Propagandists are spreading a story on anonymous Telegram channels about a ‘Ukrainian waiter’ at a Polish restaurant who allegedly added his semen to customers' dishes. It is claimed that this was reported by the leading Polish publication Rzeczpospolita. However, this is a fake.

Experts from the publication Farwater.Skhid have drawn attention to the issue. They discovered that propagandists used a manipulated screenshot, supposedly taken from the publication. The falsification involved altering the headline, section, and illustrations, though stock images were retained in the photo. The unnatural structure of the categorization and the use of stock images prove the manipulation. The analysis also shows that this information was spread exclusively through propagandist Telegram channels and is absent from the pages of Rzeczpospolita.

The main goal of this disinformation is to discredit Ukrainian refugees by creating the impression that they are immoral and dangerous. This is aimed at reducing support for Ukrainians in Poland, provoking public outrage, and undermining trust in policies of openness towards migrants. Propagandists also seek to divide Polish-Ukrainian relations, as such provocative stories emotionally impact the audience. These actions are yet another example of Russia's informational aggression aimed at destabilizing societies that support Ukraine.

Propagandists are spreading information on social media, particularly on TikTok, claiming that the expenditures for the National Police of Ukraine allegedly exceed the funding for the Armed Forces of Ukraine by four times. However, this is a fake.

According to the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security, their experts have clarified that in 2025, the state budget allocations for the Ministry of Defense total 1.6 trillion UAH, of which about 1 trillion UAH is allocated for the support of the Armed Forces. In comparison, the Ministry of Internal Affairs receives 438.3 billion UAH, of which 104.7 billion UAH is allocated to the National Police. Thus, the funding for the Armed Forces exceeds the expenses for the Ministry of Internal Affairs by 4 times and for the police by 15 times.

This disinformation is created to discredit the Ukrainian government and divert attention from the real priorities of the budget. Manipulating such figures aims to undermine public trust in the authorities, create internal conflicts, and discredit the government's efforts in countering Russian aggression. The spread of such messages is also aimed at inciting discontent among the military and the civilian population, which plays into the hands of enemy propaganda. Ukraine continues to allocate primary resources to support defense and ensure the army’s needs.

Russian sources are spreading information that Ukrainian legislation has introduced a ban on criticizing the government, specifically in comments on social media and online platforms. However, this claim is false, as reported by the StopFake project. On January 14, 2025, the Ukrainian Parliament did indeed pass the draft law No 11321 in the second reading, which amends legislation to strengthen media, journalists' activities, and citizens' right to access information. However, the new law does not introduce censorship but rather clarifies existing rules regarding content moderation while protecting the media from liability for users' actions.

The head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech, Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, emphasized on his Telegram channel: “We are strengthening the protection of reputable media, not limiting either the media or users. No one is requiring media outlets to delete critical comments without legal grounds”.

He also explained the mechanism for regulating comments under the new legislation: if a legal case is initiated and a reasoned decision is made regarding material that violates the Law on Media, the editorial office has three days to decide on the fate of the respective comment. It can either delete it without legal consequences or leave it and defend its position in court.

“Currently, media outlets can genuinely face lawsuits if they paraphrase a person's words rather than quote them directly, even if the meaning remains unchanged. Instead, we are proposing a way to make it easier for media outlets to convey information so that they can paraphrase a public figure's statement and be protected from lawsuits in such cases”, Yurchyshyn stressed.

Russian propaganda spreads this fake to undermine citizens' trust in the government, sow internal tension, and promote the narrative of alleged “authoritarian” tendencies in Ukraine. At the same time, these informational manipulations target a Western audience, aiming to create a false impression of Ukraine's departure from democratic values, which could be used to undermine international support.

Russian Telegram channels are spreading information claiming that 62% of Britons allegedly view the 100-year partnership agreement between the United Kingdom and Ukraine as a ‘threat’ to London's interests. To support this assertion, the propagandists refer to a supposedly conducted ‘survey’ by a company called GLPOR.

In reality, this information is false, according to experts from Ukrinform. GLPOR is not an existing sociological firm; its website was created solely for the purpose of spreading fake surveys that are used in Russian disinformation campaigns.

The GLPOR website claims that it is a British company specializing in international market and political research, allegedly collaborating with Oxford University and working for the British government. However, despite these claims, the GLPOR website cannot be found on any search engine, and reputable international media have never published any ‘research’ from this company, unlike Russian propaganda resources.

The domain of the website was registered only in 2023, and since then, content has been retroactively added to create the illusion of a long-established company.

This is not the first time that propagandists have attempted to use the fake company GLPOR to spread manipulations. Earlier, we analyzed a fake claim about 88% of Ukrainians allegedly not supporting ‘Zelenskyi's decision to cancel the presidential elections’.

Russian propaganda uses fake surveys and invented companies like GLPOR to manipulate public opinion and create the impression of negative attitudes in Western countries toward cooperation with Ukraine. This is part of a disinformation strategy aimed at weakening international support for Ukraine and undermining its position on the global stage.

Pro-Russian sources have been spreading information claiming that in Slovakia, locals are allegedly vandalizing or removing license plates from the cars of Ukrainian refugees. According to these reports, this forces Ukrainians to return home to replace their plates, where they are supposedly detained by military recruitment officers for mobilization at the border. The supposed reason for this behavior is that Slovaks are ‘tired’ of Ukrainians.

However, fact-checkers from the StopFake resource have debunked this information. The first such reports appeared in Slovak on the Facebook page named Klub Priateľov Štefana Harabina — Dôstojnosť pre Slovensko (Club of Friends of Štefan Harabin — Dignity for Slovakia).

Štefan Harabin is a former justice minister and ex-president of the Supreme Court of Slovakia, who has openly propagated pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian views during his election campaigns. He denied the fact of Russian aggression against Ukraine and called for a complete cessation of any support for Kyiv, including financial and humanitarian aid.

Moreover, early in the full-scale invasion, Harabin stated that “if he were in Putin's place, he would have done the same”. Given this, it is clear that the page named after him regularly spreads pro-Russian narratives, rejoices in Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, and praises the policies of the Kremlin. The post about the supposed mass vandalism of Ukrainian license plates in Slovakia provides no evidence or sources. Notably, no reputable Slovak media outlet has reported such incidents, further proving the fabricated nature of this ‘news’.

Propaganda is spreading such fakes to scare Ukrainian refugees and create a sense of danger abroad. At the same time, propagandists aim to discredit countries that support Ukraine by promoting narratives of hostility from local populations. This aligns with the overall Kremlin strategy to destabilize European societies and undermine international support for Ukraine.

Earlier, we analyzed a report claiming that a Ukrainian schoolgirl in New York allegedly complained about her Black classmates and believed that her education should be funded by American taxpayers.

Russian propaganda sources are spreading a story about a soldier from the 22nd separate mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces who allegedly left the army, returned home, and later killed his partner. The soldier is described as extremely ‘unstable and inadequate’, with his comrades supposedly claiming that he was “on special watch” by his superiors and subjected to physical torture for refusing to contribute to the brigade's ‘needs’.

In reality, this information is false. The incident actually occurred in the Sumy region. On January 15, 2025, the Sumy Regional Police reported the arrest of a man who killed his partner during a conflict that arose between them at a gathering.

However, official resources from the Sumy Regional Police did not mention that the arrested man was a soldier from the 22nd Mechanized Brigade who had left the army. This claim was not found in the local news article from the Dancor Online portal, nor in any other regional resources from Sumy. This is a fabrication by Russian propaganda.

There are also no comments from the command of the 22nd Brigade or the soldier’s comrades regarding the incident, which contradicts the claims made by propagandists. The man was not an active soldier at the time of the incident.

The actions of the suspect were classified under Article 115 (intentional murder) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. He faces up to 15 years in prison for his actions.

In the context of recent news about the mass occurrence of desertion and leaving the army, Russian propagandists are spreading such disinformation to undermine trust in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and create panic within Ukrainian society. To address this issue, in November 2024, the Verkhovna Rada passed Law No. 12095 on voluntary return to service for those who first left their military units or deserted.

Earlier, we analyzed Russian disinformation claiming that a soldier who left the army found and raped a police officer who had previously mobilized him.

Propaganda sources are circulating a screenshot from Donald Trump Jr.'s Instagram profile, allegedly sharing a publication from Newsweek. In it, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi is quoted as saying he does not plan to attend Trump's inauguration. Trump Jr. is supposedly commenting that “the funniest thing is that he [Zelenskyi - Ed.] unofficially asked for an invitation about three times, and each time he was refused. Now he pretends like he decided not to go... what a weirdo”.

In reality, this screenshot is fabricated, reports the StopFake project. Donald Trump Jr. did not post anything like this. The Instagram page of Newsweek, from which the publication was allegedly shared by Trump Jr., does not contain a post with Zelenskyi's quote.

Additionally, publications such as Politico and The Economic Times, which have previously reported on Trump Jr.'s criticism of Zelenskyi shared on his Instagram, did not mention this incident. Had the publication been genuine, at least one of these outlets would have likely drawn attention to it.

Ultimately, the fabricated screenshot is being spread exclusively in pro-Russian segments of the internet, and it has not been published by any credible foreign or Ukrainian sources.

Earlier, in an interview with American journalist of Ukrainian descent Lex Fridman, Zelenskyi said he would not attend the inauguration without a direct invitation: 

“I would like to, but I will look at what is happening right now. I cannot come, especially during the war, unless President Trump directly invites me. It would just be inappropriate”.

This fake is part of an effort by Russian propagandists to claim that Trump supposedly does not care about Zelenskyi. In this particular case, they are portraying the Ukrainian president as excessively persistent.

Russian Telegram channels are claiming that former US ambassador to the USSR, Jack Matlock, ‘exposed Ukraine's fake about Bucha’, stating that there is no evidence proving Moscow's responsibility for the tragedy in Bucha. Propagandists refer to Matlock's words during a broadcast on CNN.

However, the StopFake project clarifies that Matlock merely expressed doubt about whether what happened in Bucha was done under Moscow's orders. In his opinion, additional evidence is needed to establish this. During the broadcast, Brian Klaas, an Associate Professor of Global Politics at University College London, disagreed with Matlock, stating that it is impossible for such crimes [as those in Bucha] to occur without at least the awareness of senior Russian military officials.

It is important to note that this broadcast took place in the spring of 2022. Today, numerous independent investigations have confirmed the facts of mass killings of civilians in Bucha and the involvement of Russian soldiers, as well as the higher military command of Russia, in these crimes.

The Russians have taken advantage of the former US ambassador's old words for their own self-serving purposes - to fuel the narrative of a ‘staged’ event in Bucha. By spreading this disinformation, the agitprop seeks to deflect attention from the war crimes committed by the Russian military and once again accuse Ukraine of ‘staging’ the events. Earlier, we analyzed the Russian fake claiming that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are allegedly preparing a ‘new Bucha’ in Sudzha.

Russian propaganda is actively spreading information on anonymous Telegram channels about the alleged repulsion of a Ukrainian drone attack on Smolensk region by Russian air defense. However, this is not true.

This was reported by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. Their experts claim that on the night of January 21, Ukrainian forces struck the Smolensk Aviation Plant, where combat aircraft are produced and modernized. This strike caused significant damage to Russian military infrastructure. Additionally, Ukraine successfully attacked:

- the Liskinska oil depot in Voronezh region, causing a large-scale fire;

- the command post of the 29th Russian Army in Volnovakha, weakening the enemy's control on the front.

In this way, they are attempting to create the illusion of success for their air defense and conceal the effectiveness of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' strikes. Propaganda also uses such messages to minimize panic among its population and demonstrate a false sense of defense capability. It also seeks to discredit the successes of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the international level, trying to undermine trust in Ukraine as a capable partner for Western allies.

Russian propaganda spread information on anonymous Telegram channels about the death of a Danish F-16 instructor during a missile strike on Kryvyi Rih.

This was reported by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. They found that the Ministry of Defense of Denmark officially denied this claim, emphasizing that none of their military personnel had been killed in Ukraine. These disinformation attacks serve several purposes.

Russia seeks to discredit Denmark as a country supporting Ukraine and create the impression that the involvement of Western instructors carries significant risks. Such fakes are aimed at weakening international support for Ukraine, sowing doubts among allies, and demoralizing Ukrainian society.

Propagandists are spreading claims that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have allegedly mined the rear, installing two million explosive devices. However, this is false.

This is reported by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. Its experts have determined that manipulations concerning the ‘mining of territories by the AFU’ are actively used in Russian propaganda. In July 2024, they falsely claimed that explosives were supposedly placed under dams and bridges in Odesa. In reality, it was Russian forces who, retreating from Kherson in 2022, left behind numerous mines. They mined roads, residential buildings, schools, hospitals, and other civilian objects, creating threats to civilians. Because of this, Ukraine has become one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world. According to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, the contaminated area covers approximately 139,000 square kilometers. Annual economic losses due to this amount to $11.2 billion. The occupiers' mining of territories has already caused over 760 civilian casualties, including 86 children. These tragedies are a direct consequence of Russia's war crimes and its tactics of terror against Ukraine.

Propagandists disseminate this disinformation for several purposes. Specifically, they aim to convince international audiences and Ukrainians of the alleged incompetence or bad faith of Ukraine's military command. Such propaganda is also designed to create panic and despair among the population, fostering the perception that Ukrainian authorities act against their own citizens. Moreover, by doing so, Russia seeks to shift responsibility for mining onto Ukraine to divert attention from Russia's war crimes, including the mining of civilian facilities.

Russian propaganda Telegram channels have spread claims that Ukrainian media allegedly ‘photoshops’ smiles onto injured Ukrainian soldiers in photos with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi. To ‘prove’ this claim, propagandists have shared a manipulated photo, alleging that photo editing is the ‘only tool for creating any kind of victory’ for the ‘Kyiv regime’.  

In reality, this information is false. The original photo, which propagandists edited using graphic design software, was first shared online on March 13, 2022. On that day, President Zelenskyi visited wounded Ukrainian defenders in a military hospital. The sudden reappearance of this photo in early 2025 is already suspicious.  

Moreover, using Google’s reverse image search function reveals that, at the time of its original publication, all media outlets shared the unedited version of the photo. The manipulated version propagated by Russian sources is not found in credible outlets. The original image is still available on the official website of the President of Ukraine.  

By spreading this fake claim, Russian propagandists aim to portray Ukraine as ‘losing at all fronts’ and suggest that Ukrainian authorities are artificially fabricating a ‘victory narrative’. Once again, this tactic seeks to discredit President Zelenskyi and undermine Ukrainians' trust in their government.  

Previously, similar disinformation included claims about Zelenskyi purchasing a €18 million villa and building an underground bunker there, which were also debunked. 

Russian Telegram channels have spread claims that parishioners of Ukrainian Orthodox churches were allegedly asked not to visit places of worship on January 7. Those who chose to celebrate Christmas on this date and attended church were supposedly threatened with police interrogations. As ‘evidence’, propagandists attached a photo of an alleged announcement to back up their claims.  

In reality, this information is false, according to the VoxCheck project. The announcement contains a language error: “On January 7, there will be police at our church”, which is a direct translation from Russian. The correct Ukrainian phrasing should be “in our church” or “near our church”. This linguistic inaccuracy suggests the announcement was likely fabricated by Russian sources.  

Additionally, this “news” is being disseminated exclusively by Russian and pro-Russian outlets, using the same photo repeatedly. There are no similar announcements from other churches available online.  

Since 2023, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) has officially transitioned to celebrating Christmas on December 25 instead of January 7, in line with the Revised Julian calendar. However, there is no ban on celebrating Christmas on January 7 in Ukraine, and everyone is free to choose the date they prefer. Moreover, the OCU has clarified that parishes where at least two-thirds of the congregation wish to retain the old calendar may continue to do so.  

This disinformation is yet another attempt by Russian sources to exploit religious issues in Ukraine to sow division among Ukrainians. Previously, we analyzed similar false claims that the West had forced the Ukrainian Church to adopt the Catholic calendar.

Russian propaganda Telegram channels are spreading a video claiming that, according to a survey conducted in European countries, 71% of respondents from Ukraine consider the Euromaidan of 2013-2014 to have been a mistake, as the expected improvement in quality of life and EU membership did not happen. As supposed evidence, propagandists refer to a survey conducted by the t-online portal, as well as a report from Euronews.

However, fact-checkers from the Proverieno (Checked) resource have debunked this information. They found no mention of such a study on t-online. While the portal covers events related to Ukraine, its surveys typically focus on public opinion in Germany and rarely cover international issues.

The video is also a compilation of old images with automatic translations, which do not align with Euronews' style. Furthermore, neither on the official website of the media nor on its verified social media accounts on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube is there any such report.

Russian agitprop spreads this fake to discredit the Revolution of Dignity, undermine Ukrainians' trust in the European course, and sow despair among those who were forced to leave Ukraine. These manipulations aim to justify Russian aggression and impose a narrative about Ukraine's supposed ‘wrong choice’.

Propaganda Telegram channels are spreading information claiming that the signing of a 100-year partnership agreement between Ukraine and the United Kingdom supposedly means the loss of Ukrainian sovereignty and the transformation of the country into a British colony.

In reality, this is a fake, as noted by experts from the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. Indeed, on January 16, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi signed a long-term partnership agreement in Kyiv. However, this document contains no provisions indicating the ‘colonization’ of Ukraine.

On the contrary, the agreement envisions the expansion of defense cooperation, including the creation of a new structure to enhance security in the Baltic, Black, and Azov Seas. Additionally, it will foster collaboration in energy, transportation, climate change mitigation, and the transition to clean energy.

It is important to note that the agreement is based on an equal partnership between the two countries and is aimed at developing strategic sectors in both nations. This completely refutes the Russian propaganda fake about ‘colonization’.

Furthermore, according to Starmer, the United Kingdom has already allocated three billion pounds in military aid to Ukraine and plans to provide a loan of 2.2 billion pounds, which will be repaid through interest on frozen Russian assets.

Russian propaganda systematically spreads fakes to undermine Ukrainians' trust in international partners and discredit Ukraine's cooperation with the West. The Kremlin seeks to isolate Ukraine and deprive it of international support, as strengthening international cooperation enhances Kyiv's position on the global stage. In fact, it is the Russian authorities that have concrete plans for the colonization of Ukraine and are trying to disrupt its integration into the global community.

Earlier, we debunked the claim that Ukraine’s European integration is supposedly a form of absorption and colonization.

Russian anonymous Telegram channels are actively spreading disinformation that allegedly 50% of Ukraine's emergency responders from the State Emergency Service (SES) will be sent to the front. However, this is false information aimed at sowing panic among the population and undermining trust in Ukrainian state institutions.

This is reported by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. Its experts have clarified that, according to an official statement from the SES, 90% of personnel are already reserved and continue to perform their duties. All key units, including firefighters, rescuers, sapper teams, engineers, and chemists, are reserved. These professionals provide vital assistance in wartime conditions.

Russian propaganda systematically uses fake news to destabilize the situation in Ukraine, undermine the morale of citizens, and create distrust towards the government. Such information attacks are part of a broader strategy of information warfare aimed at weakening Ukrainian society and its resistance.

Russian propagandists claim in the media that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are allegedly preparing a ‘new Bucha’ in Sudzha and are using civilians as human shields. However, such reports are part of an information campaign aimed at concealing a war crime committed by Russian forces - specifically, the killing of a civilian resident of Russia during an airstrike on an orphanage in Sudzha.

This was reported by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. Its experts assert that in this case, the responsibility for the deaths lies with the Russian authorities, who refuse to organize humanitarian ‘green corridors’ for evacuation, while continuing to shell their own citizens using aviation and artillery. On the other hand, Ukrainian soldiers strictly adhere to the norms of international humanitarian law: they provide civilians with access to drinking water, food, medications, hygiene products, and also offer medical assistance. Meanwhile, during the occupation of the Bucha district of Kyiv in 2022, Russian war criminals killed at least 1,190 Ukrainian civilians.

Propagandists spread such fake news for several reasons, aiming to achieve political, military, and psychological goals. Such statements divert attention from the war crimes committed by the Russian army. Creating a false narrative of Ukraine's ‘guilt’ allows the actions of Russian soldiers to be justified as those of ‘defenders’. Propaganda shapes a false picture of events for Russian citizens, justifying the war as ‘defense’ against an imagined threat. The creation of an enemy image, which is allegedly committing crimes, strengthens support for the war among the population. Through such fakes, the Russians also seek to discredit Ukraine in the eyes of the international community, portraying it as a violator of international law. Such statements often serve as informational cover for future provocations or terrorist acts that the Russian side plans to carry out, but attempts to blame Ukraine for them.

Russian anonymous Telegram channels are actively circulating a video claiming that a sniper from the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine allegedly killed several pensioners near Pokrovsk. This is being presented as another fabricated ‘war crime’ by Ukrainian forces. In reality, this is a complete fake.  

The Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security reports that propagandists distorted the context, portraying Russian soldiers as ‘pensioners’ in their disinformation. The original video, published by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense Intelligence, shows a person in camouflage carrying a water bottle in their left hand and a rifle in their right hand. This clearly identifies the individual as a combatant, not a civilian, as falsely claimed by Russian propaganda.  

This is not the first instance of such disinformation. Since early January, Russian propaganda resources have been spreading dozens of synchronized fake reports, aiming to manipulate public opinion. In the first half of January alone, over 600 fake messages were detected on Telegram, alleging ‘murders’ of civilians, prisoners, and the wounded, allegedly committed by Ukrainian forces.  

These disinformation campaigns are designed to undermine trust in Ukrainian military personnel and distort the reality of the war. A central tactic of Kremlin propaganda is to depict Ukraine’s armed forces as ‘criminals’ committing acts of violence against civilians. Propagandists seek to reverse the narrative, presenting Ukraine as the aggressor while framing their own war crimes, such as killing civilians and destroying infrastructure, as defensive actions.  

By spreading such fake stories, Russian propaganda also aims to weaken international support for Ukraine and justify their military operations by shifting the blame for violence onto Ukraine.

Russian sources are spreading disinformation, alleging that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi called on Los Angeles authorities to stop focusing on ‘fabricated problems’ and instead prioritize financial support for Ukraine.  

In reality, President Zelenskyi made no such statement. Fact-checkers from StopFake  found no evidence of this claim. On the contrary, in his evening address on January 12, 2025, the Ukrainian president expressed his willingness to assist the United States in combating the California wildfires: “The situation there is dire, and Ukrainians can help Americans save lives. This is currently being worked on, and through the appropriate channels, we have offered our assistance to the U.S”.  

Zelenskyi also mentioned that 150 Ukrainian rescue workers are prepared to provide the necessary aid.  

The wildfire situation in California remains critical, with at least 24 reported fatalities and approximately 180,000 people forced to evacuate due to the fire threat.  

This disinformation aims to discredit Zelenskyi by portraying him as a corrupt leader who misuses international aid. A similar narrative was debunked earlier, where Russian sources falsely claimed that eight mansions belonging to Ukrainian generals had burned down in Los Angeles.

Russian propaganda Telegram channels have circulated reports claiming that Russian forces broke through the state border near the settlements of Zhuravka and Prokhody in the Sumy region.  

However, the Sumy Regional Military Administration (RMA) refuted this information on its official Facebook page. While the situation at the border remains challenging, it is stable. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are holding the line and are fully prepared to repel any aggression.  

The Sumy RMA also noted that while Russian forces occasionally attempt to enter the region, these efforts are unsuccessful:  “Over the past month, we continue to observe attempts by enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups to infiltrate the Sumy region. However, all such groups are neutralized by our defenders”.

By spreading such disinformation, propagandists aim to instill fear among Ukrainians, undermine trust in the actions of authorities and the military, and sow panic. Previously, similar false claims about the so-called ‘occupation’ of parts of the Sumy region were also debunked.

Russian propaganda Telegram channels are circulating a purported NBC News clip claiming that Ukrainian hackers allegedly hacked WhatsApp and began sending mass fake news to Americans about Ukraine's military successes and minimal losses in the Russia-Ukraine war. Propagandists mockingly comment that “when victory doesn’t happen in reality, Ukrainians decided to bring it closer in WhatsApp”.  

In reality, this information is false, as reported by VoxCheck. Using Google’s reverse image search, it was discovered that the video features Gadi Schwartz, a reporter from NBC News' Stay Tuned NOW program. The fake news used a snippet from a segment titled The Future of Everything published on NBC News’ official YouTube channel on December 4, 2024.  

While the original NBC News segment did mention a large-scale hacking attack on nearly all major U.S. communications companies, the report attributed the attacks to China, not Ukraine.  

Additionally, the segment includes an interview snippet with Chris Krebs, the former director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. In the actual NBC News report, Krebs comments on China's cyberattacks on U.S. telecommunications systems, not on any actions by Ukraine.  

This is not the first instance of Russian disinformation regarding NBC News. Previously, similar claims were made, alleging that an American official admitted on NBC News that U.S. intelligence data on Russia was mostly fabricated - a claim also proven false.

Propagandists are spreading information in anonymous Telegram channels and media outlets about a fire in Los Angeles, where, according to them, eight cottages belonging to Ukrainian generals worth $90 million were allegedly burned. However, this is a fake. This fabrication was accompanied by a false video and a quote attributed to the commander of Ukraine's Ground Forces, Mykhailo Drapatyi. The propagandists imitated the style of the United24 media in this fake. It also mentioned that the generals had purchased the properties using funds provided to Ukraine by Western partners.

Analysts from StopFake emphasized that neither United24 nor other reputable outlets had published such information. Russian media used real footage of a fire in Los Angeles, manipulating it to create a false narrative. General Mykhailo Drapatyi never made the statements attributed to him by the propagandists.

These types of information attacks are aimed at discrediting the Ukrainian military leadership by spreading the notion of corruption within the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Additionally, the propaganda is intended to weaken trust in Ukraine among Western partners who provide military and financial assistance. The fake also emphasized the ‘injustice’ to further influence the emotions of the audience and generate a negative perception of Ukrainian leadership. Such information operations are part of Russia's broader strategy to manipulate international opinion and undermine support for Ukraine.

Propagandists are spreading information in Russian and Polish language Telegram channels claiming that 25 million people have allegedly left Ukraine, 9.5 million of whom went to Russia, and 6.6 million to the EU. However, these claims are false and do not reflect reality.  

The figures cited are significantly exaggerated. Before the full-scale war, Ukraine's population was approximately 41 million people. According to the UN, the number of refugees who have left Ukraine and are currently residing in other countries is approximately 6.8 million, not 25 million. Outside Europe, there are just over 560,000 Ukrainian refugees. Moreover, the claim that most Ukrainians voluntarily relocated to Russia is a manipulation. In reality, a significant portion of the refugees who went to Russia were forcibly deported by Russian authorities, which constitutes a violation of international law. In such cases, these individuals had no choice, and their departure was the result of coercion, not free will.  

Russian propaganda actively uses such messages to discredit Ukraine on the international stage, portray it as a failed state, and undermine trust in the Ukrainian government. In reality, despite the challenges of war, Ukraine is working tirelessly to support its citizens, including those who were forced to leave the country.

Russian media outlets are circulating a video in which a Ukrainian schoolgirl, allegedly living in New York, complains about her new school. The girl supposedly claims that she had difficulty adjusting to the “large number of Black classmates”, who allegedly offered her drugs, and that lessons were frequently canceled due to shooting threats. At the end of the video, she claims she transferred from a public to a private school, noting that while tuition is expensive, it is covered by American taxpayers - a situation she considers entirely fair.

In reality, the video was fabricated by propagandists, according to the StopFake project.

In late December 2024, Voice of America released a short video story about Ukrainian schoolchildren who relocated to New York due to the full-scale war and had to adapt to a new learning environment.

The girl featured in the video is named Sofiia Holinei, and she attends St. George’s Academy, a private school. However, the segment where she allegedly complains about Black classmates, drug dealers, shootings, and claims her education should be free was created using artificial intelligence - such remarks are absent in the original story. Propagandists manipulated audio to fabricate this segment and supplemented it with stock footage that is not part of the authentic video.

Previously, we debunked a fake claim that Ukrainian children were allegedly being beaten in Polish schools for speaking Ukrainian.

Social media users are spreading information that Ukraine allegedly ranked last in Europe for average IQ levels on the portal International IQ Test. According to this claim, Ukraine ranked 78th out of 127 countries globally, with a score of 95.55.  

The International IQ Test is one of many online tests for determining an individual's intelligence level. In addition to offering tests, the portal publishes a ranking of countries based on their average IQ, which is updated annually on January 1 using data from the previous year. This year, the site did indeed rank Ukraine 78th out of 127 countries. However, this ranking is based solely on scores from the platform's users. The International IQ Test gathers data only from those who take its specific test, ignoring results from other IQ tests available online.  

In reality, there is no universally recognized or entirely accurate IQ test. Different methods are used to create such tests, and specialists often employ several different tests to achieve more precise results.  

Furthermore, comparing countries by citizens' IQ levels is methodologically flawed. Intelligence is always shaped by cultural background, making it impossible to create a universal test. A test consisting of 40 questions cannot reliably measure such a complex phenomenon as intelligence, which remains only partially understood by science.  

Several methodological errors were made in forming the International IQ Test country rankings. For instance, an accurate calculation requires a uniform sample size of participants across all countries. However, in this ranking, the number of participants per country varies significantly—from around 4,000 users from Iran to almost 150,000 from Japan.  

Anyone can add their score to a country's ranking on the site by simply selecting the country after completing the test. The platform does not automatically detect a user's country of origin, meaning participants can choose any country they wish. Moreover, users are allowed unlimited attempts, making it easy to manipulate the results for a specific country, either manually or using bots.  

The website provides no information about whether the developers counter spam traffic, block mass submissions from identical IP addresses, or exclude such profiles from the annual statistics.  

It is also suspicious that in 2023, Russia ranked 26th in the IQ test rankings but suddenly jumped to 6th place in 2024. This raises the possibility that the results were artificially inflated to manipulate the rankings.  

Thus, the ranking contains numerous methodological flaws, making it impossible to draw reliable conclusions about the average IQ levels in different countries.  

Propagandists have repeatedly relied on unreliable rankings to discredit Ukraine and divert Russians' attention from domestic problems.  

Previously, we analyzed the false claim that Ukraine was allegedly ranked as the "worst country in the world for women" according to the 2023 Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Index.