Propagandists have forged photos with campaign posters to create the illusion of ‘support’ for their narratives within Ukrainian society.
Kremlin-run media outlets, Telegram channels, and bots on the social media platform X are spreading photographs allegedly taken in Kharkiv. The images show campaign posters featuring a crossed-out photo of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and inscriptions reading “We demand elections,” “Give us back our elections,” and “Elections are our right.”
According to propagandists, these posters supposedly indicate that a movement demanding presidential elections in Ukraine, despite martial law, is gaining momentum in Kharkiv.
This is fake. First, it is impossible to reliably identify the location where these photos were taken. The images show only a wall, part of a window, and a gazebo in the background. There is no evidence that these photos were taken in Kharkiv or even in Ukraine at all.
Second, using the “error detection analysis” (which reveals areas of image alteration) and “noise analysis” (which isolates unchanged parts of a photo) functions of the Forensically deep image verification service, Ukrinform’s fact-checking team determined that the images of the posters were superimposed using graphic editing software.
In the photo with the gazebo, this is indicated by the intense black color around the edges of the poster and the excessively bright lettering on it. For further confirmation, it can be compared to the watermark added by a Russian propaganda source that imitates a Ukrainian media outlet and is spreading this fake story.
A similar pattern is observed when analyzing the other two images.
Thus, the Russians took real photos of a wall, window, and gazebo, whose location cannot be identified, and added images of posters to them. The story about an alleged “movement” demanding elections was also fabricated by Russian propaganda.
Notably, this Russian fake emerged online following a statement by U.S. President Donald Trump about the Ukrainian president’s allegedly low approval rating.
According to a poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology from February 4–9, 2025, 57% of Ukrainians trusted President Volodymyr Zelensky as of mid-February 2025.
Data from a February 2025 survey by the Socis Sociological Center indicate that 63% of Ukrainians oppose any elections during wartime.
Another fake story from Russian propagandists about the “need for elections” in Ukraine amid martial law aims to manipulate public opinion both in Ukraine and the West. Russia, which for decades has had neither free and fair elections nor an opposition and freedom of speech, continues its attempts to impose its rules and conditions on Ukraine. The Kremlin wants Ukraine to elect a leader who would compromise the country’s national interests.
Previously, Russian propaganda spread a fake story about the “graffiti of Zelensky and USAID” in the United States.
Andriy Olenin
