Spilnota Detector Media

Fake Hospitals are being closed in Kherson as all medical personnel have been sent to the ​​Territorial centers of recruitment and social support

Propaganda resources began to disseminate information that there are no longer public health services in Kherson. The so-called “evidence” is the alleged advertisements posted at hospitals named after A.S. Luchanskyi and after Ye.Ye. Karabelesh. They report that hospitals will not work, since all employees of medical institutions have gone to register for military service. It's fake.

The fact-checkers of the VoxUkraine project analyzed this case and found out that the information was untrue and the ad was faked. In addition, among the medical staff there are also female doctors, whose military registration is voluntary until 2026. The mentioned hospitals and other medical institutions in Kherson continue to operate. The shortage of doctors that arose in the Kherson region with the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion is compensated by sending doctors from other regions of Ukraine.

Russia is escalating the situation when it spreads information about the closure of Kherson hospitals, resorting to one of the propaganda tactics aimed at sowing fear, uncertainty and doubts among Ukrainians about present and future life in Ukraine. Previously, we documented the message of Russian propaganda, according to which Ukrainian doctors and pharmacists were allegedly “escaping” from Ukraine en masse because they were afraid of mobilization.

Fake Ukraine’s first “children’s brigade” is being formed in the Sumy region

Pro-Russian resources claim that in the Sumy region they plan to form the first brigade in Ukraine, which will consist of minors. Like, in Shostka, the local military registration and enlistment office, apparently, instead of sending boys 14-16 years old to paramilitary courses, began to form them into the 153rd territorial defense brigade. It's fake.

The case was analyzed by the fact-checkers of the StopFake project. They contacted the 117th separate territorial defense brigade formed in the Sumy region, and they, for their part, confirmed that the information about the mobilization of children was fake. Moreover, there are no 153 brigades in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but there is a 153 separate territorial defense battalion. On the social networks of this battalion one can find photographs of its soldiers and make sure that there are no teenagers in it. In Ukraine, all citizens aged 18 to 60 who are capable of performing their military duty are subject to mobilization, except for exceptions provided by law. There is no talk of any mobilization of minors in Ukraine.

Pro-Kremlin propagandists are trying to promote the narrative that supposedly in Ukraine there are not enough people at the front, and therefore the Ukrainian government is resorting to radical methods - recruiting children into the ranks of the army. Previously, we refuted the fake that allegedly the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustam Umierov called for the mobilization of teenagers.

Fake In Ukraine, people with disabilities are taught to be sappers in order to be send to the front

In the Russian segment of social networks, information is being spread that in Ukraine they have started issuing vouchers for sapper training to people with disabilities, supposedly “sending them to fight”. It's a lie.

The VoxCheck analysts took up this case and informed that in October 2023, the Ukrainian State Employment Service increased the list of professions and specialties for which one  can receive a voucher, that is, payment for training. The list, in particular, includes the profession of sapper. And, in fact, training vouchers will be issued to specific people, for example, persons with disabilities. Other categories of citizens can receive a training voucher: internally displaced persons (IDPs), participants in combat operations (UCD), people injured as a result of war, etc.

Moreover, we are talking specifically about humanitarian demining, which takes place outside the combat zone. This is a long-term process aimed at creating a safe living environment for civilian residents. Military demining, on the contrary, is carried out directly in the combat zone. For example, when the enemy retreats, military sappers are already doing this.

Read also our documented case: in Ukraine, they want to abolish the status of a person with a disability in order to mobilize more people

Fake Ukrainians are being prepared for the rapid mobilization of teenagers

Propagandists who spread pro-Russian rhetoric in the media claim that the “Kyiv regime” is allegedly preparing Ukrainians for the rapid mobilization of teenagers from the age of 14 due to the lack of reserves destroyed on all front lines. This is allegedly indicated by the fact that the instructors of the 103rd Territorial defense force brigade  arrived on the territory of one of the Ukrainian educational centers, where they taught teenagers military training for three weeks, after which the most capable students were allegedly enrolled in the brigade reserve. However, this is a fake.

The analysts of the Center of Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine drew attention to it. They explained that this information is fiction, because according to the current legislation of Ukraine, persons who have reached the age of 18 are subject to mobilization. At the same time, there are military training courses for young people in Ukraine. They are not mandatory and are not prohibited by law.

Fake Scientific workers of Ukraine are subject to conscription during mobilization

Such information was disseminated on social networks, in particular, on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The reports say that an illegal “mobilization of scientific staff” is allegedly being carried out in Ukraine - and add to the publications a video from an eyewitness who says that her comrade was allegedly forcibly taken to the local territorial recruitment and social support center. And that person is a historian and supposedly teaches in a higher education institution. The authors sum up: no one can fight in Ukraine, it doesn’t need smart people, so everyone is being raked into the “Zelenskyi meat grinder”. It is not true.

Research workers, scientific-pedagogical and pedagogical workers are not subject to conscription for military service during mobilization. According to the amendments to Article 23 of the Law “On Scientific and Scientific-Technical Work” dated July 29, 2022, they are not subject to conscription, provided that this category of people works in scientific institutions and organizations, institutions of higher education, professional higher education, professional (vocational and technical) or general secondary education (at the main place of work with at least 0.75 rates of their salary).

Moreover, the heroine in the video did not provide any evidence, photo or video evidence confirming the arbitrary behavior of employees of the local territorial recruitment and social support center towards the man. Yet, cases where employees of territorial centers exceed their authority are still recorded. We are talking, in particular, about the use of physical force against those liable for military service. But the woman simply spread information and in no way confirmed either the thesis about the use of violence against the scientist, or the fact that, in general, a higher education worker was hypothetically mobilized.

Fake Ukrainians are being mobilized into Israeli “volunteer battalions”

On social networks, in particular, on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric, videos are being distributed with information about the so-called mobilization of Ukrainians to Israel. In the video, the hero shows a “draft notice” issued allegedly by the local territorial center of recruitment and social support. The draft notice notes that, in accordance with Article II of the Law of Ukraine “On Refugees and People in Need of Additional or Temporary Protection”, the man was allegedly drafted into the “volunteer battalion” of Israel. It is not true.

The StopFake analysts investigated the case and analyzed that, in fact, the draft notice depicted in the video is fake. After all, the design of the document does not correspond to the current model. Both the draft notice and the procedure for maintaining military records of conscripts and those liable for military service are regulated by a specific legislative initiative. In particular, we are talking about the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated December 7, 2016 “On approval of the Procedure for organizing and maintaining military records of conscripts and those liable for military service”. And documents of this type have the same design; they cannot differ from each other.

Actually, the official form of the draft notice can be seen in Appendix No. 24 to this Resolution. The draft notice form was last changed on January 26, 2022, when the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine introduced appropriate changes to some resolutions on the performance of military duty.

As for the law that propagandists refer to, it has nothing to do with military service. Article 2  generally deals with the legislative framework regarding refugees and persons in need of additional or temporary protection.

The fact-checkers also recorded numerous errors in the “draft notice”. For example, in the column where one needed to write the name of the territorial center of recruitment and social support, the authors of the fake message indicated the Security Service of Ukraine in the Odesa region. The SBU’s competence apparently does not include any mobilization actions.

Disclosure A trailer for the horror film “Voienkom” allegedly shot by Kvartal 95 Studio are being distributed by Russians

In the Russian segment of social networks, on YouTube and in pro-Kremlin media, a trailer for the horror film “Voienkom” (The Military Commissariat), which was allegedly produced by the Ukrainian company Kvartal 95 Studio, is being distributed. It's a lie.

The case was examined by the fact-checkers from the Center for Countering Disinformation. They established that the video was created by the Russians. Experts also managed to identify the person in the video - it turned out to be Russian actor Roman Makarov living in Moscow.

By spreading fake news about mobilization, Russian propaganda is trying to intimidate men of military age. The Russians are deliberately demonizing the mobilization process and exaggerating its pace in order to cause panic among Ukrainians. Previously, we talked about the manipulation that in Ukraine they are planning to mobilize men who are over 60 years old.

Manipulation In Ukraine, they want to abolish a status of a disabled person in order to send more people to the front

Russian media broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric are disseminating information that Ukraine is supposedly going to abolish disability status in order to send more people to the front. As evidence, Russian propaganda cites a proposal to remove the concept of “disabled person” from the legislation. This is manipulation.

The case was investigated by the fact-checker of the StopFake project. Minister of Health Viktor Liashko indeed stated that the Ministry of Health has prepared a bill according to which the disability notion is proposed to be replaced by the assessment of loss of functionality. However, this bill is not about abolishing “disability” or mobilization. This reform was discussed at the beginning of October at a briefing in Zhytomyr following the results of the Congress of Local and Regional Councils under the President of Ukraine.

For Ukraine , the goal is to abandon the post-Soviet model of determining disability, which provides a person only with benefits and compensation. And the task of the state should be “to return a person to an economic state”. However, benefits and payments should not be canceled. And they plan to implement the changes themselves in 2025, which once again proves that the reform is not related to mobilization.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to discredit the Ukrainian government and sow panic among Ukrainians. They say that the counteroffensive failed, there are not enough people at the front, so the authorities are trying to mobilize everyone, including people with disabilities. Previously, we talked about the manipulation that in Ukraine they created body armor for pregnant women as they are allegedly going to send them to the front.

Manipulation In the Lviv region, checkpoints are being set up to issue draft notices

Anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric are disseminating information that checkpoints are being set up in the Lviv region supposedly for “raids on men of military age”. If this practice shows a positive result, such checkpoints will be installed in other regions. This is manipulation.

The case was investigated by the fact-checker of the VoxCheck project. In fact, it is about mobilization, and checkpoints have begun to be set up to strengthen security measures. All this is in order to counter the possible penetration of enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups and facilitate the work of air defense forces. This was announced by the first deputy head of the Lviv Military Regional Administration Andrii Hodyk during a briefing on September 28.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to discredit government officials and sow panic among Ukrainians, because, they say, there are not enough people at the front, and the counteroffensive has failed. Earlier, Detector Media talked about the manipulation that the West is forcing Ukraine to lower the conscription age and “send minors to the meat grinder”.

Fake The EU asks the children of Zelenskyi, Reznikov and Kuleba to be granted Spanish citizenship

Propagandists spreading pro-Russian rhetoric in the media and anonymous telegram channels claim that the European Commission and the European Council allegedly officially sent a letter to the King of Spain with a request to grant permanent residence permits in the country to the children of the President of Ukraine, the ex-minister of defense and minister, as well as other Ukrainian officials. It's fake.

The fact-checker of the StopFake project drew attention to it. They found that the “letter” being circulated by propagandists is a fake, likely based on a letter from the European Council to King Mohammed VI of Morocco dated September 9, 2023. This letter can be found on the official website of the European Union. Meanwhile, the “letter” that propagandists talk about is not there, which is atypical, since all letters and statements from EU institutions are published on the website. The “letter” is not on the European Commission website either. In addition, Russian media have not been able to decide on the status they are “asking” for the children of Ukrainian officials. While it is about “citizenship” or “nationality”, the “letter” talks about a certificate of permanent residence. The procedure for obtaining a certificate in Spain by applying to the king is illogical, since without it it can be obtained using a simplified procedure in accordance with European Council Directive 2001/55/EC. In addition, the “letter” lists only male persons with a purely Russian transcription of first and last names, which does not coincide with the official transcription for Ukrainian foreign passports. The fake was refuted by the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

Propagandists spread such fakes to discredit the Ukrainian authorities and cause panic among the population about a “comprehensive mobilization”. They say that while some are caught on the street and taken to the centers of recruitment and social support, the children of politicians are taken abroad so that they are not taken to war. Detector Media previously talked about other fakes regarding mobilization in Ukraine.

Message Ukrainian doctors and pharmaceutical workers are “escaping” from Ukraine en masse

This thesis was spread on social networks, in particular on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. Reports say that women with medical education began to “escape” from Ukraine en masse, because from October 1, 2023, medical and pharmaceutical workers must register with the military. In support of this thesis, propagandists show alleged data from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine and explain that more than 25 thousand women with medical education allegedly left Ukraine over the past two weeks.

The VoxCheck analysts investigated the case and found that the State Statistics Service does not publish such statistics, and therefore, no data on the migration of doctors and pharmacists simply exists. That is, propagandists came up with this information. After all, migration statistics on the State Statistics Service website have not been updated since January 2022 due to martial law. Experts explained that in Ukraine, at the state level, the migration movement of the population is monitored according to several indicators: the number of arrivals and departures and the corresponding coefficients of these processes. Moreover, such indicators are formed annually, not weekly. And they do not separate out information about the professions of those who arrived and those who left, that is, such data is not collected. Data can be classified by type of area, gender, age, etc.

Also, statistics on the migration movement of the population are published by the State Migration Service of Ukraine. But this body also does not provide information on the distribution of migrants by profession.

Since October 1, 2023, medical and pharmaceutical workers must indeed register with the military, but registration with the military does not mean mobilization or the establishment of restrictions on traveling abroad. The Ministry of Health notes that registration is necessary only to summarize data on the existing reserve of doctors in the country. The travel of this category of women is unlimited.

Manipulation The West is forcing Ukraine to lower the conscription age and “send minors to the meat grinder”

Russian media broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric are disseminating information that the ex-Minister of Defense of the United Kingdom, Ben Wallace, allegedly stated the need to lower the conscription age. As Russian propaganda notes, they are going to resort to such measures due to the alleged “complete failure of the Ukrainian Armed Forces summer counteroffensive”. And this will be a continuation of the “Western policy” of killing a large number of Slavs associated with the Ukrainian and Russian sides”. This is manipulation.

The case was investigated by the fact-checker of the StopFake project. They established that Russian propaganda refers to a column by Ben Wallace published in The Telegraph. Wallace didn't actually write about the failed Ukrainian counteroffensive or the need to draft 16-year-olds and “throw them into a meat grinder”. On the contrary, he noted that Ukraine will win this war, and the allies must increase the pace of assistance.

Ben Wallace writes that Putin is mobilizing all of Russia, and in Ukraine the average age of soldiers on the fronts is 40. “So, as Britain did in 1939 and 1941, perhaps it is time to reassess the scale of Ukrainian mobilization”, Wallace said. It was this quote that Russian propagandists used to create manipulative news.

Thus, Russian propaganda continues to promote the narrative that the Ukrainian counteroffensive is a failure, and the West will indeed destroy Ukraine. Previously, we described the message that the European Union benefits from Ukraine’s defeat in the war.

Manipulation Ukraine plans to mobilize men over 60 years old

Anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric are disseminating information that Ukraine plans to mobilize men over 60 years of age. Russian propaganda refers to bill No. 10084 on amendments to Part 2 of Article 22 of the Law of Ukraine “On Military Duty and Military Service”. This is manipulation.

The case was examined by fact-checkers from the Center for Countering Disinformation. They found out that in fact the bill refers to military personnel with a high level of professional training, who were recognized by a military medical commission as fit for health reasons. At their request, they may be retained in military service. Russian propaganda manipulated to create the impression that men over 60 will definitely be mobilized in Ukraine.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to discredit the Ukrainian authorities and promote the message that Ukraine has high losses during the counteroffensive, so the decision was made to mobilize those over 60 years old. Propagandists are also trying to sow despondency and panic among Ukrainian society. Previously, we talked about the manipulation that Zelenskyi said that all Ukrainians should wear military uniforms so that the Russians would be afraid of them.

Manipulation In Lutsk, 33 medical workers will be fired in order to be sent to the front

Propagandists are actively disseminating information on anonymous telegram channels that allegedly the Volyn Regional Psychiatric Hospital and the Volyn Medical Center for Addiction Therapy are being merged in order to fire 15 doctors of the psychiatric hospital and 18 employees of the addiction center. They say that these people will be spared a deferment from mobilization and will be sent to the medical company of the 14th brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is confirmed by the fact that the directors of both institutions were allegedly fired, and one of them was given a draft notice for resisting this idea. However, this is a fake.

Specialists from the VoxCheck project drew attention to it. They found out that there are no plans to fire or mobilize doctors from both hospitals. The decision to reorganize the psychiatric hospital was made by the Volyn Regional Council even before the full-scale invasion, namely on December 9, 2021. This decision provided for the dismissal of the heads of both institutions, but not the remaining employees. However, on March 16, 2023, deputies of the regional council canceled this statement and decided to reorganize the Volyn Medical Center for Addiction Therapy. As a result, the hospital will take over the rights and responsibilities of the center, and the center's property will become the property of the mental hospital. As a result, they decided to join the smaller one to the larger one. In addition, Volyn officials note that the staff may even have to be expanded, since as part of the reorganization they plan to increase the number of beds. VoxCheck specialists were unable to find news about the issuance of a draft notice to the ex-director of the Volyn Medical Center for Addiction Therapy, Ihor Shkarovetskyi.

It is noted that psychiatry and narcology are related disciplines, therefore the practice of combining specialized institutions of these disciplines is common in Ukraine. In addition, consolidation will help to obtain more funds. The merger takes place within the framework of the third stage of medical reform on the creation of a wealthy network. This reform is being carried out to improve the quality of medical services and free medical care.

Using such manipulations, propagandists want to exaggerate the scale of mobilization in Ukraine and intimidate the civilian population. They say that the Ukrainian government does not care about serious problems, so it puts ordinary people at risk and mobilizes mental hospital workers. Detector Media has already written not only about numerous manipulations on the topic of mobilization in Ukraine, but also about how Russian propaganda reinforces stereotypes about mental health.

Fake Rustem Umierov called for mobilizing teenagers

On anonymous telegram channels, propagandists are actively distributing an alleged quote from the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umierov, where he allegedly calls for the mobilization of 16-year-old teenagers into the Armed Forces of Ukraine, because “why can guys make children from the age of 16”. However, this is a fake.

Specialists from the VoxCheck project drew attention to it. They found out that Umierov did not make such a statement, and there is no mention of him on the Defense Minister’s social media accounts. In addition, the photo with the “quote” shows the UNIAN media logo. In fact, this quote is also not on the UNIAN website or pages on social networks. The publication has not maintained the “Quotes of the Day” column in the telegram since March 11, 2022. Current Ukrainian legislation, in particular the Law of Ukraine “On Military Duty and Military Service”, allows military service only from the age of 18.

Using such fakes, propagandists want to cause panic among Ukrainians and deliberately exaggerate the pace of mobilization. Like, everything is so bad in Ukraine that it has to mobilize teenagers. Detector Media has already refuted a number of fakes and manipulations on the topic of mobilization in Ukraine.

Fake Draft age Ukrainians are detained in Germany, and later sent to the front

Such information was disseminated in social networks, in particular on Telegram channels that broadcast pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The reports talk about “mass arrests” of Ukrainians of draft age in Germany - and that later they are allegedly sent to the front lines. Video evidence, the testimony of one of the men who witnessed such a situation with his own eyes is attached to the reports. It is not true.

Specialists of the VoxCheck project investigated this case and established that on September 5, the representative of the president in the parliament, Fedir Venislavskyi, stated that there will be no mass extradition of male evaders to Ukraine from abroad. In fact, the “deportation of conscript men” is generally impossible, since there is no legal basis for it. Ukrainian diplomatic institutions cannot deport Ukrainians for mobilization, just as EU power structures are not authorized to form any units of Ukrainians on their territories. That is, there is no legal mechanism or precedent for the mobilization of Ukrainians as EU members.

At the same time, Ukrainian law enforcement officers can investigate and prove in court the facts of illegal border crossing under martial law. And for extradition from abroad, it will be necessary to prove the guilt of each conscript under the laws of the country of his stay in a local court.

That is, if the extradition process is used for Ukrainian conscripts abroad, it will be applied only to evaders who illegally crossed the border.

Manipulation In Ukraine, they created body armor for pregnant women - they are going to send them to the front

The Kremlin media and users of the Russian segment of social networks are spreading information that Ukraine has allegedly introduced a bulletproof vest for “pregnant women on the battlefield”. Allegedly, due to the failure of the counteroffensive, the authorities in Ukraine decided to send pregnant women to the front, because “pregnancy will not be a valid reason for deferment from service”. In confirmation, Russian propaganda posted a photo of the armored suit. This is manipulation.

The case was investigated by the fact-checker of the StopFake project. According to Ukrainian legislation, there is no mandatory mobilization of women in Ukraine, but they can join the Ukrainian army voluntarily. Pregnancy is a legal basis for dismissal of a military personnel.

Russian propaganda used photographs from a real presentation of the anatomical female armored suit “Ruta Liuta” (Furious Rue). This suit was not designed for pregnant women; it was invented by the Ukrainian Armor company to create protection for military personnel, taking into account the anatomical and physiological parameters of women.

Thus, Russian propagandists are trying to discredit the Ukrainian authorities, who allegedly do not value human lives, and nourish the narrative of the failure of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. They say that the Ukrainian army has high losses and lacks people, so Ukraine will mobilize even pregnant women. Earlier, Detector Media talked about a similar manipulation: in Ukraine, military uniforms were created for pregnant women in order to send them to the front.

Manipulation In Ukraine, they want to reorganize military media and send journalists to the front

Pro-Kremlin media are disseminating information that in Ukraine they want to reorganize military media and supposedly send journalists to the front due to the failure of mobilization and lack of people. This is manipulation.

The case was investigated by the fact-checker of the StopFake project. The ex-deputy of the Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar actually spoke during the conference “Editorial Board. Summit” on plans to reorganize military media. She noted that people with high military knowledge who worked for military media could be useful directly at the front. Maliar also spoke about attracting already mobilized journalists to the media. However, there was no talk of separate mobilization of journalists - they, just like other citizens of Ukraine, are subject to mobilization.

The very reorganization of military media is necessary, first of all, in order to bring their status into compliance with the Law of Ukraine “On Media”.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to discredit the Ukrainian authorities and sow panic and despondency among Ukrainians, saying that there is a shortage of people at the front. Previously, we refuted the falsehood that, under the guise of mobilization, the authorities in Ukraine are destroying the Russian-speaking population.

Fake Ukrainians in Ireland are extradited to serve in the Ukrainian Armed Forces

In the chats of Ukrainians in Ireland, a “letter” from the Irish Ministry of Justice was distributed, which alleged requests for the extradition of Ukrainians to serve in the Armed Forces. According to the “letter”, its recipients were scheduled to appear in court for an “extradition hearing” in October. Failure to comply with the “instructions” “may result in an arrest warrant being issued”. These letters are fake.

It was reported by Facebook users and The Irish Times. They note that although the form resembles the real one in appearance, the address in the image of the “letter” is rather random, since no Ukrainians live behind it. In addition, the Irish Ministry of Justice stated that it had not received any extradition requests and had not sent any such letters. It also urged recipients to apply for a special phone number to detect the fake.

With its help, Russia wants to cause panic among Ukrainian refugees and support the narrative of the “failure of the counteroffensive”. They say that everything is so bad in Ukraine that it is forced to mobilize its refugees from abroad. Detector Media has already refuted the fake news about the “extradition” of Ukrainians from Poland.

Message Poland “expels” Ukrainians from the country to serve in the Ukrainian Defense Forces

This information was disseminated by anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The reports note that Poland has decided to “get rid” of Ukrainian refugees, so they will be mobilized. They say that Ukraine is suffering huge losses in the counteroffensive, so it needs to somehow return people to the country.

This case was analyzed by specialists from the StopFake project, who determined that in fact, the “deportation of men liable for military service” is generally impossible, since there is no legal basis for it. Ukrainian diplomatic institutions cannot deport Ukrainians for mobilization, just as the EU authorities are not authorized to form any units from Ukrainians on their territories. That is, there is no legal mechanism or precedent for the mobilization of Ukrainians by EU members.

Ukrainian law enforcement officers can investigate and prove in court the facts of illegal border crossings under martial law. And for extradition from abroad, it will be necessary to prove the guilt of each person liable for military service according to the laws of the country of his stay in a local court.

The European Union is consolidated in its position that they will 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 are protected by the Temporary Protection Directive.

Fake Volyn doctors are being fired en masse because they are planning to be sent to the front

Such information was disseminated on social networks, in particular on anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The reports note that allegedly two departments will be disbanded in the Rozhyshche multidisciplinary hospital (Volyn region) and 50 medical workers will be fired because they decided to send them to the front. The authors add that replacements are already being found to replace the mobilized personnel. The publications refer to the material from the Public. This is manipulation.

Fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project took up this case and found out that the Public article stated that the hospital plans to disband the maternity and children's departments by the end of 2023. That's why 50 health workers were fired. The director of the institution, Viktor Redzii, assured that such actions are caused by a lack of funding and a general lack of attendance at the departments. Consequently, propagandists distorted the context of the material and invented desired talking points to spread their agenda. Since the material did not talk about any mobilization of medical staff. Only about optimizing a medical facility.

The fact-checkers explain that according to the 2018 reform, the hospital financing system has changed. That is, the institution now receives funds for each patient visit, and not per bed, as it was before. So, if fewer patients come to the hospital, the institution receives less money from the National Health Service of Ukraine (NSHSU).

Interestingly, manipulative messages subsequently migrated to Facebook. There, a local user allegedly commented on a post by the Volyn News Group and also stated that doctors and physicians were being mobilized. She allegedly introduced herself as a former doctor of this particular hospital with ten years of work experience. But the Facebook page looks suspicious: it was created on August 24, 2023 as a page for a marketing agency, with Kharkiv as her city of residence. And in the work section it is noted: “Physical office nurse at the Volyn Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital”. The director of the Rozhyshche hospital denied information that such a person worked there.

So propagandists are trying to intimidate Ukrainians and spread panic among them. It seems that everything is so bad, there is no one to fight, so officials are forcibly mobilizing doctors to the front.

By the way, in our review of disinformation for August 21-27, 2023, we have collected a selection of fakes about the so-called total mobilization in Ukraine. But they explained what the Kremlin is trying to achieve when it claims that the Territorial center of recruitment and social support mobilizes pregnant women and their children. And in the Newspeak section, we found out how Russia mobilizes its resources, hiding behind the term “partial mobilization”.

Fake Under the guise of mobilization, the Russian-speaking population is being destroyed in Ukraine

Russian propaganda media are disseminating information that the largest mobilization is taking place in the Russian-speaking regions of Ukraine. Russian propaganda notes that this is genocide - under the pretext of conflict, the Russian-speaking population is destroyed, but sometimes they are forced to mobilize residents of western Ukraine. It is not true.

EUvsDiSiNFO fact-checkers drew attention to the case. There are no facts or evidence that mobilization in Ukraine is aimed at the Russian-speaking population. The idea that Ukraine is committing genocide of its own population is promoted in his speeches by Volodymyr Putin. However, there is no evidence to support this in the reports of the Council of Europe, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the OSCE.

It is Russia that attacks Ukrainian cities where many Ukrainians live who use the Russian language, such as Odesa or Kharkiv.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to sow discord between the Russian-speaking population and the Ukrainian-speaking population, to divide them and discredit the authorities. Also, Russian propagandists are trying to shift responsibility for the crimes of Russians onto Ukrainians.

Manipulation Due to the order to send more than 50 medical workers to the front, two departments will be closed in a hospital in Volyn

Anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric spread information that the Rozhyshche hospital in the Volyn region allegedly received an order to send more than 50 medical workers to the front. Russian propaganda refers to the Ukrainian media. It is not true.

The case was investigated by fact-checkers of the Center for Countering Disinformation. They found that in one of the hospitals in Volyn they plan to reduce staff due to lack of funding and because of this, two departments will be closed. However, there is no mention of sending doctors to the front or there is no corresponding order.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to sow panic among Ukrainians, they say, there are not enough people in the Ukrainian army, so hospitals receive orders to send doctors to the war zone. Earlier, we talked about the manipulation that in Ukraine they created a military uniform for pregnant women in order to send them to the front.

Fake Armed Forces of Ukraine launched the campaign “Education will not save the country”

Russian media and anonymous telegram channels are distributing photos and videos showing flyers ostensibly to launch a UFA campaign to increase mobilization. The flyers allegedly handed out in Kharkiv deliver the message “Education will not save the country! Join the Armed Forces!” and “Update data in Territorial centers of procurement and social support”. However, this is fake.

Specialists of the NotaYenota project drew attention to it. They found out that the flyers are actually fake, and the primary source of information about them is a Russian anonymous telegram channel “with an audience of many thousands”. From there, it began to be distributed in other telegram channels, VKontakte and TikTok. In addition, they found English advertisements for these flyers on Facebook. In particular, the flyers contain inaccurate hotline numbers, and the design style of Kharkiv regional territorial center of procurement and social support does not match the flyers.

By creating and spreading this fake, according to project experts, the propagandists want to discredit the information campaign recently launched by the Ministry of Defense “Update data in the Territorial centers of procurement and social support”. This is happening against the backdrop of a bill to abolish the deferment from mobilization for men over the age of 30 who receive additional higher education. The Ministry of Defense notes that the processes for updating data and mobilization are different. And the Russian propaganda wants to unite them in order to cause panic among the population. Detector Media has already refuted a number of fakes on mobilization in Ukraine, including the “mass mobilization” of Ukrainian students.

Manipulation Poland deports men of military age to Ukraine

Such information was disseminated by anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The reports note that in Poland they decided to “get rid” of Ukrainian refugees, so they will be mobilized. Like, this applies, first of all, to those evading to mobilize. It looks like they will be deported. The authors refer to the material of the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita. This is manipulation.

The material says that Poland forcibly returned those citizens of Ukraine who transported illegal immigrants to Europe. As for the evaders themselves, the material says that the extradition procedure for such persons may begin when Ukraine issues an international arrest warrant for each of them. And it is about possible scenarios from the Polish officials themselves. The authors of the propaganda publication distorted the meaning of the material. Moreover, in order for a person to be recognized as an evader, he needs to be handed over a draft notice. That is, one needs to find a person abroad and personally hand it over to him. From a practical point of view, this is difficult to implement.

And the “deportation of men liable for military service” is not possible at all, since there is no legal basis. Certainly. The Border Service of Ukraine can investigate crimes of illegal border crossing under martial law, and, for example, try to return a man liable for military service to Ukraine if he illegally crossed the border.

The EU is consolidated in its position that they do not deport anyone against their will. According to EU law, all Ukrainians who arrived there after the start of a full-scale invasion fall under the protection of the Temporary Protection Directive.