight in Syria. In reality, this is part of a Russian information campaign aimed at discrediting Ukraine.

This is what experts from the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security write about. They found out that Moscow has used similar accusations before, in particular regarding the supply of weapons to Hamas or participation in terrorist attacks. No evidence of these accusations has been presented. On December 4, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry denied these accusations, emphasizing that Moscow itself is the main exporter of violence and chaos, in particular by supporting terrorist organizations.

In this way, propagandists are trying to create a negative image of Ukraine in order to undermine its international reputation and relations with partners. It is also done to divert attention from Russia's own actions in Syria and other regions where it actively supports violence and chaos. In addition, it is an attempt to reduce the level of assistance to Ukraine from Western countries by sowing doubts about its actions and moral principles.

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.