Pro-Russian propaganda resources are spreading statements by Verkhovna Rada deputy Artem Dmytruk, in which he accuses President Zelenskyi of “genocide of his own people” under the leadership of “Western curators”. However, this is untrue.

This is reported by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. Its experts note that Artem Dmytruk, although formally a deputy, is actually outside Ukraine, having illegally left the country. He actively cooperates with Russian propaganda, giving interviews to resources banned in the EU, in particular RT. In his speeches, Dmytruk promotes narratives about the “criminal regime of Zelenskyi” and accuses him of unleashing the war started by Russia and of the “genocide of the Ukrainian people”.

Accusations of “genocide” and other crimes are designed to undermine trust in President Zelenskyi and the Ukrainian government both among Ukrainians and internationally. Using traitors from Ukrainian politics, Russian propaganda creates the illusion of “internal resistance” in Ukraine. Dmytruk justifies Russia’s actions by shifting the blame for the war and its consequences onto Ukraine, which helps legitimize the aggression in the eyes of Russian audiences.

Propagandists are spreading messages on anonymous Telegram channels mocking Ukraine's decision to renounce nuclear weapons after the collapse of the USSR. They claim that Ukraine never actually owned the nuclear arsenal, asserting it was the property of the USSR and could only be controlled by Russia as its successor state. These messages portray Ukraine as a country lacking the resources to maintain nuclear weapons, and accuse it of greed and exploitation of the USSR’s legacy. The narrative emphasizes Ukraine’s betrayal of its own interests under pressure from the U.S. and Russia, reducing the Budapest Memorandum to empty promises.

This message is actually manipulative and built on distorting the facts, in particular regarding Ukraine’s nuclear status and the history of its disarmament. In reality, the nuclear arsenal in Ukraine after the USSR's collapse was the largest in Europe and the third largest in the world. The weapons were stationed on Ukrainian territory, which legally became part of Ukraine’s assets following its independence in 1991. Under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, Ukraine voluntarily gave up its nuclear weapons in exchange for security assurances and guarantees of territorial integrity from Russia, the U.S., and the U.K. It was Russia that violated the terms of the memorandum in 2014.

Ukraine had the technical capability to maintain the arsenal, as nuclear component manufacturing facilities were located within its borders. However, the weapons' operational control systems were indeed dependent on Russia. Claims that nuclear weapons “never belonged to Ukraine” are false, as after the USSR’s dissolution, each of the newly independent states inherited part of its assets.

Russia seeks to diminish Ukraine’s significance as an independent state and undermine its international commitments by promoting narratives of ingratitude and the illegitimacy of Ukraine's independence. This is a typical attempt to discredit Ukraine on the international stage and justify aggression.

The FSB said it had detained a Russian for drug production under the alleged supervision of Ukrainians, and the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs accused a Ukrainian of organizing fraud through crypto machines. However, no evidence supports these claims.

This is reported by the Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security. Its experts found that such stories have already become a standard part of the Russian information campaign aimed at shaping the image of Ukraine as the source of all internal problems. This strategy dates back to 2022, when stories about drug labs and groups allegedly overseen by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) began appearing in the media. Since then, the so-called Ukrainian trace has been systematically linked to fraud, terrorism, drug trafficking, and other issues in Russia.

An example is the story of the “Moscow Escobar”, who, according to propagandists, operated under the control of the SBU, but was later identified as a participant in Kremlin celebrations. Other cases include phone scammers, arson attacks on military registration and enlistment offices, unrest in Dagestan, and even cryptographic crimes.

Such accusations are part of a long-term campaign that not only fuels hostility toward Ukraine but also creates the illusion of an all-powerful enemy among Russians. This can lead to increased public paranoia as propagandists continue to present new “evidence” of Ukraine's involvement in Russia’s troubles on a daily basis.

Propagandists are spreading information via anonymous Telegram channels claiming that the commanders of Georgian units, which are part of the military committee of the Caucasus Union, have allegedly decided to return to Georgia, awaiting a signal from President Salome Zurabishvili to protect the population. 

This is false, reports the Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security. Its experts found out that the president immediately refuted this information, calling it a provocation. The following day, the Georgian Legion also denied these claims, emphasizing their unwavering support for Ukraine, where they have been fighting since 2014. They stressed that their fight against a common enemy continues. On December 3, Zurabishvili praised the official denial by the legion, noting the importance of such actions in preventing manipulation. Meanwhile, Russian propaganda continues to operate according to its typical scenario, spreading fake news to distort the truth.

By spreading fake news of this kind, Russia seeks to reinforce conspiracy theories that the protests in Georgia are allegedly orchestrated artificially with Ukraine's involvement. These actions are part of a broader information warfare strategy aimed at manipulating public opinion both inside Russia and internationally.

Russian Ombudsman Tetiana Moskalkova accused Ukraine of delaying prisoner exchanges and unwillingness to take back its servicemen who have been held in Russia for a long time. However, this is not true.

The Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security writes about this.

Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets categorically denied these allegations. He emphasized that Ukraine is ready to return all its citizens, particularly the seriously wounded and seriously ill, for which a mixed medical commission has been created. However, the Russian side is still ignoring the process of creating this commission, effectively blocking the possibility of exchanges. Such behavior of Russia, according to Lubinets, is a conscious and cynical tool of pressure on those who expect the return of their loved ones.

Lubinets also noted that Russia systematically uses disinformation aimed at manipulating public opinion and accusing Ukraine of disrupting the negotiations. The Ukrainian side remains open to dialogue and is ready to cooperate, in order to speedily return all its citizens home.

Russian anonymous Telegram channels are actively disseminating a statement by American commentator Jackson Hinkle that Zelenskyi should allegedly “thank Putin and God” for avoiding a ballistic missile strike. This statement is part of an information campaign aimed at discrediting the Ukrainian leadership and justifying Russian aggression.

Experts from the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security have found that Jackson Hinkle is a propagandist who has repeatedly spoken out in support of Moscow. His actions are part of Russia’s information operations aimed at an American audience. In fact, the ballistic missile strike that Russia used on November 21 is an escalatory step that violates international law. This type of missile is usually designed to deliver nuclear weapons. Such an act is not only a terrorist attack, but also a demonstration of disregard for diplomatic norms. It serves as a tool of blackmail, trying to intimidate the international community.

In this way, propagandists try to create an image of Russia's “peacefulness” and Ukraine's allegedly provocative role. Propaganda also tries to convince people that Western allies support “Ukrainian aggression”. They legitimize further Russian crimes, such as nuclear blackmail.

Russian media and anonymous Telegram channels are actively spreading the statement of the Kremlin press secretary Dmytro Pieskov that Ukraine is allegedly striking civilian targets in Russia using drones. At the same time, they claim that the Russian army is allegedly striking exclusively military targets. However, this is disinformation.

This was noted by experts from the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. They emphasize that in fact, Ukraine strictly complies with international humanitarian law, while Russia systematically attacks civilian infrastructure. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has destroyed 227 medical institutions and damaged 1,714. Also, 3,798 educational institutions have been seriously damaged, of which 365 have been completely destroyed. Particularly egregious examples are the airstrike on the maternity hospital and children's hospital in Mariupol on March 9, 2022, and the missile strike on the Okhmatdyt children's hospital in Kyiv on July 8, 2024, when 627 children were in the hospital. Russia uses attacks on civilian infrastructure as a tool to intimidate the population, which is a violation of the laws of war.

Russia is trying to create the impression that its actions in Ukraine are “defensive” or “responsive” to Ukraine’s actions, despite real evidence to the contrary. Claims of attacks on civilian targets are intended to portray Ukraine as violating international law in order to undermine its support in the international community. Disinformation is used to strengthen domestic propaganda, motivate Russian citizens, and justify continuing the war. Distortions are intended to create doubts among Ukraine’s allies about providing further military and humanitarian aid.

Russian propagandists are spreading the thesis that Ukraine has allegedly already lost the war, based on the material of The National Interest. They say that Kyiv has lost the war and it makes no difference how many more long-range missiles, tanks, artillery and air defense systems the US provides it with. However, this information is manipulative.

The Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security drew attention to this. Its specialists found out that the publication The National Interest belongs to Dmytro Simes, who actively supports Russian propaganda. After 2022, he will remain in Russia and is accused by the US Department of Justice of violating sanctions, which carries a penalty of up to 60 years in prison. The publication has long been associated with pro-Russian views, and Simes himself moderated events organized by the Kremlin and received funding from Russian government agencies.

The purpose of this message is to undermine faith in Ukraine's ability to win and encourage citizens to doubt their country's ability to continue the fight. Such rhetoric also helps to create the illusion of futility of aid to Ukraine, in order to demotivate Western countries from providing weapons and financial support. Simes thus justifies further Russian crimes, while simultaneously creating the appearance of strength and invincibility of the Russian regime for domestic audiences.

Russian media are actively spreading a narrative about the alleged oppression of the “canonical church” in Ukraine, meaning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP). This time, propagandists claim that Metropolitan Longin is being tried for his “loyalty to the church” and accuse the Ukrainian authorities of oppressing the clergy.

StopFake writes about this. Its experts note that in fact, the metropolitan, known as Mykhailo Zhar, is accused of inciting interreligious hatred. According to the SBU, he insulted the religious feelings of representatives of other faiths and provoked an escalation of the situation in the region with his statements. In addition, Zhar has repeatedly expressed anti-Ukrainian views, supported the Yanukovych regime, called for not fighting in the ATO, and in 2022 he said that Ukraine allegedly “started a war against God and the church”. After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, he blamed Ukrainians for the “sins” that, in his opinion, caused the war.

Russian propagandists are spreading a narrative about the alleged oppression of the UOC-MP in Ukraine in order to create the illusion of persecution of the “canonical church” by the Ukrainian authorities. This is aimed at discrediting Ukraine in the international community as a state that allegedly violates the rights of religious communities. In addition, it is aimed at distracting from the anti-Ukrainian activities of the UOC-MP and justifying its ties to the Kremlin. It is also part of a wider information war aimed at undermining the unity of Ukrainian society.

The decision of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi to use ATACMS missiles to strike Russian military targets has served as a pretext for manipulation by Russian propaganda, including the idea that Ukraine is allegedly doomed to destruction as a result of this decision. This is reported by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security.

In particular, statements by American blogger Jason Ginkle, who has no connection to journalism and cooperates with the Kremlin, are used to spread fakes. Ginkle previously disseminated disinformation, for example, about “ties between the Ukrainian Armed Forces and ISIS” or about “luxurious purchases” of Ukrainian officials.

The dissemination of statements by American blogger Jason Ginkle by Russian propaganda is an attempt to discredit Ukraine's decision to use ATACMS missiles to strike Russian military targets.

Pro-Russian anonymous Telegram channels are spreading a statement by Russian President’s press secretary Dmytro Pieskov that the Russian military allegedly “treats Ukrainian civilians with caution” and strikes exclusively at military targets. However, such statements contradict numerous facts and international reports that confirm the mass casualties among civilians as a result of Russian attacks.

This is reported by StopFake. Its experts claim that, according to the UN Monitoring Mission, more than 12,000 civilians have been killed since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, and more than 26,000 have been injured. For example, in Kryvyi Rih, a ballistic missile hit a residential building, destroying an entire family with three children. During another attack, a children’s hospital and residential areas were damaged.

Amnesty International calls such actions war crimes, as shelling of civilian objects violates international humanitarian law. In addition to civilian casualties, strikes on energy infrastructure are causing a humanitarian catastrophe, worsening the living conditions of millions of Ukrainians.

The purpose of spreading such disinformation is to create the illusion of the “morality” of the Russian army, to try to justify war crimes before the international community, and to manipulate the perceptions of citizens of Russia and other countries. This disinformation is aimed at minimizing the consequences of attacks on the civilian population of Ukraine, shifting the blame for the victims to the other side, and discrediting objective reports by international organizations.

Pro-Russian anonymous Telegram channels claim that supposedly “the absolute majority of Ukrainians are ready to surrender”. As “proof” of this, they cite the results of an anonymous poll published by the treason suspect Oleksandr Dubinskyi. However, this is not so.

This is reported by StopFake. Its experts point out that on November 17, 2024, he published a poll on his Telegram channel with the question: “Are you ready for peace in exchange for territory?”. By the evening of November 18, more than 15 thousand people had voted, 62% of whom answered “yes”. However, the results of this poll are not representative, since it was conducted anonymously among Dubinskyi’s audience, who is known for his pro-Russian rhetoric. Without proper sampling, such data do not reflect the real opinion of Ukrainians. In particular, Dubinskyi is in pre-trial detention on suspicion of treason. The investigation established his participation in a pro-Russian organization that was engaged in discrediting Ukraine for the money of Russian intelligence.

At the same time, real sociological research conducted by the Democratic Initiatives Foundation in conjunction with the Razumkov Center and Kyiv International Institute of Sociology shows that the majority of Ukrainians are not ready for any territorial concessions, even for the sake of ending the war.

The purpose of spreading this disinformation is to create a false impression that Ukrainian society is ready for surrender and territorial concessions. This is aimed at undermining the morale of Ukrainians, discrediting the political leadership and creating the illusion of support for pro-Russian ideas in Ukraine. Such messages are also intended to weaken international support for Ukraine and promote the spread of narratives favorable to Russia among the public.

Russian and Belarusian propaganda resources are disseminating information in a coordinated manner on social networks, trying to present the Ukrainian Armed Forces as using the “human shield” tactics in the Kursk region. These accusations are based on the statements of an unnamed Russian soldier without any confirmation. This means that it is not true. This is what the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security writes.

The “human shield” message is typical of the Russian army, which has repeatedly used civilians in the occupied territories as cover since 2014. For example, in December 2023, the Ukrainian prosecutor's office opened a criminal case on the use of Ukrainian prisoners as a “human shield” in the Zaporizhzhia region. This is another attempt by Russian propaganda to shift the blame for its crimes to the Ukrainian side.

The purpose of disseminating disinformation about the alleged use of civilians in the Kursk region by the Ukrainian military as a “human shield” is to discredit the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the international arena and to increase hostility towards Ukraine among the Russian population and its presence in Ukraine to shift attention to the numerous war crimes committed by Russian troops, accusing the Ukrainian side of such crimes.

Below is an extended refutation of the theses voiced by the Russian President. Volodymyr Putin took part in the so-called Dokuchaiev Conference in Rostov-on-Don and declared the importance of solving environmental problems “in Donbas and Novorosiia”. In his statement, he and other representatives of the Russian authorities accused Ukraine of the environmental decline of the region, trying to blame it for the situation. However, the statements of Putin and representatives of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources do not correspond to reality and serve as a tool for manipulation aimed at justifying Russian aggression.

One of the main theses of Russian propagandists is the accusation that Ukraine is worsening the environmental situation in the region, even to the point of so-called “ecocide”. However, in reality, the main destruction of the environment in the temporarily occupied territories began in 2014 after the Russian occupation of part of the territory. The region has been under Russian occupation for more than 8 years. The main environmental damage occurs due to uncontrolled activities and violation of the rules of warfare by Russia.

The destruction of industrial facilities, mines, water supply and drainage infrastructure caused by shelling and illegal exploitation of resources has significantly worsened the state of the environment. Flooding of mines and damage to water supply systems lead to the ingress of toxic substances into the soil and water. For example, the lack of control over mines forced to stop operations due to military actions contributed to the contamination of water bodies with toxic substances, including heavy metals, which creates a significant danger to public health and the environment.

Today, Russia is trying to use the “ecocide” thesis as a justification for its actions, viewing it as a pretext for intervention and subsequent occupation. These statements are aimed at an international audience to create an image of Russia as the “savior” of the region’s ecosystems, while in fact it is the main factor in the ecological decline. It is Russia’s military aggression, in particular the deployment of heavy weapons in the temporarily occupied territories and the conduct of intensive military operations, that has led to serious destruction of the ecosystem, including the pollution of soil and water.

Events such as the Dokuchaiev Conference are aimed at creating the illusion of Russia's active participation in the restoration and protection of the environment in the region. However, the real facts indicate the opposite. The purpose of these statements is to demonstrate Russia's peacekeeping position and its readiness to help the newly annexed territories at the international level. In fact, despite all the statements about the “environmental humanitarian mission”, Russia does not implement real measures to improve the environmental condition of these territories, in particular, it does not ensure effective waste management, does not restore forests and water resources, but focuses on the exploitation of natural resources.

The accusation that Ukraine has not carried out environmental activities for decades is manipulative and unfounded. Before the war in 2014, Ukraine carried out environmental projects in Donbas aimed at cleaning water, restoring forests and developing environmental infrastructure. Now, unfortunately, Ukraine cannot carry out environmental activities in the temporarily occupied territories due to security threats from Russian occupation forces.

By spreading such messages, Russia is trying to shift the world community’s attention away from the fact that it is the source of environmental problems in the region due to its military actions and exploitation of resources in the occupied territories. Propaganda statements are aimed at creating an image of Russia as a defender of the environment, supporting its actions in the eyes of the world community and justifying the occupation of new territories. The presentation of Ukraine as a state that has neglected environmental issues in the temporarily occupied territories is aimed at discrediting Ukraine in order to reduce the level of support from other states and international organizations. Russia is trying to use environmental problems as a pretext for establishing control over the occupied territories, justifying its military and political influence by the alleged need to restore the ecosystem.

In the run-up to the second round of the presidential elections in Moldova, local pro-Russian Telegram channels distributed a video by Oleksii Arestovych, in which he says that if Moldovan citizens do not vote for Maia Sandu, “the Ukrainian army will come to Moldova with war”. Local propaganda Telegram channels interpreted this video in such a way that Kyiv is allegedly threatening Moldovan citizens and, accordingly, interfering in the elections.

In fact, the words of Oleksii Arestovych do not reflect the official position of the Ukrainian government, because today he is not its representative . On January 17, 2023, he was dismissed from the post of adviser to the Office of the President of Ukraine. This was preceded by a statement by MP Tetiana Tsyba with an appeal to the head of the OPU Andrii Yermak with a request to dismiss Arestovych after his statements that the tragedy of January 14, 2023 in Dnipro allegedly occurred due to the shooting down of a Russian missile by the air defense systems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In addition, at the same time, the MPs collectively appealed to the SBU, accusing Arestovych of treason.

After all, Ukraine respects international law and the territorial integrity of Moldova, and both countries have the status of candidates for membership in the European Union, so Arestovych’s statement about the Ukrainian army’s invasion of this neighboring country is also unfounded.

On November 1, 2024, the US Department of Defense announced another security assistance package for Ukraine worth $425 million. It included ammunition for HIMARS, NASAMS, and artillery systems.

In response to this, Russian telegram channels began writing that, given the allegedly colossal losses of specialists in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the reduction in the training periods for Ukrainian military personnel, it is becoming clear that NATO personnel are sitting at the control panels of this military equipment. Therefore, as the propagandists claim, the appearance of North Korean military personnel in the Russian-Ukrainian war is natural, and this should not be surprising.

By reporting on “NATO members” controlling Western military equipment, propagandists are trying to feed the narrative of Russia’s alleged war against the entire NATO bloc, and not just against Ukraine. That Ukraine is allegedly just a puppet in the hands of “NATO masters”, and that “NATO bases and troops” are located on its territory.

In addition, in this way, propagandists try to justify the involvement of North Korean troops in the war. They say that NATO members are fighting on the side of Ukraine, and accordingly, soldiers from the DPRK can allegedly fight for Russia.

On October 29, the Russian FSB announced that a group of foreign mercenaries of the Ukrainian Armed Forces had allegedly been “liquidated” in the Briansk region. At the same time, the saboteurs were allegedly found to have a Canadian flag and a prayer book in Polish. However, this incident raises many questions. In particular, Kremlin political scientists claim that Russia is thus looking for grounds to involve North Korean troops in the war. The official interpretation, however, looks unconvincing.

The Kremlin justifies the deployment of North Korean troops by citing a treaty with Pyongyang, but that treaty was only ratified on October 24. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security released a video confirming the presence of North Korean soldiers in Russia on October 18, as well as this explanation.

The incident can be seen as yet another step in Russia’s disinformation campaign aimed at justifying its aggression and spreading propaganda to domestic audiences. The Kremlin is trying to present the war not only as a conflict with Ukraine, but also as a fight against Western mercenaries. Such tactics allow the authorities to create the appearance of a broad international conspiracy against Russia and attract popular support, including by justifying increased repression and mobilization. This message is also part of a broader information context in which Russian propagandists regularly try to attract more foreign participants to the conflict, including countries seeking to maintain neutrality.

Russian propaganda is actively spreading the message in the media that Ukraine is allegedly using information about the presence of North Korean troops in the war to draw NATO into an open conflict with Russia, calling it "rumors". They say this was stated in an interview with Andrii Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, for the Italian publication Corriere Della Sera. However, this is not true.

The Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security writes about this. Its specialists note that there is no such information in the interview. In addition, the presence of North Korean troops at Russian bases is confirmed by intelligence data and officials, including the NATO Secretary General and the US Secretary of Defense.

The aim of this disinformation is to create the illusion of an external threat and “hostile plans” of the West to interfere in the conflict, which will help mobilize domestic support in Russia. The Kremlin seeks to present the West as an active participant in the war, and Ukraine as a “controlled” NATO player. This approach allows Russian media to explain to citizens why the so-called “special operation”, which was initially promised to end in a few days, has been going on for several years. Russian propagandists have previously used a variety of pretexts, from accusations of supplying weapons and intelligence assistance to disseminating information about alleged foreign mercenaries.

In the Briansk region, a group of foreign mercenaries of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was allegedly “eliminated”.

On October 29, the Russian FSB announced that a group of foreign mercenaries of the Ukrainian Armed Forces had allegedly been “liquidated” in the Briansk region. At the same time, the saboteurs were allegedly found to have a Canadian flag and a prayer book in Polish. However, this incident raises many questions. In particular, Kremlin political scientists claim that Russia is thus looking for grounds to involve North Korean troops in the war. The official interpretation, however, looks unconvincing.

The Kremlin justifies the deployment of North Korean troops by citing a treaty with Pyongyang, but that treaty was only ratified on October 24. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security released a video confirming the presence of North Korean soldiers in Russia on October 18, as well as this explanation.

The incident can be seen as yet another step in Russia’s disinformation campaign aimed at justifying its aggression and spreading propaganda to domestic audiences. The Kremlin is trying to present the war not only as a conflict with Ukraine, but also as a fight against Western mercenaries. Such tactics allow the authorities to create the appearance of a broad international conspiracy against Russia and attract popular support, including by justifying increased repression and mobilization. This message is also part of a broader information context in which Russian propagandists regularly try to attract more foreign participants to the conflict, including countries seeking to maintain neutrality.

Propagandists are spreading the message in the media that the US allegedly still cannot choose a platform for confrontation with Russia between Moldova and Georgia, using dubious claims. They describe pro-European leaders, such as the presidents of both countries, Salome Zurabishvili and Maia Sandu, as allegedly connected with the West with the aim of “splitting” the region. They also create an image of a threat of intervention by foreign troops, in particular Ukrainian ones, to destabilize the situation in order to cause fear and mistrust in democracy. The goal of this message is to promote pro-Russian narratives and reduce support for European integration processes.

Claims of “no evidence” of Russian interference in the politics of these countries are intended to discredit pro-European leaders. First, the rhetoric about the “link” of pro-European politicians to the US and EU, portrayed as a threat to “national interests”,  is intended to encourage the perception of any support for international partners as foreign interference. Claims of “voter-buying plots” without evidence in Moldova and Georgia, used in this message in the context of recent elections in both countries, are intended to undermine confidence in the democratic electoral processes promoted by pro-European parties.

In addition, there are hints of military threat generation, such as the “arrival of Ukrainian snipers” for provocation, used to justify potential intervention and justify Russia’s actions, especially for audiences receptive to such claims. Such disinformation is aimed at undermining Western trust and increasing Georgia and Moldova’s dependence on Russian support in a time of political uncertainty.

Thus, the propagandists want to create the appearance of external influence, allegedly imposing an “alien” political position in order to support democratic choice. This approach is intended to distract from the real problems in the regions where there are risks of pro-Russian intervention, such as economic and political pressure on Moldova and Georgia.

The National Security and Defense Council's Center for Countering Disinformation has recorded a significant increase in the scale of Russian disinformation, in which propagandists promote false messages about the alleged deliberate killing of civilian Ukrainian soldiers. In particular, they are actively distributing an unverified drone video, using it to support their claims. This video does not contain specific information about the direction of the shelling, the circumstances of the events, or the identity of the participants, which makes these claims dubious.

The purpose of such disinformation is to create a false image of Russian military personnel as “defenders” of the civilian population of the temporarily occupied territories and to divert attention from the real war crimes recorded there. Russia is trying to justify its aggression by using these information leaks to discredit the Ukrainian military and strengthen the negative image of Ukraine among the local population and the international community.

Propaganda Telegram channels controlled by Russia are actively disseminating a statement by the leader of the French party Patriots Florian Philippot, who claims that the European Parliament approved the allocation of an additional 35 billion euros for Ukraine at the expense of frozen Russian assets, calling it theft. This message is aimed at creating a negative attitude towards the West's support for Ukraine and forming a distorted idea of the legality of international aid.

This is what the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security writes. They emphasize that in fact, Florian Philippot has long been an active relayer of Russian narratives in France, whether or not he does so consciously. Just last week, he also said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi would soon lose his post. Similar pro-Russian statements have been repeatedly spread by other figures, such as Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.

At the same time, Russia continues to boast about its own large-scale thefts in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Russia's real crimes include the so-called “nationalization” of Ukrainian enterprises, their re-registration, and the constant taxation of the population in the occupation zones.

Russia is trying to portray the legitimate use of frozen assets to support Ukraine as “theft” in order to create a negative impression of the EU and other Western aid. Propagandists are also spreading fake claims of “theft” by Ukraine and its partners in order to distract attention from their own acts of looting in the occupied territories, where real crimes are being committed. Such messages are aimed at undermining trust in Western institutions and discrediting the mechanisms of support for Ukraine, showing them as part of an international “conspiracy” plan. Using European politicians like Filippo helps Russia to shape negative sentiments in Europe and spread anti-Ukrainian messages through local mouthpieces, which creates the illusion of domestic opposition to support for Ukraine. Thus, the message about “theft of Russian assets” is another tool of Russia’s disinformation campaign aimed at manipulating public opinion in Europe and undermining support for Ukraine.

Propagandists are spreading information on anonymous Telegram channels that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi is allegedly deliberately destroying the Ukrainian people under the pretext of war in order to turn Ukraine into a camp for migrants from Europe and transfer all the country's resources to Western corporations. However, this is not true.

This message is a typical example of Russian disinformation aimed at undermining morale and creating panic. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 was an act of aggression on the part of Russia, not a conscious policy of the Ukrainian authorities. Ukraine is defending itself against an aggressor that has violated international law and the country's sovereignty. President Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the Ukrainian leadership are fighting to preserve the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, not to “destroy the people”. Their goal is to preserve the Ukrainian state and protect its population from threats from the aggressor.

The claim that Ukraine will be used as a “migrant camp” is a completely baseless conspiracy theory. Ukraine seeks to integrate into the European community as a full partner, and there is no indication that the country will become a hub for migrants deported from the EU. Such rumors are classic Russian attempts to stoke fears and social instability. The claim that Ukrainians are “fighting to give resources to Western corporations” is part of anti-Western propaganda. Ukraine receives aid from Western countries to protect itself from Russian aggression, not to give up its resources. This aid is aimed at supporting the defense and reconstruction of the country. The use of ethnic stereotypes and hints at “outsiders” who are supposedly going to take over Ukraine is an attempt to sow discord among Ukrainians and undermine the unity of society. Such narratives are dangerous and are intended to create an atmosphere of mistrust and fear.

Russian propaganda is trying to discredit Zelenskyi and his government in order to reduce public support and sow doubts about the motives of the war for Ukraine's independence. In this way, propagandists are also trying to present Western aid as a threat to Ukraine's sovereignty, which is not true. These types of messages are aimed at emotional influence in order to demoralize Ukrainian society, spread fear and doubt about the country's future.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban told the German newspaper Pioneer that Ukraine had allegedly been a disputed territory for centuries. During the conversation, the correspondent tried to draw parallels between the events in Budapest in 1956 and Russian aggression against Ukraine. Orban said that the situation in Ukraine is completely different and that Hungary was never part of the Soviet Union. “There has never been a Russian-speaking community in Hungary on our territory. Ukraine is a territory that has been a subject of dispute for centuries, which makes it significantly different from Hungary”. He also added that Europe, acting as if aggression against Ukraine is its problem, allegedly ends up in a losing situation. However, this is a manipulation of historical facts.

The history of Ukraine testifies to its long existence as a separate state and its struggle for independence. Although Ukraine has experienced interference from various empires - Russian, Austro-Hungarian and others - this does not cancel out its own historical burdens and aspiration for self-determination. The Ukrainian people have been fighting for their freedom and sovereignty for centuries, and modern Ukraine is a state recognized by the international community with clear borders, secured by international agreements.

Hungary, like Ukraine, was part of the Soviet bloc and was heavily influenced by the USSR. The events in Budapest in 1956 were a consequence of Soviet repressive policies, which were similarly manifested in Ukraine. Therefore, emphasizing the differences between Ukraine and Hungary is artificial, since both countries experienced Soviet pressure and fought for real independence.

Orban’s claim that the “conflict” in Ukraine is moot because of historical disputes distracts attention from the fact that Russia’s current aggression against Ukraine is a clear violation of international law and Ukraine’s territorial integrity. After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine’s borders were recognized internationally, including by Russia, as recorded in the Budapest Memorandum of 1994.

Orban claims that Europe is losing by supporting Ukraine. However, this claim ignores the fact that the EU, NATO and other international partners are helping Ukraine to defend its independence and the security of all of Europe. Support for Ukraine is critical to deterring aggression and preserving the international principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Propagandists, including Russian government officials, are spreading information in the media that Russia does not threaten other countries, unlike NATO. This message has been refuted by experts from the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security.

In recent years, Russia has not only waged military campaigns against its neighbors, but also resorted to direct and indirect aggression against Western states. Sabotage in Poland and the Baltics, poisoning in Salisbury, cyber attacks and election interference are evidence of Russia’s active aggressive policy. It also tries to divide Western society by promoting narratives about NATO’s alleged provocative role. In parallel, threats to use nuclear weapons are voiced, such as plans to strike Poland or London, in order to sow fear and reduce support for defense strategies.

Such statements are aimed at presenting Russia as a state provoked by Western countries, thus justifying its own aggressive actions in Ukraine and other regions. This is aimed at easing international sanctions and renewing business ties with Western companies. In this way, propagandists are also trying to convince European society that aid to Ukraine and support for NATO are economically disadvantageous and provoke conflicts. This message is aimed at reducing the level of support among citizens of European countries. And these information operations are aimed at weakening international support for Ukraine, isolating the country in the diplomatic arena and forming mistrust of Western defense initiatives.

Propagandists are spreading information in the media that French President Emmanuel Macron is funding Ukrainian military recruitment offices to mobilize Ukrainians for war. These statements are based on statements by Florian Philippot, a former MEP and populist politician known for his pro-Russian rhetoric. This is reported by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security.

They say Philippot was an ally of Marie Le Pen. He regularly voices theses that coincide with Russian propaganda, such as demands that Ukraine return military aid to the West. His statements are used to discredit Western support for Ukraine and to give the French a false impression of an allied relationship with Ukraine.

The idea of “using” Ukrainians for foreign interests undermines morale and destroys solidarity within Ukraine. Propagandists seek to create the false impression among the French that aid to Ukraine is a financial burden on their country. Statements such as “France is paying for mobilization” are intended to create the impression that the war in Ukraine is a burden for Europe, provoking anti-Ukrainian sentiment among European voters. The use of statements by politicians such as Philippot aims to reinforce disinformation with the authority of public figures, even if their positions are marginal and pro-Russian.

Such messages are part of a broader Kremlin information war aimed at undermining international support for Ukraine and creating conflicts between Ukraine and its Western partners.