Propagandists are spreading information on anonymous pro-Russian Ukrainian and later Baltic pro-Russian Telegram channels about a comment made by the President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, for the British Channel 4. The claim is that he supposedly distanced himself from being the first openly gay president. According to the propaganda, when reminded by the Channel 4 host about this, he allegedly said that he “was gay a long time ago” and that he “is no longer”. Propagandists argue that the politician “cannot decide on his orientation”. However, this is manipulation.

Rinkēvičs made a comment for Channel 4 in response to recent decrees by US President Donald Trump recognizing only two genders. The host's question began with a reminder that the politician is the first openly gay president. The Latvian president indeed responded with the phrase “That was a long time ago”, but in fact, he was referring to how much time had passed since his election, not a change in his sexual orientation. This is another example of how propagandists distort the context and original meaning of material through deliberate mistranslation.

Russia spreads such disinformation for several reasons. Firstly, it aims to reduce trust in politicians who support LGBT+ rights. This is done to undermine their authority both domestically and internationally. By using socially sensitive topics like LGBT+ rights, Russia tries to escalate internal disputes in democratic countries. The spread of such messages distracts public attention from other important issues, such as Russia's aggression against Ukraine, economic instability, or human rights violations within Russia itself. Disinformation helps to create an image of the ‘immoral West’, which contrasts with the officially declared ‘traditional’ Russian values.

Russian propagandists are spreading false information that Ukrainian sniper Yevheniia Emerald, who actively encouraged citizens to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), allegedly fled to Austria. According to their narrative, this was due to her supposed ‘realization’ of Ukraine's inevitable collapse and the complete elimination of all Ukrainian soldiers. To ‘support’ their claims, Russian propagandists cite posts from Yevheniia's social media where she allegedly writes in Russian and talks about her life abroad, including ‘romantic relationships’. There are also rumors about her and her husband, a Ukrainian soldier, supposedly having a son, initially intended to be named Banderiatko (from Bandera and baby words), but later changing their mind.

In reality, this information is a fake. It is true that Yevheniia, who is currently on maternity leave, posted a photo from Vienna on Instagram. However, she never claimed that she left the country due to fear or disbelief in Ukraine's future. On the contrary, the photo, taken at a Ukrainian community event in Austria, shows her solidarity with Ukraine. Additionally, her Instagram page continues to serve as a platform for communication with followers and addressing important social issues, such as domestic violence. It is crucial to highlight that all of Yevheniia's posts are written exclusively in Ukrainian. Moreover, the information about her having a child is also falsified. In reality, on April 14, 2023, Yevheniia gave birth to a daughter named Athena.

Russian propaganda systematically spreads such fakes with the aim of demoralizing Ukrainian society, undermining trust in the military, and creating the illusion of a mass ‘escape’ of Ukraine's defenders. By using manipulations and outright lies, the propaganda tries to sow doubts among Ukrainians, devalue their struggle, and impose the idea of the state's inevitable collapse.

Russian propaganda Telegram channels are spreading the false claim that panic allegedly erupted in Kyiv because Trump did not mention Ukraine in his inaugural speech on January 20. However, this is a manipulation, as pointed out by experts from the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. The absence of any mention of Ukraine in the speech does not indicate Trump's ‘indifference’ - the 47th president of the United States clearly focused on issues directly related to the United States.

Former Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin emphasized in an interview with Radio NV that there is no need to create panic over the fact that Ukraine was not mentioned in Trump's speech. The speech was centered around the Make America Great Again  concept, and Trump primarily spoke about the United States.

Moreover, during discussions with journalists, Trump confirmed his willingness to engage in talks with both Zelenskyi and Putin to achieve peace and end the war. “We are in touch with Zelenskyi, and we will soon speak with President Putin. We'll see how things unfold”, said the U.S. president.

Additionally, Trump's appointment of retired General Keith Kellogg as Special Representative for Ukraine indicates that the new administration will pay attention to this issue. In early January, Kellogg stated that he intended to find a solution to end the full-scale war of Russia against Ukraine within 100 days from the inauguration.

This manipulative information is being spread by Russian propaganda to create a sense of Ukraine's isolation and to give the impression that the U.S. is indifferent or dismissive toward Ukraine. Such narratives are aimed at sowing doubts in the public regarding Western partners' support for Ukraine.

Russian resources are spreading information that Ukrainian women who have left for European Union countries are allegedly being mobilized to be sent to the front, in order to meet the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

However, Russian propagandists are manipulating the information, as reported by the StopFake project.

In the first half of January 2025, the second group of volunteers from among Ukrainian citizens living abroad signed contracts with the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the recruitment center of the Ukrainian Legion, which operates at the Ukrainian consulate in Lublin. This group included three women who joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces as medics and communications specialists. This news was distorted by Russian propagandists, claiming that the women were allegedly being forcibly mobilized, when in fact they signed contracts with the Ukrainian Armed Forces voluntarily, without any coercion.

Service in the Ukrainian Legion is conducted exclusively on a voluntary basis, with contracts signed by eligible candidates.

In fact, mandatory mobilization of women does not take place in Ukraine (or abroad) as becoming a service woman is only possible on a voluntary basis. The Russians continue to spread disinformation about the Ukrainian army in an effort to discredit the Ukrainian Armed Forces and disrupt the mobilization process.

Russian sources claim that in the Ukrainian parliament, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi was allegedly called a ‘terrorist’ over the energy crisis in Transnistria. These words are attributed to MP Artem Dmytruk.

However, the StopFake project reports that Dmytruk, who indeed referred to Zelenskyi as a ‘terrorist’, is only nominally a member of the Ukrainian parliament. Therefore, his words do not represent the position of the Ukrainian parliament.

In August 2024, he illegally left Ukraine via Moldova just before his possible arrest. Besides scandals involving fights, including the beating of a soldier, Dmytruk is known for appearing in a propaganda film by Anatolii Sharii about the events in Odesa in 2014 and being a subdeacon of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. In November 2021, he was expelled from the Servant of the People faction. Today, Dmytruk regularly serves as a primary source for spreading fake news about the situation in Ukraine. For example, in November 2024, he gave an interview to RT (formerly Russia Today).

There are two main reasons for the suspension of gas supplies to Transnistria. First, it is the cessation of transit through Ukrainian territory - the agreement between Russia and Ukraine regarding gas transit expired on December 31, 2024, and Ukraine refused to renew it due to the ongoing war with Russia. Second, there are debt obligations - Gazprom announced the cessation of gas supplies to Moldova, including Transnistria, citing Moldovagaz's debt of $709 million.

President Zelenskyi stated that Ukraine had offered assistance in resolving the energy crisis in Transnistria, but this offer was ignored there. Moldova's offer of help received the same response in Transnistria. The presidents of both countries have stated that the crisis in Transnistria is a result of deliberate actions by Russia.

Russian agitprop is conducting an information campaign against Ukraine and Moldova, highlighting the situation in Transnistria.

Earlier, we analyzed the words of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who, reacting to the cessation of Russian gas transit through Ukraine, said that President Zelenskyi was engaging in “blackmail and begging”.

Russian propagandists claim on anonymous Telegram channels that the problem of Russian natural gas exports allegedly remains one of the main issues for the global economy. Supposedly, this was written by Asia Times, and in the corresponding article, experts allegedly state that by providing Ukraine with weapons and supporting anti-Russian sanctions, the EU is making things worse for itself. However, this is manipulation.

The European Union is actively working on diversifying energy supply sources to reduce its dependence on Russian gas. In 2024, the United States became the largest supplier of liquefied natural gas, providing 48% of imports. Ukraine, for its part, ceased the transit of Russian gas through its territory, which was a strategic decision in response to Russian aggression.

At the same time, Europe is developing renewable energy, modernizing nuclear power plants, and optimizing energy consumption. Russia's manipulations with gas supplies, including the sabotage of the Nord Streams, have only accelerated the EU's adaptation to new conditions. Statements about a ‘cold future for Europe’ are part of Russian disinformation aimed at discrediting European unity and resilience. The EU is showing determination in building energy independence and supporting Ukraine as part of its long-term security strategy.

Russian sources have circulated claims that the United States allegedly imposed sanctions on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). According to propagandists, this supposedly means that the U.S. has ‘officially recognized the plant as Russian’ and even ‘acknowledged that Zaporizhzhia is Russian’.  

In reality, this is a manipulation of information, as reported by the StopFake project.  

On January 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced a new package of sanctions against Russia. The department’s website states that the sanctions target over 150 legal entities and individuals, including a wide range of Russian defense industry companies and entities supporting Russia's military-industrial base. Additionally, the sanctions apply to dozens of companies in other countries that helped Russia evade previous U.S. sanctions.  

As for the alleged sanctions ‘against the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant’, the ZNPP is mentioned twice in the list of sanctioned entities. The first reference concerns sanctions against Vladislav Isayev, the Russian general director of the plant. The second reference relates to sanctions against the Russian legal entity created to manage the ZNPP under Russian military occupation - Federal State Unitary Enterprise Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.  

Thus, the document does not recognize the ZNPP as Russian, nor does it recognize the city of Zaporizhzhia as part of Russia.  

By spreading such disinformation, Russian propagandists aim to assert that the U.S. has allegedly acknowledged the ‘real state of affairs’ in the Russia-Ukraine war and is beginning to accept Ukraine’s territorial losses. Previously, we debunked claims that Ukraine was allegedly provoking nuclear escalation at the ZNPP. 

Russian Telegram channels have been spreading claims that the Ukrainian Armed Forces would have to fight against the United States if it attempts to seize Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. The reports allege that Ukraine, after signing an agreement with Copenhagen in February 2024, supposedly committed to defending Denmark in the event of an attack by third countries on its territory.  

However, this information is false, as reported by the StopFake project.  

In 2024, Ukraine signed security agreements with partner states as part of the commitments made by the G7 countries during the NATO summit in Vilnius in 2023. Denmark became the fourth country to sign such an agreement with Ukraine. The agreement on security cooperation and long-term support was signed on February 23, 2024. The full text of the document is available on the website of the President of Ukraine.  

The agreement outlines Denmark’s commitment to providing Ukraine with long-term military and financial assistance to counter Russia’s armed aggression. However, the document does not contain any obligations for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to defend Denmark or its dependent territories, such as Greenland.  

The agreement also stipulates that in the event of a new armed attack by Russia on Ukraine, the parties must hold consultations within 24 hours to determine further actions. However, no similar provisions regarding the defense of Denmark’s territory are included in the agreement.  

The Center for Countering Disinformation has also analyzed this manipulation. They noted that the agreement pertains solely to security cooperation and support for Ukraine in countering Russian aggression.  

This disinformation attempt by Russian sources aims to damage relations between Ukraine and the United States, as well as to influence Washington’s support for Ukraine by creating doubt and mistrust. 

Russian media outlets, citing statements by the U.S. Department of Defense Press Secretary Pat Ryder, have widely circulated reports claiming that the Pentagon has ‘finally acknowledged’ Russia's success in the war against Ukraine.  

In reality, propagandists have taken the words of the U.S. Major General out of context, thereby distorting their meaning. This was reported by the StopFake project.  

At a press briefing on January 13, 2025, Ryder commented on the developments in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. In response to a journalist's question about whether Russia holds any advantage on the battlefield, the Pentagon spokesperson highlighted the limited capabilities of the Russian army.  

“What we are seeing on the battlefield, particularly in Eastern Ukraine, is that Russia has achieved some additional tactical gains. Of course, this is a very tough fight, as it is in the Kursk region. But when you talk about an advantage… beyond these tactical gains - strategically, Russia has again failed to achieve any of the goals it set for itself almost three years ago (...)”, Ryder emphasized.  

The Major General also noted that, despite receiving support from Iran and deploying 12,000 troops from North Korea, Russia has not made any significant progress on the battlefield. Ryder added that three years of full-scale war in Ukraine have severely depleted Russian forces, while “Ukrainians are holding the defense well, despite the heavy fighting”.  

Thus, Ryder’s main message was that Russia has failed to achieve any of its strategic objectives in its full-scale war against Ukraine. Propagandists shifted the focus and distorted the Pentagon spokesperson's remarks. The goal of Russian media is to exaggerate their army's achievements while undermining the credibility of Ukraine's Armed Forces.  

Previously, we analyzed disinformation claiming that the Pentagon had allegedly called Ukraine ‘one of the most corrupt countries’. 

Russian sources are spreading information that the United States began supplying weapons to Ukraine as early as September 2021, preparing it for aggression against Russia. To support this claim, propagandists refer to an interview with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for The New York Times.

In fact, this information has been debunked by VoxCheck. On January 4, 2025, Antony Blinken did indeed comment on the Biden administration's policy towards Ukraine in an interview with The New York Times. However, he emphasized that the supply of weapons in 2021 was aimed at strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities in response to the threat of a Russian invasion.

“We were able to anticipate the beginning of the conflict and ensure readiness not only for ourselves but also for our allies, partners, and Ukraine. We took care to quietly provide Ukraine with significant amounts of weaponry starting in September and continuing in December before the Russian aggression began. This allowed Ukraine to be equipped with everything necessary for defense, including systems like Stinger and Javelin. They played a key role in deterring Russian aggression: they helped prevent the capture of Kyiv, the occupation of the country, its erasure from the map, and forced Russian troops to retreat”, said Blinken.

It is important to note that the assistance provided by the US in 2021 included only defensive means: anti-tank systems, small arms, ammunition, radios, and medical equipment. Ukraine was not supplied with heavy equipment necessary for an offensive. Moreover, this assistance was a response to the Russian troop buildup near Ukraine’s borders. In the spring of 2021, Russia concentrated around 100,000-120,000 soldiers and heavy weaponry there. By January 2022, Blinken warned that such a concentration of Russian forces posed a real threat of full-scale invasion, which necessitated strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities.

Furthermore, the supply of weapons to Ukraine was not secret. Both Ukrainian and international media openly reported it. In September 2021, Ukraine and the US signed a Framework Agreement on Strategic Defense Partnership, which officially confirmed a new military assistance package worth $60 million to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities.

Russian propaganda manipulates the facts to portray Ukraine as the aggressor and justify its own invasion. These manipulations also aim to undermine trust in Western support for Ukraine and reduce the volume of international aid. Earlier, we debunked the claim that Western countries started refusing to supply Ukraine with weapons because they want to stop supporting the war.

Pro-Russian Telegram channels are spreading information that 70% of Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel use alcohol to fall asleep, and that 80% of those with an addiction had already encountered this problem before mobilization.

However, this is a manipulation that experts from VoxCheck have drawn attention to. In late December 2024, Hromadske published an article in which military personnel expressed their views on the situation with alcohol in the army. However, there is no official data on the level of addiction among military personnel.

Indeed, a company commander did note that some soldiers may drink alcohol to fall asleep: “I think about 70% of personnel take 50 grams just to sleep peacefully. But there’s a difference between drinking for sleep. One person takes a little, sleeps, and is ready for any task in the morning. The other can’t get out of bed without 100 grams. It’s these people who are the problem. They drink as long as they have something to drink, and they always do”.

At the same time, the senior sergeant of the 93rd Brigade noted that someone who didn’t abuse alcohol before joining the army won’t become an alcoholic in the military. According to his observations, about 80% of soldiers who abuse alcohol already had such a problem in civilian life.

Through this manipulation, propagandists are trying to deflect attention from problems in the Russian army by creating a distorted reality. For example, according to a 2023 report by the UK Ministry of Defence, referencing a Russian Telegram channel, information was released about the “exceptionally high” number of incidents, crimes, and deaths among Russian soldiers caused by alcohol use. 

“Russian commanders likely see widespread alcohol abuse as a serious threat to combat effectiveness. However, since alcoholism is common in Russian society, it has long been tacitly accepted as an inherent part of military life, even during combat operations”, noted British intelligence.

Russian agitprop manipulates facts to discredit the Ukrainian army, creating an impression of its weakness and moral decay. Such manipulations aim to undermine trust in the Ukrainian Armed Forces both among Ukrainians and international partners, as well as demoralize society.

Russian propaganda Telegram channels are spreading a video in which ABC meteorologist Mike Rizzo, when a screenshot of a news story with Volodymyr Zelenskyi appeared on the studio screen by mistake, says: “This is not a storm, this is a little spinach”. In fact, this information is not accurate. In January 2024, during a broadcast, when the host was commenting on an approaching storm in the region, a spinach image indeed appeared on the screen, prompting Rizzo to joke, “This is not a storm, this is a little spinach”. However, propagandists distorted the context by replacing the image of spinach with a fake BBC news story. In this manipulated version, an image of Volodymyr Zelenskyi appeared alongside a fabricated claim that, supposedly, the Pentagon had stated that over a million Ukrainian soldiers had died.

However, such information is fake. In November 2024, in an interview with Kyodo News, Volodymyr Zelenskyi stated that the number of Ukrainian casualties on the front since the beginning of the full-scale invasion was much less than 80,000.

“Some recently in the American press reported that 80 thousand Ukrainians had died. But I want to tell you, no, it’s less. Much less”, the President said.

According to estimates by The Economist, based on leaks from Western intelligence agencies, by the end of November 2024, at least 60,000–100,000 Ukrainian military personnel could have died during Russia's full-scale invasion. Around 400,000 others were injured, making them unable to continue serving in the army.

Russian agitprop manipulates facts and distorts contexts to sow distrust in Ukrainian leaders and reduce international support for Ukraine. Such manipulations create an atmosphere of doubt and uncertainty, which, in turn, can weaken Ukraine’s ability to effectively counter Russia’s aggression.

Russian propaganda Telegram channels are spreading a video claiming that a Ukrainian soldier allegedly took revenge on a police officer who had previously mobilized him. According to the video, the soldier reportedly gained the officer's trust, invited him for a drink, spiked his drink with sleeping pills, and assaulted him once the officer fell asleep.  

This claim is entirely false. Propagandists manipulated a segment from the Ukrainian TV program Ukraine Today, which aired on its YouTube channel on January 10, 2025. In the original segment, host Kateryna Nesterenko mentions that such a story had been circulating on TikTok. However, she explicitly states that apart from TikTok and certain Telegram channels, there is no evidence to corroborate the story and does not confirm its authenticity.  

Propagandists altered the video by cutting out the part where the host questions the story's credibility, presenting it as if the incident was real.  

Further investigation revealed that this manipulated video was circulated exclusively within the pro-Russian segment of the internet, with at least 14 propaganda Telegram channels sharing it.  

This manipulation is part of an ongoing effort by Russian propagandists to discredit the mobilization process in Ukraine. Similar tactics have been used before, such as the debunked claim that three employees of a Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center were found dead in Odesa.

A Russian ‘war correspondent’ has spread claims that, due to a shortage of its own fighters, Ukraine's so-called ‘neo-Nazi’ Azov Brigade has announced recruitment efforts targeting English-speaking ‘mercenaries’. The propagandist attributes this information to a report by The Guardian.  

The January 10, 2025, article from ‘The Guardian’ does indeed discuss efforts by Ukraine's Azov Brigade to bolster its ranks with English-speaking fighters. However, the publication does not refer to the brigade as ‘neo-Nazi’, nor does it use the term ‘mercenaries’, as this characterization is inaccurate and misleading.  

Propagandists deliberately misuse the term ‘mercenaries’ instead of the correct term ‘combatants’ when describing foreign fighters serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the Geneva Conventions, mercenaries participate in armed conflict illegally. They are neither citizens nor official servicemembers of the state involved in the conflict, distinguishing them from combatants, who act lawfully as part of a nation's armed forces.  

Previously, we analyzed similar Russian disinformation, such as false claims that the Ukrainian Embassy in France was openly recruiting ‘mercenaries’ without interference from French authorities.

Propagandists are actively spreading information in pro-Russian media and Telegram channels claiming that US President Joe Biden recently admitted to a nuclear provocation against Russia. However, these statements are a distortion of Biden's words.

Experts from the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security have pointed out this manipulation. In reality, the US president stated that Putin’s aggression against Ukraine has become a strategic defeat for Russia, which is now weaker than before the war. Biden emphasized that Russia has not achieved its goals in this war, as Ukraine remains independent, and the international community has united to support it. In his speech, Biden highlighted two main objectives: to unite an international coalition to defend Ukraine and to prevent war between nuclear powers. He stressed that these goals have been achieved, underlining that the threat of nuclear conflict is provoked by Russia's aggressive policies, not by US support for Ukraine.

Kremlin disinformation in this case is aimed at distorting reality and creating the illusion of Western aggression, diverting attention from Russia’s provocative actions.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi of ‘blackmail and begging’, a claim that is actively picked up by Russian propagandist outlets to discredit Ukraine. However, this is a manipulation.

Experts from the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security have debunked this claim. They note that in response, Zelenskyi explained that Ukraine had offered Slovakia compensation for the period of adaptation to the loss of Russian gas transit, but this proposal was rejected by the Slovak prime minister.

Slovakia’s dependence on Russian gas remains critical, reaching nearly 90%. Other countries, such as Austria, which were even more dependent, managed to fully stop energy supplies from Russia.

Fico avoids rational explanations for Slovakia's continued gas dependency, unlike the rest of the EU, which is actively reducing its energy dependence on Moscow. Instead, he uses accusations against Ukraine as a way to justify his policy, which is likely based on shadow agreements with Russia.

Russian media outlets are spreading claims that former spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, Yurii Ihnat, allegedly admitted that the F-16 fighter jets transferred to Ukraine “cannot compete in air battles with Russia's 'technological aircraft’”. Propagandists cite a purported quote from Ihnat:  

“Yes, we received older modifications of the F-16s from our partners. These planes lack powerful radars and long-range missiles to compete independently in air battles against Russia’s technological aircraft”.  

In reality, the words of the former Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson were distorted, according to a report by StopFake. The claims reference a January 7, 2025, post on the official Facebook page of the Ukrainian Air Force, where Ihnat praised the achievements of a Ukrainian pilot who, during a large-scale attack on December 13, 2024, set a record by destroying six (!) cruise missiles in a single sortie.  

Later in the post, Ihnat did acknowledge that Ukraine received older modifications of the F-16, but this did not diminish their combat effectiveness. Here is what he actually stated: “Of course, we would prefer to receive more advanced F-16 modifications with stronger radars and long-range missiles, as competing in air battles against Russia’s technological aircraft alone is quite challenging. But our young Ukrainian pilots prove every day that they are the best—whether in the cockpit of a Soviet or an American fighter jet!” 

This statement underscores Ihnat’s recognition that more advanced F-16 models with upgraded technology would better address modern warfare challenges. However, it does not imply that the existing F-16s are ineffective or incapable. Moreover, he praised the professionalism and skill of Ukrainian pilots, directly refuting the Russian narrative about the “insufficient effectiveness” of F-16 jets.  

Previously, we analyzed false Russian claims alleging that Ukraine’s partners provided defective F-16 fighter jets.

Russian propaganda Telegram channels are spreading claims that Ukrainians who fail to update their information on the Reserve+ system in time will supposedly receive a 50% discount on fines if they “don’t sue the employees of Military Recruitment And Social Support Centers”. Propagandists suggest that this bill strips Ukrainians of their ability to defend their rights in court against potential violations.

In reality, propagandists are distorting the content of Bill No. 12093, which was passed in the first reading on January 9, 2025. This was reported by the StopFake project.

The text of the bill does indeed state that conscripts who fail to update their information—such as phone numbers, email addresses, or current residence addresses—within the specified timeframe will receive a 50% discount on their fines if they acknowledge the violation and choose not to appeal it in court. Propagandists interpret the last condition—the requirement not to appeal the fine in court—as a refusal of the right to sue Military Recruitment And Social Support Center employees for any wrongdoing. However, such a provision is absent from the bill. It simply states that individuals who accept the fine’s legitimacy and choose not to challenge it in court may pay half the penalty.

Previously, we analyzed a fake video claiming that employees of the Odesa Military Recruitment And Social Support Center were allegedly serving draft notices dressed as Santa Clauses.

Russian sources have claimed that Ukraine is allegedly using UN personnel as ‘hostages’ to protect its energy infrastructure. They attribute this to an article in The New York Times (NYT), citing a letter from Ukraine’s Parliamentary Committee on Energy to the UN, requesting the deployment of permanent monitoring groups at critical substations to prevent provocations by Russia.  

However, the fact-checking project VoxCheck reports that propagandists have distorted the content of the NYT article titled How Will Ukraine Keep the Lights On This Winter? While the article does mention the Ukrainian Parliamentary Committee's appeal to the UN to station permanent monitoring groups at substations crucial for nuclear power plants, the claim that Ukraine intends to use UN personnel as ‘hostages’ is baseless and fabricated.  

The NYT article cites Jan Vande Putte, a nuclear expert at Greenpeace, who noted that Russia may be hesitant to target sites monitored by UN staff, given its dependence on exporting nuclear technology, which requires International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) approval. The Ukrainian Parliament has not publicly confirmed whether such an appeal to the UN was made, and nowhere in the NYT article is there any suggestion that Ukraine intends to use UN staff as human shields.  

The IAEA's mission explicitly includes ensuring that peaceful nuclear facilities and materials are not used for military purposes, including monitoring nuclear sites in conflict zones. Consequently, Ukraine's request for UN personnel to monitor nuclear power plants and other critical infrastructure falls within the agency’s mandate and cannot be equated to using them as hostages. Furthermore, the NYT article does not criticize Ukraine’s request.  

The IAEA has already conducted periodic monitoring missions at substations vital to Ukraine's nuclear power plants. Since September 2022, the agency has maintained a permanent monitoring group at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. As of January 2023, permanent IAEA missions have also been stationed at the Chornobyl, Rivne, South Ukraine, and Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plants.  

Previously, we debunked a fake claim alleging that the IAEA accused Ukraine of attacking one of the agency’s vehicles. 

Russian sources have spread the claim that McDonald's is planning to return to Russia. This conclusion was drawn from the fact that the company submitted over 50 applications to the Russian patent office for the registration of trademarks, including names of drinks and dishes, as well as company slogans.

However, these conclusions are premature, and updating its patents does not mean the chain will return to Russia. According to StopFake, McDonald's is renewing its trademarks and patents in Russia to protect its intellectual property and prevent unauthorized use of its brand or technologies by third-party companies. This helps avoid unfair competition, where local businesses might use the recognizable brand to mislead consumers.

McDonald's announced its intention to retain its trademarks in Russia back in 2022, in a press release where the company announced its exit from the Russian market: “The company intends to begin the process of ‘de-arching’ these restaurants, which involves discontinuing the use of the name, logo, branding, and menu of McDonald's, although the company will continue to retain its trademarks in Russia”. The company sold all its outlets to the new Russian chain Vkusno i Tochka - though with the option to repurchase them within 15 years. Therefore, there is no basis to believe that McDonald's is returning to the Russian market: the company has made no such statements in its official communication channels.

Last year, there were claims about Starbucks and Visa returning to Russia. Given that neither of these companies has announced a return to the Russian market, McDonald's' return to Russia also seems highly unlikely.

Pro-Russian resources are spreading information that the leader of the German opposition bloc CDU/CSU, Friedrich Merz, said during a speech in the Bundestag: “We must work harder because Ukraine needs money”.

In fact, Merz's words were distorted, as reported by investigative journalists from the German Correctiv. The video fragment that is being distributed online comes from Merz's speech at the vote of confidence on December 16, 2024. In it, he said that Germans need to work harder to strengthen the German economy. Merz did not mention Ukraine in this context. At the same time, in his speech in the Bundestag, Merz spoke of a united will to end Russia's aggressive war as soon as possible.

The CDU and CSU want to support Ukraine with “diplomatic, financial and humanitarian means, as well as arms supplies”, as stated in their election platform for the 2025 Bundestag elections.

With this manipulation, propagandists are trying to convince citizens of European countries that their officials are more concerned about Ukraine than about themselves. Accordingly, in this way, Russia seeks to turn Europeans against supporting Ukraine and influence the reduction of aid.

Previously, we analyzed the Russian manipulation that Ukrainian refugees in Germany would be forcibly returned to Ukraine.

Russian resources are spreading information that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi made his New Year's address against the backdrop of the Motherland monument illuminated in the colors of the US flag. The propagandists add: “As they say, 'an independent and sovereign state'”.

In fact, this is another manipulation by propagandists, the StopFake project reports. During President Zelenskyi's New Year's address to Ukrainians, the Motherland monument was illuminated in the colors of the Ukrainian flag for the vast majority of the time. At the same moment when Zelenskyi spoke about Ukraine's allies and thanked them for their support, the monument was illuminated in the colors of the flags of other states, including the colors of the US flag. Then Zelenskyi said the following: “Because our friends are with us. And from the first minutes of this war, America was with Ukraine. And I believe that America will be with Ukraine in the first minutes of peace”.

This manipulation is intended to assert that Ukraine is actually ruled by “overseas masters” and is not a sovereign state at all. We previously wrote about how Russian propagandists twisted Zelenskyi’s words in an interview with CBN.

Russian propaganda sources are spreading manipulative information about the alleged forced return of Ukrainian refugees in Germany to Ukraine for recruitment into the defense sector. This was allegedly stated by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to the German publication Welt. Presidential Advisor for Strategic Affairs Oleksandr Kamyshin emphasized that Germany and Ukraine have already concluded such agreements.

However, the information was manipulated, and this is reported in VoxCheck. Welt did indeed publish a news item with the headline “Prime Minister wants to return Ukrainian refugees”. Denys Shmyhal was quoted in it as saying that he had discussed the technical details of the return of Ukrainians with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a visit to Berlin. “We agreed with the German side and our new Minister of National Unity to work together and find a solution on how we can return all Ukrainians as quickly as possible”, the Prime Minister said. However, there was no mention of the forced return of Ukrainian refugees.

The spread of fakes about the deportation of Ukrainians from EU countries is part of a disinformation campaign by Russian propaganda. The European Union is consolidated in its position that they do 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 fall under the Temporary Protection Directive.

Russian propaganda sources are spreading manipulative information that since the start of the full-scale invasion, “Polish transplantologists are breaking records” allegedly due to the use of organs from killed Ukrainian soldiers.

“2024 was a record year for Polish transplantology. 2,197 organs were transplanted, which is a historic result on a national scale”, the propagandists write.

However, the information was manipulated, and this is reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation. Propagandists deliberately link the statistics of the increase in the number of organ transplants in Poland with the beginning of a full-scale invasion. Thus, they confirm the theory of “black transplantology”, according to which the bodies of deceased Ukrainian soldiers from the front line are sent to Poland for “selling organs”.

Black transplantology in Ukraine is a conspiracy theory that the Russians have been developing for decades. The constant return to the topic indicates its importance for Russia. These messages are promoted to both domestic and international audiences. However, their refutation in foreign and Ukrainian media prevents the campaign from having the desired impact for the propagandists. Among the goals pursued by Russian propaganda within the framework of this topic are discrediting the military-political leadership of Ukraine and reducing trust in it, creating a negative image of the state in the eyes of the international community, and justifying Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Russian propaganda resources are spreading the alleged words of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi regarding the faith of Ukrainians: “Because of this war, we have all become more religious. People are fighting and praying. And this is important. People need help, any help. Ukraine is a very religious country, very religious. Of course, we have to rely on our own strength, but we believe that God will help Ukraine”. As “proof” that the Ukrainian president really said this, the propagandists even add a corresponding video with Russian subtitles and English voiceover.

In fact, Zelenskyi's words were manipulated - the subtitles and voiceover for the video that propagandists are spreading online are fake. In particular, the President of Ukraine did not say, “we believe that God will help Ukraine”.

This is an interview with Zelenskyi on the Christian television and radio company CBN dated December 9, 2024. Answering the interviewer's question about what hopes Ukrainians have for the newly elected US President Donald Trump, Zelenskyi said:

“... Ukraine is a very peaceful state, very peaceful people. A very religious state, by the way... Very religious. You know that the largest Protestant community in Europe is in Ukraine. We have the largest council of churches. We have people of different faiths, different religions, but a very religious state. And that's why they have hope today that Trump... and he has the position of a strong president, at least that's how we understand it... that through this force... and Putin understands only force... that next to us, next to me, there will be a strong president of the country, and that we will achieve peace through force. That's why people have such hope today for the new administration of the United States, for the new president, and people believe in what he says”.

These words were uttered at 9:09-10:03 of the interview. CBN also transcribed the interview and translated it into English on its official website. This text version with Zelenskyi's corresponding words can be found here.

Previously, we analyzed a fake that a Ukrainian refugee allegedly “shot” a church icon in Zurich.