In the pro-Russian segment of the internet, a story is being circulated claiming that a group of Ukrainians was allegedly detained in Spain for attacking restaurants at night, stealing chairs, and selling them. Propagandists present this absurd incident as “proof” that Ukrainian citizens abroad bring only harm to society. This fake was debunked by experts from StopFake.

However, this publication is yet another fabrication by Russian propaganda. While the story about a gang itself is real, no reputable media outlet mentions the nationality of the perpetrators. Spanish police did indeed report that six men and one woman were detained in Madrid as members of a criminal group that, in August and September 2025, stole more than a thousand chairs from 18 restaurants in Madrid and the town of Talavera de la Reina. It is known that the stolen goods were resold in Spain, Romania, and Morocco. In other words, the police made no mention whatsoever of any connection between the gang and Ukraine.

Russian propaganda has repeatedly used real criminal or controversial incidents, inserting Ukrainians into them in order to discredit Ukrainian citizens. For the same purpose, propaganda also spreads entirely fabricated stories.

Earlier, Detector Media debunked a made-up story about the alleged detention of “Ukrainian terrorists” in Jerusalem.