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.