Russian propagandists are spreading false information that Ukraine is not in fact a sovereign state, since its international passport has “Ukraine” printed on it instead of “Republic of Ukraine”, unlike the passports of European Union countries. However, this is not true.

Specialists from the VoxCheck project drew attention to this fake. They found out that Ukraine is the full name of the state, and therefore “Ukraine” is marked on the cover of the Ukrainian passport. This practice is standard in many countries around the world, including members of the European Union. For example, a Czech passport says “Czech Republic”, and a Polish passport says “Republic of Poland”.

However, not all EU member states use the word “republic” in the name of their countries, as propagandists claim. This is because not all of them are republics. For example, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Spain and Sweden are kingdoms and therefore do not have the word “republic” on their passports. Also on the passports of other European republics, such as Hungary, Romania and Ireland, one can only see the name of the country without this word.

On passports of different countries one can see different approaches to indicating the full name of the state. Therefore, the claim that Ukraine is not a state due to the absence of the word “republic” on its passport is baseless.

Propagandists spread such fakes to justify Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine by the fact that Ukraine does not seem to be a real state.

Russian telegram channels are disseminating information that the captain of the Dali container ship, which crashed into a bridge in Baltimore, America on March 26, 2024, was allegedly a citizen of Ukraine.

In fact, this information is not true, according to experts on the VoxCheck project. The Ukrainian was not operating the vessel at the time of the collision.

Shipping company Synergy Marine Group, which operates the Dali, said there were 22 crew members on board, all of them of Indian origin. The company also confirmed to independent fact-checkers from the Associated Press that both captains of the container ship were US citizens.

While passing the bridge, the ship lost control. However, the collision was not intentional, but happened accidentally, as reported by US President Joe Biden. Maritime industry experts say the likely cause of the collision could have been crew error or a malfunction of the ship's control mechanisms.

Russian propaganda is once again trying to blame Ukraine for the world’s troubles. Previously, we refuted the information that the “Prague shooter” allegedly turned out to be Ukrainian.

Pro-Russian resources are distributing a “video report” allegedly from the Euronews  channel that French President Emmanuel Macron is being threatened to force an escalation of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Citing Bellingcat journalists, the authors report that Macron is being “blackmailed with an intimate video”.

However, this is actually fake. Neither Euronews nor Bellingcat published such a video report. This was reported by specialists from the VoxCheck project. There is no news on the Euronews and Bellingcat websites about how the French President is being blackmailed.

In the Euronews “report” all the footage is taken from open sources. So, if you check the first frames from the video in a reverse search, it turns out that they were taken on March 15, 2024 during the meeting of the leaders of France, Germany and Poland - Macron, Scholz and Tusk - in Berlin.

Another shot of Macron was taken from his 60 minutes interview in 2022.

In addition, the fake report also quotes French political scientist Olivier Paquet as allegedly confirming that American intelligence regularly uses blackmail against other politicians. However, the political scientist did not make such a statement - at least, it is not in open sources.

Bellingcat previously denied that its investigators were mentioned in another fake video that was passed off as a BBC report. Using the logos of the world's leading media (Euronews, Politico, Reuters), such fakes about Ukraine or the West are regularly created. By distributing this particular fake video, Russian propaganda is trying to minimize international support for Ukraine in the war against Russia. Previously, we refuted information that Euronews allegedly showed a story that the statement of the Ukrainian Embassy in France angered French farmers.

Russian media are disseminating information that a Member of the European Parliament from the Dutch right-wing party Forum for Democracy, Marcel de Graaf, said that the terrorist attack at Crocus City Holly was organized and paid for by Ukraine.

In fact, behind the terrorist attack in the Crocus City Holi near Moscow is the Islamic State Khorasan group, which took full responsibility for the attack. This has already been confirmed by US Presidential National Security Adviser John Kirby.

As for Marcel de Graaf, the Dutch politician accuses Ukraine without providing any evidence. In addition, he is an open Russophile and a supporter of Putin. Graaf also advocated stopping aid to Ukraine and lifting sanctions from the aggressor country. They write about this in the Center for Strategic Communications and Security at Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.

Propaganda continues to spread fake news about the terrorist attack. The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Moscow Region, Kyrylo Budanov, noted that the Kremlin had already changed the versions of events at the Crocus City Holi near Moscow three times, trying to somehow link the so-called “Ukrainian trace” to the terrorist attack. It is obvious that Russian propaganda also attracts European lobbyists with a pro-Kremlin position. In addition, in order to blame Ukraine, the Kremlin launched a discredit campaign using bots.

• Read also: The Russian NTV channel showed a fake video where the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine “confirmed the involvement of the Kyiv regime” in the terrorist attack at Crocus City Holi (ADDED).

A screenshot from the supposedly official website of the EU Delegation to Ukraine is being circulated online, containing information about the “deportation of 830,000 Ukrainians to resolve the conflict”. The authors of the “news” report that lists of citizens subject to deportation have already been compiled, so they invite you to go to the telegram bot to familiarize yourself with them.

In fact, this information is fake, writes the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council. There is no publication of similar content on the official website of the EU Delegation to Ukraine.

Probably, such content is distributed to increase the reach of anonymous telegram channels to which links lead. In addition, the creators of the fake seek to destabilize the situation in Europe and make Ukrainian refugees object to their future in EU countries. Previously, we denied information that German citizens allegedly advocate the forced extradition of Ukrainian refugees from the country.

Photos of women holding a large blue and yellow flag are being shared online. The publications add that the photo was taken during a rally of the “Marseille-Odesa” organization on the steps of the Saint-Charles train station in Marseille (France).

Propagandists stressed that the action allegedly outraged local residents, who began to trample and wave the Ukrainian flag. “Apparently, the French are already very fed up with the Ukrainians, if they are ready to do this with the “state” flag”, the propagandists comment. However, this is not true.

The VoxCheck analysts note that there is no information about a similar incident during the campaign. The “outraged” French could simply be invented by propagandists.

After all, on the official page of the “Marseille-Odesa” organization on Facebook, you can find the corresponding photo, which is used by fakers in their publications. In her caption, the head of the union Nataliia Dobrianska reports on the action and notes that Odesans like the stairs to the Saint-Charles station because they remind them of the Potemkin stairs in Odesa. However, neither the caption to the photo nor the comments to the post contain any mention of the flag-lowering incident.

Moreover, neither the Ukrainian nor the French media have any information about such incidents during the action.

Anonymous Telegram channels spread information that the Ukrainian military beat a NATO instructor for refusing to speak Ukrainian. The incident happened in Denmark during pilot training. This is a lie.

The VoxCheck analysts took up this case and found out that it was a fictional news story published on a satirical channel.

Neither Ukrainian nor foreign media wrote about such an event. The primary source of the fabricated news is the satirical telegram channel “Empire of the Very Evil”. The description of the channel states: “Caution, possible fake and harsh satire. All written is fiction, all coincidences are accidental”.

The so-called statement of Dmytro Kuleba is spreading on social networks, allegedly, Ukraine considers the International Space Station (ISS) a legitimate military target, since a Russian cosmonaut is on it. This is a lie.

The VoxCheck analysts wrote that such news was fabricated and published it on a satirical channel. And the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry did not make such statements. Also, Ukrainian diplomats did not give similar comments to the media.

On social networks, a video is being shared where Ukrainians are “asking for asylum” in the member states of the European Union and NATO, while all three participants are represented as pigs. According to the plot, the USA turns out to be a butcher who profited from the plight of piglets. “What cool cartoons are in the EU!”, propagandists comment. It is not true.

The VoxCheck analysts investigated the case and established that the so-called cartoon is a fake video. After all, in fact, this is an animation of a fairy tale, on which propagandists imposed a textual accompaniment.

A keyword search on YouTube revealed that the animation was created back in 2020 by a user with the nickname Frame Order. The author creates entertaining animations based on famous films and fairy tales using dark humor.

In the original video, there are no inscriptions about Ukraine, NATO, the EU, unlike the propaganda “cartoon”.

Anonymous Telegram channels write that the “Ukrainian authorities” allegedly require the owners of Telegram channels to confirm their age in order to log into the account. The publication says that without such verification, it will be impossible to log into the user's account. This is a lie.

The VoxCheck analysts processed this case and came to the conclusion that such information does not correspond to reality - on Telegram, one does not need to confirm their age to log into the account. This is a part of “clickbait” advertising, where, allegedly under the pretext of a change in the use of Telegram, users are offered to click on a link “to learn more”.

For example, experts recorded this advertisement in the “Kyiv Dvizh” telegram channel and in a number of others. And the User clicks the button and follows the link to the Telegram channel that ordered the advertisement.

Pro-Kremlin mass media spread information that France is allegedly threatened by an epidemic of tuberculosis, because it “was detected in Ukrainian military personnel sent to France for treatment”. According to propagandists, the infection was found in 85% of military personnel and at least 35 doctors who came into contact with them. In asserting this, Russian propaganda refers to the French radio station RFI.

In fact, this “news” is fake, writes the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council. Radio France Internationale itself has already denied the information about “tuberculosis in the Ukrainian military”. They emphasized that their editorial office was subject to a coordinated information attack.

With this fake, Russian propaganda seeks to discredit the Ukrainian military and make the French hostile to them, to Ukrainian refugees, and to Ukraine in general. By the way, propagandists systematically spread misinformation about Ukrainian refugees in their host countries. So, for example, we have already refuted the information about “Ukrainian refugee women in Germany who started giving birth to children by Turks in order to obtain citizenship”. Another case is the refutation of the “news” that allegedly “a Ukrainian refugee in Germany painted Nazi symbols on residential buildings - 14/88”.

Such information is spread by propaganda telegram channels. For example, first the metro was completely flooded in the capital, then the city was flooded with sewage “on Zelenskyi's birthday”, and this time the waste spilled onto Verkhovna Rada Boulevard.

However, this information is not true, writes the Center for Strategic Communications at the National Security and Defence Council. In fact, on the night of March 26, a water main with a diameter of 600 mm was damaged on the capital's Verkhovna Rada boulevard, as reported by the Kyiv City State Administration. Water spilled onto the carriageway of the boulevard. Then specialists of “Kyivvodokanal” immediately arrived at the scene. As of noon on March 28, the Kyiv City State Administration reported that the repair of the pipeline on Verkhovna Rada Boulevard was completed, so full water supply was restored to all residential buildings on the left bank.

The purpose of spreading misinformation about the alleged total communal collapse in Ukraine and the capital in particular is to advance the narrative of a “failed state”. He said, “Russia will come and bring order”. Earlier, we refuted the information that more than 70 churches of the canonical UOC may be destroyed in Kyiv.

Russian Telegram channels spread information that women who “reported” their husbands to the Territorial center of procurement and social support employees were allegedly rewarded in Lozova, Kharkiv region. As proof, the propagandists publish a photo from the official page of the Lozova city territorial community on Facebook.

However, this information is not true, writes the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defence Council. In fact, in the Lozova community, those involved in the commemoration of the fallen defenders were celebrated. The community announced this on its Facebook page.

Propagandists speculate on mobilization - a sensitive topic for many Ukrainians - and resort to such fabrications that aim to demoralize Ukrainian society and undermine trust within it. Earlier, we refuted information that a man allegedly killed an employee of the Territorial center of procurement and social support in Kharkiv.

Such information is spread by propaganda telegram channels with reference to a survey by the British company GLPOR. In addition, pro-Russian sources write that in May 2024, a “campaign of civil disobedience against the Zelenskyi regime” will begin in Ukraine.

In fact, this information is not true. The Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council analyzed the GLPOR website and found it to be fake. According to the results of the Google search, it was not possible to find any information about the company with the abbreviation GLPOR, except for publications on Russian propaganda resources. Also, most of the links on the site are inactive. And the domain of the site was registered not so long ago - only in September 2023.

Russian propaganda uses the creation of fake websites of relevant world publications or sociological companies as one of the ways to spread disinformation. Such “surveys” as in this case are aimed at splitting Ukrainian society, undermining Ukrainians' trust in each other. Previously, we refuted the information that according to the results of an alleged “sociological survey” by the companies Global Service and the European Migration Support Bureau, a third of Ukrainian youth migrated to Russia. In fact, no such survey has ever been conducted.

Propagandists are spreading a fake on social networks, allegedly the press secretary of the White House, Karin Jean-Pierre, in the morning briefing on January 29, 2024, reported that the 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden, passed the IQ test and received 187 points. Like, that makes him “the smartest president in the history of the United States”. However, this is a fake.

Specialists of the VoxCheck project drew attention to it. They found out that the propagandists were referring to a press briefing that took place on January 29, 2024, but that briefing was about the foreign policy of the United States. No one discussed the subject of the president's IQ during his time. Even on the official website of the White House and in the American media, there is no mention that Joe Biden's IQ is 187.

The topic of IQ level has already been used as an argument in political disputes, in particular, Donald Trump unjustifiably denigrated his rival Joe Biden, exposing him as less intelligent. Detector Media wrote about Donald Trump's social network, where there are even more personal jokes against Biden and anti-Ukrainian rhetoric.

Propagandists are distributing a photo of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi that allegedly appeared on a board of shame in an Odesa supermarket with a photo of thieves and the inscription “They are stealing from us!”.

Specialists of the VoxCheck project drew attention to it. After conducting a keyword search, they discovered that the photo had originally appeared on a Russian Telegram channel. At the same time, no Ukrainian media and social networks spread this news about the photo of Zelenskyi in the supermarket.

The authors of the fake did not specify the name of the store where, according to them, the board of shame is located, so it is not known whether such a board really exists in one of the supermarkets of Odesa. The blue color of the board may indicate that it may be in the ATB chain of stores. However, representatives of this network said that placing such a photo in their stores is impossible.

By spreading such fakes, propagandists want to discredit Zelenskyi. Detector Media wrote that Russian propaganda has already invented other fakes for this.

Propagandists spread the word that the French are “mocking their Macron-Napoleon” and this seems to be confirmed by the cover of the French magazine L'Hémicycle, where Macron is depicted as a ragged angry rooster. They even claim that this cover was “hotly discussed” on the France 24 TV channel, and cite a fragment from the TV show where it was allegedly shown.

However, the authenticity of these claims is questionable, as the French magazine L'Hémicycle never ran a cover with Macron as a ragged rooster, and France 24 never aired a “ragged rooster with Macron's head” on air. Specialists of the StopFake project drew attention to this.

They found out that L'Hémicycle is a French independent magazine published quarterly with analysis, interviews, stories and narratives. The cover of L'Hémicycle is shown on social media, with the words Winter 2023 at the top and the issue number - 514. On the official website of L'Hémicycle, one can see the latest issue of the magazine, which was published on December 20, 2023. It also has the inscription Winter 2023 on the top right and the number 514 on the left. This confirms that it is about this particular issue of the magazine. However, the actual cover of the issue features a rooster's head as the symbol of the French Republic, not Emmanuel Macron. And even before that, the magazine had never been published with the cover distributed by the propagandists.

The program on France 24 did show the winter issue of L'Hémicycle, but the real one, with a rooster's head. So, Russian propaganda also changed the video of the French TV channel, inserting a fake cover with Macron in it.

Propagandists again created a fake with the aim of discrediting the political leaders of the European Union - this time Emmanuel Macron. Detector Media wrote how Russian propaganda reacted to the recent statements of the French president.

Propagandists are spreading information that ticks are not exterminated in the Poltava region because most of the workers have been mobilized to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. There is also allegedly a problem with the provision of medical care - tick tests and treatment of Lyme disease (borreliosis) are practically not carried out in the region. However, this is a fake.

Specialists of the VoxCheck project drew attention to it. They found out that there is no reason to claim that the increase in morbidity is related to the mobilization of workers. The problem with the treatment of parks and squares depends on the local authorities and can be solved through agreements with contracting organizations. Even in conditions of full-scale war, tests and treatment of Lyme disease, which is one of the infectious diseases transmitted by ticks, are carried out.

In the Poltava region, there is indeed an increase in cases of Lyme disease, but this is an all-Ukrainian trend. In 2023, almost 5,000 cases of Lyme disease were registered in Ukraine - approximately 12 cases per 100,000 population. Incidence in the Poltava region (36.97 per 100,000 population) is the highest in Ukraine. In 2023, 497 cases of Lyme disease were reported in the region, compared to 367 cases in 2022. In 2022, 3,875 cases were recorded in the country (9.3 cases per 100,000 population).

Also, in the Poltava region, areas where there are natural foci of diseases transmitted by ticks have been identified. Insects that carry the causative agent of Lyme disease are found in every district of the region. Tick-borne viral encephalitis is less common. Myrhorod and Poltava districts, as well as the city of Poltava, are risk areas. Ticks can also transmit other diseases, but not all of them are carriers of pathogens.

It is important to see the doctor and take a prophylactic course of antibiotics if you develop symptoms of Lyme disease. Vaccination is the best protection, especially for those who are often outdoors.

By spreading such fakes, propagandists want to discredit the mobilization process in Ukraine. Detector Media wrote what other fakes Russian propaganda invented for this.

Russian telegram channels are distributing a photo of a “document” from the Taras Shevchenko national university of Kyiv on “exemption from training of 1000 students in connection with their conscription for military service during mobilization”. In addition, the relevant document states that the reason for such an order was an appeal from representatives of the SBU, as well as the Shevchenko district territorial center of procurement and social support.

Experts from the Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council undertook to analyze this information. They found out that in fact the photo of the “document” is just another photoshop of Russian propagandists.

Firstly, the execution of the document does not meet the legal requirements for the execution of organizational and administrative documents.

Secondly, the numbering of the order does not correspond to the numbering that is used to register orders of the National National Institution, which are posted in the public domain.

After all, the fictitious document contains many spelling errors, which also indicate its falsity.

This fake appeared as part of a large-scale propaganda campaign to discredit mobilization in Ukraine. Propagandists speculate on a sensitive topic for many Ukrainians and resort to such fabrications that are intended to demoralize, mislead and intimidate society. Previously, we refuted information that Zelenskyi allegedly mobilizes minors.

Propagandists published a photograph on social networks showing Adolf Hitler allegedly hugging the grandmother of Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission. They also claim that Ursula von der Leyen's grandfather, Karl Albrecht Oberg, was allegedly the “chief SS man and policeman” and sent 100,000 people to concentration camps. However, these statements are false.

Specialists from the Georgian project MythDetector drew attention to them. They found that these claims originated as a joke by American researcher Norman Finkelstein. The identity of the actual person in the photograph has not been confirmed by publicly available sources. Additionally, the claim that Ursula von der Leyen's grandfather, Karl Albrecht Oberg, was an SS general is false. In fact, the great-grandfather of the President of the European Commission was named Friedrich Karl Albrecht and he was an entrepreneur.

The photo circulating on social media is a screenshot of a message posted by Norman Finkelstein on his X network page on November 23, 2023. Finkelstein captioned the post as a joke, calling it “Photo from Ursulie von der Leyen's family album” and adding a made-up quote to the politician: “My dear grandmother did not wash her hands for a month after this wonderful incident”.

The real person in the photo remains unknown. According to the description of the American photo agency Getty Images, the photo was taken in 1937 in the city of Buckeburg, where Hitler shakes hands with a “traditionally dressed girl”.

Propagandists spread such fakes to discredit Western partners and justify Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Information that French troops are being sent to Romania to confront the Russian army in Ukraine is actively spreading online. It is noted that they will be in Odesa. However, this information is fake.

Specialists from the VoxCheck project drew attention to this. They found out that such information first appeared on the FranceNews24 news portal on the X network, but was then deleted because it turned out to be false. It should be noted that this resource is not a reliable source of information as it does not have contact information or details of the owners or editorial team. He is also noted for publishing only pro-Russian materials.

Rumors about the deployment of French troops in Odesa circulated amid statements by President Macron about possible military assistance to Ukraine. However, even if this happens, military intervention requires permission from the relevant authorities, and in this case, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. It should also be noted that France has already stationed its troops in Romania as part of strengthening NATO's eastern flank.

Propagandists spread such fake news to intimidate the local population and discredit Western partners. Detector Media has already written about how Russian propaganda reacted to Macron’s recent statements.

Propagandists are disseminating information that Western pharmaceutical companies allegedly conducted dangerous experiments with drugs for rheumatoid arthritis on patients in the psychiatric ward of Hospital No. 7 in Mariupol. It is noted that the drug “could contribute to the occurrence of cancers of the lymphatic and hematopoietic systems”, but the “research subjects” were not informed about this. “Documents” have emerged that, according to propagandists, indicate the “criminal activities” of these pharmaceutical companies. Among them is a brochure that supposedly confirms the risk of lymphoma, leukemia and other diseases of the hematopoietic system. However, this is fake.

Specialists from the StopFake project drew attention to it. They found out that this study was not conducted at the psychiatric ward of Hospital No. 7 in Mariupol, as propagandists claim. Claims regarding the use of children and the mentally ill in experiments are false. According to Ukrainian legislation, participants in clinical trials must be fully informed about the risks and possible side effects of the drugs being tested.

Propagandists spread fake news to discredit Ukraine’s Western partners and cause panic among the population. They say that Ukrainians are testing biological weapons, and Russia is saving them from precisely this. However, this fake does not correspond to the legislation of Ukraine and reality.

A video recording of the moment of the explosion of a trench candle, which was allegedly handed over to the Ukrainian military by volunteers from Mykolaiv, is being distributed online on behalf of the Ukrainian volunteer telegram channel. In the text to the video they write that the soldiers almost died. Therefore, the volunteers are suspected of a “planned action” that was intended to harm Ukrainian fighters.

The Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council analyzed the video and found out the source of distribution. As a result, the Center stated that this is an “orchestrated Russian IPSO”, the purpose of which is to discredit Ukrainian volunteers in the eyes of the people of Ukraine, including military personnel, and undermine confidence in them.

The volunteer movement in Ukraine is a powerful component of the fight against the occupiers, so Russia is trying to disgrace it in various ways, in particular through the dissemination of edited videos, fake articles and news. Previously, we refuted the information that the Ukrainian volunteer allegedly received gratitude from the Ministry of Defense, and at the same time a draft notice as an invitation to “serve” in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Propaganda telegram channels write that on the morning of March 25, 2024, Russia launched a strike on Kyiv with Zircon hypersonic missiles. As a result, two Patriot air defense systems were allegedly destroyed in Zhuliany, at the Kyiv airport. The Russians also seem to have managed to strike the headquarters of the Main Intelligence Directorate and the “decision-making center” of the SBU.

In fact, this information is not true. Propagandists have not decided among themselves what Russia “destroyed” during the morning attack on Kyiv - one false version contradicts the other, they write in the Center for Strategic Communications at the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.

In reality, air defense forces destroyed both of the two ballistic missiles that the Russians launched at Kyiv from temporarily occupied Crimea. The debris of one of the downed missiles destroyed part of the Boichuk Kyiv State Academy of Decorative-Applied Arts and Design.  The building containing the gym, assembly hall and congress hall was damaged, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine reported. In general, destruction as a result of the attack in Kyiv was recorded in the Pecherskyi, Solomianskyi and Holosiivskyi districts. According to the mayor of Kyiv Vitalii Klychko, ten victims are known, two of them were hospitalized.

Russian propaganda deliberately exaggerates Russia's achievements in the war against Ukraine, trying to spread another victory story for Russians. That is, propagandists engage in eye-catching activities and publish fake information. Previously, we refuted the report that the Russians allegedly destroyed a batch of missiles for the Patriot air defense system and warehouses with Storm Shadow missiles.

An alleged story from the BBC is being circulated online, which states that Valerii Zaluzhnyi allegedly received $53 million for abandoning “his ambitions in politics”. And Bellingcat investigative journalist Hristo Grozev allegedly studied the details of this agreement and also confirmed information about the receipt of money. It's a lie.

The VoxCheck analysts examined the case and found that the fake robes cut out parts from different recordings and edited them into one video. Journalist Eliot Higgins also called the recording fake.

In fact, the BBC did not publish such a story on its social media pages. We also did not find this entry on the Bellingcat investigative page. While the head of Bellingcat, Eliot Higgins, on his X page called this video fake. Moreover, in another message, Higgins indicated that Hristo Grozev has not worked for Bellingcat for more than a year. Therefore, he could not comment on anything on behalf of the organization.