Spilnota Detector Media

Disclosure At the NATO summit in Vilnius, pro-Russian activists distributed brochures with the “peace plan of the Ukrainian people”

On July 11-12, a NATO summit was held in Vilnius, as a result of which Ukrainian officials received assurances from NATO leaders that Ukraine would become a member of the Alliance after the victory. However, Ukraine has not yet received an official invitation to NATO membership. Also, as a result, Ukraine received a new weapon, a program for training pilots on the F-16, a new body - the Ukraine-NATO Council, coordinating relations between Ukraine and NATO. Fact-checkers of the project “Beyond the News” found out that during the summit, pro-Russian activists distributed brochures with the “peace plan of the Ukrainian people” through bookcrossing boxes. This, they say, was organized by the “representation of the Ukrainian people”, which acts on the “name of the Ukrainian people”, who do not agree with the policy of the current government. However, such an organization does not exist, it is fake. As experts explained, the theses written in a brochure repeat the pro-Kremlin agenda. That is, all of them are propaganda. So they gave an example of “harassment of the Russian-speaking population” or the so-called legal referendums in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Among other things, the brochure broadcast the following messages:

In the last 9 years, a totalitarian regime has been formed in Ukraine. Ukraine does not take into account the opinion of the people, but follows its own separate path.

Russian propaganda hints that Ukrainians allegedly did not choose the path of Europeanization, and the Revolution of Dignity and its political consequences were the work of nationalists. Publicity and free-thinking reign in Ukraine, Ukrainians declare their national identity, moreover, they often emphasize this, for which propagandists equate Ukrainians with the so-called “nationalists”. The latter (their minority) allegedly monopolized the right to publicly express their civil position and oppress the opinions of others. Fact-checkers add that since 2014, many independent publications and investigative journalism centers have appeared in Ukraine, and cooperation with European media has intensified. In the world ranking of freedom of speech, Ukraine took 79th place among 180 countries. And, for example, Russia took 164th place this year.

The Ukrainian authorities are destroying the “Russian-speaking population” and are engaged in linguocide. 

Knowing the state language as the language of one's citizenship is the duty of every citizen of Ukraine. At the same time, every citizen of Ukraine is free to choose the language or languages for private communication. Propagandists systematically speculate on the language issue, arguing that Ukraine discriminates against the Russian language. Although it has the same rights as other minority languages. Ukrainian is the main one in public communication. But the law “On ensuring the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the state language” provides an opportunity to serve customers in other languages at their request.

“Russian-speaking population” is just a political term used by Russia to achieve its own goals. In particular, to destroy Ukraine as a state, and Ukrainians as a nation. According to a sociological survey of the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, 84% of Ukrainians believe that there are no problems with the use of the Russian language in Ukraine and Russian-speaking citizens do not experience harassment and persecution, only 8% are convinced of the opposite. A slice of public opinion proves that the reproaches about linguocide are propaganda speculation.

The referendums held in Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions are absolutely legitimate. 

Russia is positioning the referenda as the key to the return of historical justice. However, the Russians substitute the concept, calling “reunification” the annexation of the territories of another, sovereign state. In fact, Russia is holding illegitimate referendums, seizing land, destroying cities.

The fictitious referendums in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine are not the will of the Ukrainians, but only try to give legitimacy to Russia's attempts to seize part of another state, the UN says. Their results, except for Russia itself, recognize other “brother states” of Russia as the DPRK. A decision on the issue of changing the territory of Ukraine can only be taken on the basis of an all-Ukrainian referendum. In general, the issue submitted to the referendum cannot call into question the territorial integrity of Ukraine. That is, changing the territory of Ukraine in an illegal way. It is no less important that voting should take place voluntarily, and not at gunpoint (when the armed occupiers, together with members of the “electoral commissions”, collected votes from apartments).

Ukrainians have always been in favor of an alliance with Russia and against Euro-Atlantic integration.

Ukraine entered into relations with NATO as early as 1992 when it joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (later to become the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council). In 1994, Ukraine became the first among the post-Soviet states to sign a framework agreement with NATO as part of the Partnership for Peace initiative. Ukraine first declared its desire to become a member of the North Atlantic Alliance in 2002. Then, according to a poll by the Razumkov Center, 32% of Ukrainians supported Ukraine's entry into NATO and 32.2% were against it. Over the years, attitudes towards joining the Alliance have changed dynamically. Russia's aggression in 2014 had a significant impact on public opinion: since then, the level of support for membership has stabilized and has not been below 40%. According to the May 2023 NDI poll, more than 90% of respondents support Ukraine's accession to the EU. And 89% would like to see Ukraine in NATO. That is, the thesis that Ukrainians support Russia and strive to “reunite” with it is not true.

Ukrainians have chosen their path since 2014.

Disclosure A document on behalf of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was distributed, it recommends carrying out preventive work on homosexuality among servicemen

This document was recorded by specialists from the Center for Counteracting Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council. It says that due to the high “non-combat capability” of the Ukrainian army, military units are recommended to carry out preventive work on the so-called “non-traditional sexual orientation”. The authors add that the military, belonging to the LGBTQIAplus community, “undermine” the combat capability of the army.

Fact-checkers explain that such a document is fake. This was confirmed to specialists by the head of the National Agency of Ukraine for Civil Service Nataliia Aliushyna. Since a “probable” document is discriminating, it cannot a priori exist. Moreover, the authors made many spelling and stylistic errors.

For example, the term “non-traditional sexual orientation” does not exist; it stigmatizes members of the LGBTQIAPlus community. Instead, the term homosexual orientation is recommended to be used.

Fake Ukrainian battalions kill Ukrainian children and then export organs under the grain export code

Anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric circulate an excerpt of a video in which former OSCE observer Vira Vaiman says in Russian that there were allegedly secret laboratories in Ukraine where they allegedly harvested organs from children. According to her, Ukrainian national battalions were engaged in the seizure and trade in organs, they “sent [organs] abroad, processing the parcels as grain exports”. It's fake.

The fact checkers of the 15min project drew attention to the case. Russian propagandists are spreading a fake documentary. Vira Vaiman, who in the video talks about the alleged crimes of the Ukrainian battalions, in fact, was previously known as Vira Nikulina and lived in Vladyvostok. Fact-checkers found no mention of Vira Vaiman or her photographs on the OSCE website.

Previously, two OSCE missions operated in Ukraine, but neither Vira Nikulina nor Vira Vaiman are mentioned in the documents of these missions. And in the OSCE archives and on the organization's website there are no records of the alleged laboratory or trafficking in children's organs in Ukraine.

The fake about the sale of children's organs abroad is part of a disinformation campaign about “black transplantation” that allegedly operates in Ukraine. As for the transplant procedure itself, Detector Media has repeatedly refuted the fakes. This is a complex procedure that requires several specialists, specific equipment, and is limited in time.

Fake In the Ivano-Frankivsk region, it was forbidden to hospitalize those liable for military service without the consent of the territorial recruitment centers

Such information was disseminated in the social networks of the Ukrainian segment. Reports say that in the Ivano-Frankivsk region on June 13, 2023, the hospitalization of men aged 18 to 59 was allegedly temporarily stopped without the consent of the Territorial recruitment and social support center. The authors add to the publications a photo of an Extract about the decision of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration to ban hospitalization. It is not true.

The fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project took up this case and found out that the regional council did not make such a decision. This was announced by the Deputy Chairman of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration Vitalii Ilchyshyn. However, such a decision was actually considered the day before at the initiative of the Regional territorial center of recruitment and social support. They explained that those liable for military service, whom the military medical commission recognized as fit for service, may try to get to the hospital, declaring a “sudden” deterioration in their condition.

The chairman of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration noted that in this way people can avoid mobilization. The Extract itself, the photo of which was distributed on social networks, was not found by fact-checkers. They wrote that there were no relevant instructions on the official website of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration. The photo of the Extract was previously distributed by telegram channels and media of the Ukrainian segment, although it is not on the official pages.

Disclosure At a meeting with African leaders, Putin presented a fake “agreement on the neutrality of Ukraine”

On June 17, Putin met with the leaders of African countries, where he presented a “pact on the neutrality of Ukraine”. This agreement was allegedly initiated by the Ukrainian side during negotiations in the spring of 2022.

The “document” was noticed by the fact-checkers of the Center for Strategic Communications, who found out that it was not real. This is indicated by the following facts:

the Ukrainian side did not initiate any “neutrality treaties”; Putin showed the working materials of the Russian-Ukrainian negotiation process in 2022 under the guise of a treaty; after the facts about the crimes of Russia in Bucha were revealed, after the evidence of the genocide of the Ukrainian people, the negotiations were terminated; no agreements were reached in the negotiations, and the Ukrainian side rejected the veiled form of surrender promoted by Russia; after the discovery of the facts of the massacre in Bucha and other evidence of the Kremlin's implementation of the genocide of the Ukrainian people, the negotiations lost their meaning and were terminated.

So, Putin showed a fake document to African leaders, counting on their ignorance.

Tactics and tools The Russians circulated a document on behalf of the commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who asks to increase space in cemeteries for “Polish mercenaries”

Such information was disseminated in social networks, in particular, on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The reports say that the commander of the Operational Command “Skhid” (East) of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleh Mikats, allegedly appealed to the administration of Zaporizhzhia with a request to increase the space in the cemeteries for “Polish mercenaries”. The authors of the messages attach a “document-appeal”.

The fact-checkers of the StopFake project drew attention to the case and found out that this “document” was fake. In particular, the following errors indicate the fakeness of the document:

The name and position of the addressee are incorrectly written in the “document”; Now there is no mayor in Zaporizhzhia, and the powers of the mayor until new elections are exercised by the secretary of the Zaporizhzhia city council. In all documents, he is signed as “secretary of the city council”, but in the fake document they indicated “head of administration”.

Fact checkers also found factual errors, for example, the appeal was to increase space in the Shevchenko district of Zaporizhzhia. There is no such area in the city.

They also found wording that is not inherent in official business broadcasting. For example, the propagandists in the “document” wrote “occupied Donbas”. Since August 2022, a single concept of “the territory of Ukraine temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation” has been introduced.

Disclosure Russians are spreading a document allegedly on behalf of a Ukrainian commander with an order to “physically eliminate” curfew violators in Kherson

This “document” was circulated on social networks, in particular on anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. It says that the commander of the 124 Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Dmytro Ishchenko, “orders to organize the security and defense of the highly mobile M142 HIMARS missile system” in Kherson, as well as “physically eliminate” curfew violators who resist or create a security threat. .

The fact-checkers of the StopFake project drew attention to the case, and determined that the order allegedly issued on May 9 and the “document” were fake. The text contains many errors and russianisms (including) and punctuation errors, which should not be in official documents.

Also, the seal of military unit A7053 contains the wrong code of the Unified State Register of Enterprises and Organizations of Ukraine (EDRPOU) - 12375678. StopFake analysts note that there is no subject with such a code in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, Individual Entrepreneurs and Public Formations.

The press service of the 124th separate troop brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also refuted this “order”. On their Facebook page, they reported that the “document” distributed by the propagandists was fake.

By spreading such documents, propagandists are trying to discredit the Ukrainian army, destroy its credibility and show the cruelty and inadequacy of the leadership of military units. Also, Russian propaganda is not the first time trying to intimidate Ukrainian society. Earlier, Detector Media denied the fake that the military in Mykolaiv were ordered to shoot deserters.

Disclosure The Russians circulated a document on behalf of Zaluzhnyi, which refers to the “regrouping of troops in Bakhmut”

Such a “document” was circulated on social networks, in particular on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The order states that the Ukrainian military is seeking to regroup and withdraw troops from the Bakhmut area. The document says that allegedly  Zelenskyi forbade the withdrawal of troops, and left them there “to the last”.

The Center for Countering Disinformation investigated this case and found that the document was fake. As analysts explain, the “document” includes a number of inaccuracies, in particular:

The “document” contains incorrect military terminology;

The barcode of the counterfeit document is damaged, making it impossible to verify it;

The “Order” was issued with significant violations of the rules of official document flow.

Disclosure In Russia, they spread a report allegedly about the low moral and psychological state of the military of the 123 Territorial Defense Brigade

Such a “document” was circulated on social networks, in particular on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The “document” says that the Ukrainian military has increasingly begun to leave their positions, refusing to perform tasks at the forefront. They also allegedly sabotage the orders and instructions of the commanders.

This case was noticed by the fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project, who found that the report was not real. The fact-checkers sent a request to 123 TD brigade. They replied that they did not create such a report.

In particular, the “document” contains elements in its design that do not comply with the standards of modern Ukrainian office work. For example, in this case, the document should not be signed for the “commander of the OUV KHERSON (operational group of troops KHERSON)”, but is required to write for the highest military authority (for example, the headquarters of a military unit) and the authority of the Military Law Enforcement Service. This is a different type of document, namely a report. Therefore, there are other instructions for its design.

Disclosure In Russia, they circulated a document allegedly on behalf of the commander of the 123 Territorial Defense Brigade, in which he orders “to take personal cars from civilians”

Such a document was circulated on social networks, in particular on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The document says that the commander of the 123rd Territorial Defense Brigade ordered cars to be taken away from peaceful Ukrainians. Like, the need arose due to “significant losses of equipment” on the battlefield. In addition, the commander allegedly ordered campaigning among the personnel so that they use their own cars for official purposes.

This case was noticed by the fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project, who determined that the order was not real. Fact-checkers sent a request to 123 TD brigades. They were told that the leadership of the brigade did not issue such a document, and it was fake.

In particular, the “document” contains elements in its design that do not comply with the standards of modern Ukrainian office work. For example, the name of the author of the document should be indicated in full, and the last name should be written in capital letters. On the fake document they wrote “Yu. Chaplenko”, but the correct option is “Yurii  CHAPLENKO”. Also, in the header, now you need to write not “the city of Kherson”, but simply “Kherson”.

Disclosure The Russians circulated a document allegedly on behalf of the Ministry of Defense, in which they ordered “to shoot deserters at checkpoints”

Such a document was circulated on social networks, in particular on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The “document” states that the commander of military unit 3056 ordered his personnel to shoot deserters at checkpoints. As if to prevent desertion, the “document” gives precautionary measures, including “organizing firing points”.

The fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project investigated this case and found that the document was fake. This was stated by the most military unit on its Facebook page. In addition, as analysts explain, the “document” includes a number of inaccuracies, in particular:

The fake document does not comply with the formatting rules. For example, the military unit of 3056 is part of the National Guard, which is subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and not the Ministry of Defense;

The authors indicated the wrong name of the commander. So, the commander of military unit 3056 since 2021 is lieutenant colonel Ruslan Kuzmich. However, in the order, instead of “R. Kuzmich” it says “R. Kuzmych”;

They also indicated the wrong city for issuing the order. Military unit 3056 is located in Kherson, from there it sends all the documents.

As experts say, there are no documents or orders to “neutralize” the fugitive military man. If a military man arbitrarily leaves the place of military service, he receives punishment in accordance with the current legislation. According to article 408 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, desertion during martial law is punishable by imprisonment for a term of 5 to 12 years.

Fake In Mykolaiv, the military was ordered to shoot deserters

Propaganda anonymous telegram channels distribute a document in which the commander of the military unit 3056, Ruslan Kuzmich, allegedly instructs the personnel to “use weapons to defeat” at checkpoints. Also, this “document” refers to the organization of round-the-clock patrols and “firing points” in the Mykolaiv region in order to identify Ukrainian military evading mobilization and who arbitrarily left their combat positions. The order was allegedly issued on April 20, 2023. It's fake.

 StopFake project experts note that this document is fake. This is indicated by a number of errors, for example, the incorrect name “military unit 3056” instead of “military unit 3056 of the National Guard of Ukraine”, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine in the heading of the “document”, instead of the Ministry of Internal Affairs or the National Guard of Ukraine. Also, the name of the commander is incorrectly written in the document - Kuzmych instead of Kuzmich.

Also, the wrong code of the Unified State Register of Enterprises and Organizations of Ukraine (EDRPOU) is indicated on the seal - 12345678, although the military unit 3056 NGU has a different code - 23313931. StopFake analysts note that the propagandists probably used a sample of a seal for a military unit, which they found on one of the websites of a seal manufacturing company.

The press officer of the military unit 3056 NGU said that such an “order” was not issued, the signature does not belong to Ruslan Kuzmich, and the military unit is now in Kherson, although it was based in Mykolaiv for some time.

So, Russian propaganda is trying to discredit the Ukrainian army, to show the cruelty and inadequacy of the leadership of military units and to intimidate society. Earlier, Detector Media denied the fake that 20,000 policemen are going to be mobilized into the Ukrainian army.

Fake Ukraine plans to ban photography of cemeteries

Such information appeared in social networks, in particular on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Russian rhetoric. The authors of the messages added to the publication a screenshot allegedly from the Ukrinform website, which stated that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine plans to ban photography and video filming of cemeteries. The “news” that allegedly appeared on the Ukrinform website says that “according to lawmakers, public coverage of the state of Ukrainian cemeteries can provide valuable intelligence information to the Russian army, as well as create a negative information background in the country itself”. However, this is all fake.

The fact-checkers of the StopFake project drew attention to the case. Fact-checkers found out that such a bill has not been registered in the Verkhovna Rada. The Parliament website has already passed a law on the creation of a National war memorial cemetery, but it also does not say anything about a ban on photography and video filming. “The screenshot of the news from the Ukrainian news agency itself is a fake. There is no such news on the Ukrinform website”, StopFake writes.

Russian propaganda needs such messages to create the appearance that the situation in Ukraine is too bad: people are dying en masse, there is no place to bury them, and the authorities are allegedly trying to hide the scale of the tragedy.

Disclosure Russians circulated a document allegedly from the Kherson administration of Security Service of Ukraine, in which they order deserters to be “neutralized”

Such a document was circulated in social networks, in particular on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The document says that in separate battalions and brigades of territorial defense in the Kherson direction, “cases of desertion have become more frequent”. Allegedly, in order to avoid desertion, the “document” gives precautionary measures, including “neutralizing the fugitive military on the spot”.

The Center for Counteracting Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council investigated this case and found that the document was fake. In addition, the first deputy chairman of the Kherson regional council, Yurii Sobolevskyi, also confirmed the falsity of the “document”. At the same time, as analysts explain, the “document” includes a number of inaccuracies, in particular:

The fake document does not comply with the formatting rules. For example, the secrecy label is not located in a specific place.

As experts say, there are no documents or orders to “neutralize” the fugitive military men. If a military man arbitrarily leaves the place of military service, he will receive punishment in accordance with the current legislation.

Disclosure Russians distributed “Ukrainian manuals” for journalists providing recommendations for covering events in the Bakhmut direction

Such a “manual” is distributed on the telegram channels of the Russian segment and propaganda media. The reports say that Ukrainian journalists were allegedly provided with “manuals” on how to properly cover the events in the Bakhmut direction. Among the above “recommendations” it is forbidden to “express doubts about the victory of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Bakhmut direction” and “speak positively about the enemy”.

However, there is no such “a manual”. Hanna Maliar, a Ukrainian politician, public figure and Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, noted that “manuals” are not published for Ukrainian journalists, and that they are not real. The politician says that there is public information in the Ukrainian information space, so “you don’t need to transfer it in papers”. According to the politician, public information about current events is distributed daily in the Ukrainian information space, in particular, in the Bakhmut direction. Hanna Maliar cites the evening addresses of the President and daily publications from the Ministry of Defense or the General Staff as an example.

Fake The Ukrainian received a “notice of the death of his son” on an advertising booklet from the Ministry of Defense

Such a message was circulated on social networks, in particular on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. Reports say that the Ukrainian allegedly received official notice of the death of his son on a promotional booklet. Like, the advertising booklet was used as an official document and all the necessary information was written on its back side. As proof, the authors of the messages add a video to the publication, which allegedly shows this. It is not true.

The Center for Counteracting Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council explained that official structures, for example, the department of the Ministry of Defense, cannot send such a “document” because it is not properly formatted and generally compiled:

The seal of the Ministry of Defense with the code 12345678 was taken from an advertising template for a manufacturer of seals and stamps;

There is indeed a block of flats at the address indicated in the fake letter, but the recipient's apartment number is missing.

Therefore, the fact checkers are sure that the document is fake and no official structures sent it.

Disclosure Russians distribute a “document” on the ban on traveling abroad to young people aged 15 - 18

Such a document was circulated on social networks, in particular on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The “document” states that young people between 15 and 18 years old are prohibited from traveling abroad.

The Center for Strategic Communications investigated this case and found out that the document was fake. As analysts explain, the “document” includes a number of inaccuracies, in particular:

The authors refer to Cabinet Decree No. 57, although according to this decree, such restrictions during martial law apply only to men from 18 to 60 years old;

The authors of the “document” made grammatical and spelling errors, in particular, they used russianisms.

We recall that Detector Media previously denied a fake, which said that Ukrainian underage boys were supposedly not allowed to go abroad, because “they will soon be mobilized”.

Disclosure The occupiers distributed a document banning the evacuation of lightly wounded soldiers from Bakhmut

Such a document was circulated on social networks, in particular on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The “document” states that Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, forbade the evacuation of the military “if they have minor injuries”.

Analysts of the VoxCheck project investigated this case and found out that the document is fake. As the fact-checker explains, the “document” includes a number of inaccuracies, in particular:

The “document” does not specify its type. If the text contains the phrase “I order”, this means that the main text should be preceded by the word “ORDER”, indicating the type of document - an order;

The fake document is addressed to the operational command “East”, and above it the Ministry of Defense is mentioned. However, OC “East” is a structural subdivision of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, not the Ministry of Defense;

At the end of the document it says “A. Syrskyi”, although it is correct - “O. Syrskyi”, O means Oleksandr. Analysts are sure that this letter equivalent indicates a translation from the Russian language, because the Russian name Oleksandr is “Aleksander”.

Fake Vinnytsa diocese of the UOC blesses the murders of Russians

Propagandists are spreading information that the Vinnytsia diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church allegedly issued a statement according to which the killing of Russians is not a sin and in which it blesses the Ukrainian military to “wipe the Russian nation off the face of the Earth”. It's fake.

Analysts of the Georgian project MythDetector drew attention to it. They found out that the “statement” was not real. Several details point to this. In particular, the Kyiv patriarchate is indicated in the heading of the “statement”, and allegedly the Metropolitan of the Moscow patriarchate signed the “statement”. In addition, the heading of the “statement” is not correct - the Kyiv Patriarchate of the UOC merged with the OCU in 2019. In a comment to MythDetector, archimandrite Sofronii Chupryna, spokesman for the diocese of Vinnytsa-Bar, denied the diocese's involvement in this “statement”. He also noted that usually monks and priests do not sign documents with a regular signature, but write their names in manuscript. On the “statement” one can see the classic signature.

Thus, propagandists want to show that the UOC has departed from the traditions of Orthodoxy and is a demonic institution. They say that even the church in Ukraine calls for murders, while Ukraine itself is already in the spiritless networks of the West. Such materials are part of a large-scale propaganda information campaign about the need to “desatanize” Ukraine.

Disclosure On its own behalf, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine calls on to kill Russians, says a postcard distributed by the invaders

Such a “postcard” was distributed on social networks, in particular, on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The “postcard” states that the so-called Department of cooperation with the Armed Forces and Law enforcement agencies of Ukraine under the Orthodox Church of Ukraine of the Kyiv Patriarchate calls on Ukrainian soldiers to kill Russians. Allegedly, the metropolitan himself signed the postcard, which means that the Ukrainian church calls for murders on its own behalf.

Analysts of the NotaYenota project took up this case and determined that the postcard was fake. Analysts analyzed this “postcard” and found a number of inaccuracies in it, in particular:

There has been no Kyiv Patriarchate in Ukraine since 2018;

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine does not have a “Department of cooperation with the Armed Forces and Law enforcement agencies of Ukraine”. Instead, there is such a department in the Russian Orthodox Church;

Varsonofii, whose name the “postcard” was signed with, is in fact the Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Metropolitan Epiphanius, the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, emphasized that it is not a sin to wish death on the enemy and to kill the Russian occupiers. However, there were no calls to “kill on behalf of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine”.

Disclosure The occupiers distributed a document stating that the Ukrainian leadership will mobilize nuclear power plant workers

Such a “document” was circulated on social networks, in particular on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The “document” states that the people's deputies of Ukraine are turning to the head of Energoatom with a request to provide a list of Ukrainian NPP workers to be mobilized.

Analysts of the StopFake project investigated this case and found that the document was fake. As analysts explain, the “document” includes a number of inaccuracies, in particular:

The fake document does not meet the standard design that people's deputies use when writing an appeal;

The wording used in the “document” is not typical for official business correspondence;

The authors of the “document” made grammatical and spelling errors.

In addition, as analysts note that some people's deputies who allegedly signed the “document” have already resigned and are not fulfilling the duties of people's deputies.

Disclosure Ukraine is preparing to attack Transnistria, says the occupiers’ document

Such a document was circulated on social networks, in particular on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The document says that the Ukrainian leadership sends fighters to the cities of Ukraine bordering Moldova. Before the publication of the so-called document, the authors add that the Armed Forces of Ukraine “intend to carry out an armed provocation in Transnistria”. 

Analysts from the Center for strategic communications and information security investigated this case and found that the document was fake. As analysts explain, the “document” includes a number of inaccuracies, in particular:

The fake document does not conform to the standard format used by the Ukrainian military command;The wording used in the “document” is not typical of official business language;

The authors of the “document” made grammatical and spelling errors.

Transnistria is a self-proclaimed unrecognized state located between Ukraine and Moldova. According to the legislation of Moldova, Transnistria has the status of an Autonomous Territorial Unit with a special legal status. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recognizes the territory of Transnistria as occupied by Russia. Moldovan President Maia Sandu said that Russia plans to carry out a coup d'état in the country. At the same time, against this background, Russian propaganda was spreading messages that it was Ukraine who wanted to make provocations on the territory of Moldova.

Fake Russia received more than twenty thousand documents confirming the work of American biological laboratories in Ukraine

Russian media cite Lieutenant General Ihor Kyrylov, commander of the radiation, chemical and biological defense forces of Russia. At the briefing, he said that allegedly during the full-scale invasion, Russia received more than twenty thousand documents confirming the work of American biological laboratories in Ukraine. Like, the Pentagon created components of biological weapons and tested them on Ukrainians and residents of other states bordering Russia. These messages also got into the foreign information space. However, this is not true.

The fact checker of the MythDetector project found out that the “documents” published by the Russian Ministry of defense are not evidence of the creation of biological weapons components in Ukraine. They are available in open sources. Moreover, the appendices to the order are presented without a signature or seal, so they have no official value. Some of these “documents” have been published previously.

The narrative about the development of biological weapons in Ukraine is one of the longest-running Russian propaganda narratives. Detector Media has repeatedly explained the origins of this information and refuted the fakes: the United States conducted training in Ukraine with pathogens of especially dangerous infections; The US has developed a drone that will transport “infected insects”; the work of biolaboratories led to an outbreak of African swine fever in Ukraine; American scientists tested biological preparations on patients in a mental hospital in Kharkiv; The US planned to use Ukrainian birds and mosquitoes to carry diseases to Russia. Russia also used the narrative about American biolabs in Ukraine to justify a full-scale invasion, but there is no real evidence about them.

Disclosure A fake letter from the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities of the UK government is being distributed online

This was reported in the Center for counteracting disinformation. According to the “document”, the participants of the “Housing for Ukraine” initiative must provide information about the residence of Ukrainian male refugees aged eighteen and over. Also, allegedly, the British are urged to report the possible stay of adult Ukrainians after changing their place of residence. Homeowners are allegedly obliged to encourage Ukrainians to visit the Embassy of Ukraine in the UK to clarify their personal data.

This “document” is fake. UK officials and departments did not send such a letter. In addition, there are lexical and grammatical errors in the text. The domain “report@levellingup.gov.uk”  mentioned in the letter is real, but it was never used for official correspondence.

Recently, a fake was spread that supposedly the Embassy of Ukraine in Latvia and other European countries received a letter with a request to provide information about people of military age. Thus, propagandists once again parasitize on the topic of mobilization and try to demoralize Ukrainians. Like, you can’t hide from mobilization either in Ukraine or abroad.

Fake Zaluzhnyi launders funds for foreign real estate

Russian media are spreading reports that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi is allegedly using his daughter as a “live offshore” to acquire real estate abroad. As a result, propagandists claim that Zaluzhnyi's image in the West will “fall” like a house of cards. It's fake.

The Insider drew attention to the case. According to their research, the original source of the fake is anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Russian rhetoric. It was they who had “scans” of registration certificates for villas in Las Palmas on the island of Gran Canaria and in the Chilean city of Valparaiso. The authenticity of the “scans” is indicated by the English spelling of the name of Zaluzhnyi's daughter as Kristina Zaluzhnaya. Ukrainian documents use Ukrainian transliteration of names, respectively, the true option is Khrystyna Zaluzhna. In addition, the analysts of the VoxUkraine project checked the cadastral codes for real estate indicated in the “evidence” and found out that they are fake.

Thus, Russian propaganda wants to undermine the reputation of the Ukrainian military leadership abroad and cause discouragement among Ukrainians.