Millions of Ukrainians are encountering Russian propaganda every day. It spreads through TV, radio, media, social networks and by word of mouth. To defeat the enemy, we must fight it on all fronts. To this end, we have prepared a daily compilation of Russian fakes.
Today, the russian information space is focused on the russian offensive in Donbas. It is evident that the offensive is not going well, since the plans for taking Azovstal in Mariupol were canceled, and russian forces from the city moved north. Azovstal would be a major propaganda victory, so putin sacrificing it to boost the offensive in the north is a giant tell.
A new narrative had appeared among the russian officials, that calls EU not a politico-economic alliance, but a military one. This is, apparently, a response to the fast pace with which Ukraine is moving towards the EU membership. kremlin wants to see Ukraine isolated, and, by stating that the EU is a military alliance, russia is preparing to block Ukraine from joining it because such an action would break Ukrainian neutrality.
The russian government is pressuring Google to unblock russian propagandist channels and block videos showing russian war crimes.
Main fake narratives:
- Ukrainian soldiers are surrendering all together
- Ukraine is being controlled by the west
- Russians don’t commit war crimes, Ukrainians do
- Ukrainian refugees are causing crime and spreading disease
- Sanctions against Russia are destroying Europe
- The world is dominated by russophobia
FAKE: UK should be merciful to Ukrainians and stop supplying Ukraine with weapons
Source:
Disproof:
As ridiculous as this sounds, it is perfectly logical in the context of russian worldview. Simply put, russia, as an aggressor, wants Ukrainian lands and doesn’t want Ukrainians to be Ukrainians. Ukrainians are resisting, so russia is killing them. According to russia, if Ukrainians just stop resisting and surrender, everything will be fine and no one has to die. What Ukrainians want does not really matter, since russia believes it is entitled to make decisions for “lesser nations”.
Such statements also project the false certainty that russian victory is the only possible outcome, which, as demonstrated by two months of russian military failures, is far from the truth.
By suggesting that Ukraine’s fight for freedom is a pointless and misguided struggle, russia shows just how delusional it has become. But the reality always wins, and the awakening will be a harsh one.
FAKE: Ukraine attacking the Crimean bridge would be a terrorist attack
Source:
Disproof:
Once again, we see double standards of russian propaganda. They present anything that russia attacks on Ukrainian soil as a “legitimate military target”, be that hospitals, schools, kindergartens, roads, bridges, or train stations. Countless Ukrainians have lost their lives because of russian bombardments, entire cities lie in ruin. But any attack on russian strategic infrastructure, russia considers a terrorist attack. Honestly, even after two months of war, it is still hard to get used to how blatant russian hypocrisy is.
Be advised: Russia is waging a full-scale information war against Ukraine. There are multitudes of new fakes swarming through the mass-media every day. To protect you and your family, be sure to obtain and share your information only from official sources.
Official information channels:
· Office of the President of Ukraine
· General Staff of Ukrainian Armed Forces
· Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine
· Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
· Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
· Ministry of Internal Affairs
· State Emergency Service of Ukraine
· State Border Guard Service of Ukraine
· Centre for Strategic Communication
· Centre for Desinformation Resistance
· State Special Communications Service of Ukraine
Information about transportation and infrastructure:
· State Agency of Automobile Roads of Ukraine
· Boryspil International Airport”
· Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority
· Danylo Halytskyi International Airport Lviv
· State Service of Ukraine for Transport Safety
Keep calm and trust only official sources. Ukraine will prevail!
The material was prepared by ZMiST. Please follow ZMiST on Twitter and Facebook.
