Provocation and Disinformation Overview. Part 2

• There is a video being circulated online claiming that Volodymyr Zelenskyi supported a petition by Iryna Farion to dismiss Russian-speaking military personnel from the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The video attributes the following quote to the president: “From now on, we will only mobilize Ukrainian-speaking citizens. We must be consistent. If workers in the service sector and government agencies must communicate only in the state language, why should we allow communication in Moscow’s language in army? The army is just as much a state institution.”
• There is a trailer circulating online for a video game about the Holodomor of 1932-1933 titled “Famine Way” from the Ukrainian studio STELLARIUM.gaming. The claim is that this product is deemed immoral and is allegedly sponsored by George Soros to “create a distorted psychology and distort history for the youth.”

Now the TRUTH:

• On the official website of the President of Ukraine, where electronic petitions are posted, there is no such petition. Ukrainian media outlets have not reported on the creation of a similar initiative. We also could not find a quote from Volodymyr Zelenskyi regarding the dismissal of Russian-speaking military personnel from the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Iryna Farion has not mentioned the creation of such a petition on her social media pages either. The primary source of the fake video is a TikTok user with the handle “Fortetzalviv,” who concealed his identity. He spreads disinformation about mobilization and international aid, creates deepfakes with Ukrainian politicians, and runs a Telegram channel with the same name, where he calls on the Ukrainian authorities to negotiate without referring to Russia as an aggressor.
• “Famine Way” aims to truthfully depict the events of the Holodomor. It’s not the first time that video games address important and tragic historical events. The gaming industry has projects about the Holocaust and wars that use these narratives for educational purposes.

• There is information being circulated online claiming that Volodymyr Zelenskyi is allegedly preparing to flee to the United States under orders from Washington. It is said that a house in Florida has already been prepared for him and his family. The primary source is supposedly an article by American journalist Jessica Delvin on the DCWeekly portal, who claimed to have received the information from an “anonymous informant from US intelligence services.”
• There is information being circulated online suggesting that the new President of Argentina, Javier Milei, has declared all Russians persona non grata. Allegedly, he has given Russians a day to leave the territory of Argentina.

Now the TRUTH:

• The article is illustrated with a purported photo of a naturalization certificate in the name of Volodymyr Zelenskyi. This certificate confirms a person’s right to obtain US citizenship. However, it lacks the stamp and signature of the certificate holder. Moreover, Zelenskyi’s photo is taken from open sources, and a sample of a similar document is also publicly available. All of this indicates that the certificate in the photo is a forgery. DCWeekly has previously been a platform for spreading fakes. There are speculations that the site belongs to John Mark Dougan, a former Marine and police officer who has been living in Russia since 2016, fleeing charges of systematic slander against his police colleagues. Dougan spreads fakes about Ukraine, including claims about “secret American biolabs” on its territory.
• This is a fabricated news story. The primary source of the “news” is the satirical publication “Panorama.” On the “Panorama” website, it is explicitly stated that all news is not real; it is only “satire and fiction.” No reputable foreign media reported such statements from Milei. Javier Milei condemns Russian aggression against Ukraine and supports Ukraine. However, he did not speak about the expulsion of all Russians from Argentina.

• There is information being circulated online that supposedly the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) found a copy of Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” during a raid in the Gaza sector, which allegedly was forgotten by a soldier from the “Azov” battalion. The soldier is said to have been undergoing treatment at an Israeli clinic.
• There is information being spread online that Turkish and German companies manufacturing military equipment have supposedly refused to build their plants in Ukraine. The refusal is claimed to be due to the fear that Russia will destroy such factories.

Now the TRUTH:

• The original source of this news is a satirical Telegram channel called “а вот мой яндекс кошелек” (translated as “And here is my Yandex wallet”). In the channel’s description, the authors specify that their publications are “parody, satire on political reality, only verified fakes.” The photo attached to this news is a screenshot from the speech of Israeli President Isaac Herzog on November 12, 2023. In this speech, Herzog mentioned that a book by Adolf Hitler, “Mein Kampf,” was found among the personal belongings of a HAMAS terrorist in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. Ukrainian military has no connection to this incident.
• German conglomerate Rheinmetall and Turkish company Baykar did not refuse to build their military equipment manufacturing plants in Ukraine. On the contrary, they have confirmed their intentions to cooperate with Ukraine and establish production facilities in the country.

• Russian Telegram channels are spreading a video purportedly created by the alleged Ukrainian media group FILM.UA Group. The video shows deceased Ukrainian soldiers revived through neural networks, saying, “It wasn’t worth it” in the context of the war in Ukraine.
• An article from the Weekly Blitz is being circulated online, claiming that pregnant women in Ukraine are forcibly mobilized into the army. The article asserts that this is done by Volodymyr Zelenskyi to please NATO.

Now the TRUTH:

• On the FILM.UA Group YouTube channel, there is no video similar to the one being circulated by Russians. We also did not find this video on other pages of the company on social media. Additionally, all live streams on YouTube are archived on the user’s page. However, FILM.UA Group last conducted a live broadcast about 2 years ago. Furthermore, the video appears to be assembled from photos of deceased soldiers, which are publicly available on the “Memorial” platform.
• The author of the publication is Drago Bosnic, a pro-Russian journalist engaged in discrediting the Ukrainian government and spreading Kremlin narratives about neo-Nazism in Ukraine and the dominance of the “Kyiv regime,” as well as the inevitable defeat of the Ukrainian army. In addition, according to information on the Weekly Blitz website, the editor of the publication, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, has a history of working as the chief correspondent for the Russian propaganda agency TASS in Bangladesh. In 2021, Volodymyr Zelenskyi imposed sanctions on TASS, which include restrictions or suspension of telecommunications services in Ukraine. Moreover, there is no forced mobilization of women in Ukraine. In case of pregnancy during a state of war, a servicewoman has the right to exemption or deferment from military service.

• A photo is being circulated online that supposedly depicts a job vacancy for a scuba diver who will work in the Kyiv metro.
• Kremlin propagandists are once again discrediting Ukraine by claiming the “sale” of Ukrainian lands. This time, they are spreading a photo of an alleged decree from Volodymyr Zelenskyi, stating the transfer of 400 km² of land in three regions of Ukraine to the son of American investor George Soros for the disposal of chemical waste residues. The decree is claimed to have been first published by investigative journalist Jules Vensen.

Now the TRUTH:

• The fake news appeared against the backdrop of the suspension of train services between the “Demiivska” and “Teremky” stations due to the flooding of the tunnel on December 8, 2023. The repair period is currently estimated to be around 6 months. By analyzing the job vacancy website’s design, we discovered that the propagandists used the resource robota.ua to create the fake. Using keywords, we found no information about recruiting candidates for the position of “diver” for the Kyiv metro on this website. Additionally, the official website of the Kyiv Metro does not list such a vacancy. To create the fake job posting, propagandists used a real announcement, but for a different position. Specifically, the working conditions and salary size coincide in the vacancies.
• Propagandists are once again forging documents and fabricating a story involving fake “investigative journalists.” Several mistakes in the document indicate its forgery. Firstly, the document mentions “Ternipilska oblast,” while the correct form is “Ternopilska.” It also states 400 kilometers square, while the government website of the Cabinet of Ministers writes it oppositely as square kilometers. In reality, official documents would not contain such errors, as all orders are thoroughly checked. Secondly, the Russians specified the decree number as 603/2023, which belongs to a different document. In the original decree #603/2023, the President of Ukraine awarded military personnel of the Defense Forces and law enforcement officers. Moreover, in the fake document, the president refers to Article 116 of the Land Code of Ukraine, which does not relate to foreigners at all. The article specifies that Ukrainian citizens can obtain land from state or communal property solely by the decision of executive authorities or local self-government. According to Ukrainian legislation, foreigners can own non-agricultural land within settlements or beyond their borders only if they own real estate there. Otherwise, it is prohibited to transfer agricultural land to foreigners. However, this rule will cease to apply if it is canceled in a referendum. Instead, they can lease such land.

• A screenshot is being circulated online from a website that allegedly displays job vacancies for aircraft commanders (pilots) in Boryspil. This supposedly implies that the “Boryspil” airport will soon resume operations, and the war in Ukraine will be “frozen.”
• Agitational leaflets are being shared on behalf of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, urging elderly people to go to the front. The leaflets contain slogans such as “You’ve already lived your life — go to the front!”, “It’s never too late to enlist in the Armed Forces!”, “Happy old age is possible. Update your information at the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center!”, “Age is only in your head. Join the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine!”

Now the TRUTH:

• Indeed, on the job search website robota.ua, several vacancies for commanders of aircraft such as A-319, AN-148, Mi-8 in Boryspil have been posted. The announcements state that selected candidates will also undergo flight training and training of the flight crew. The direct employer for such vacancies is the State Aviation Enterprise “Ukraine.” In a comment to the UNIAN news agency, the Ministry of Infrastructure stated that pilot vacancies had been open earlier. The ministry launched a new website, “Work and Recovery,” where it gathered all the vacancies of relevant enterprises. Moreover, Boryspil Airport is hiring not only pilots but also a passenger service administrator, a senior engineer for emergency rescue work, a cargo service manager, and more. This is necessary for comprehensive support of the airport’s operations. Pilot vacancies are not related to the reopening of Boryspil Airport. The Ministry emphasized that pilots are needed to support the airport’s operation in proper condition: “If we want Boryspil to ‘take off’ within a month after the victory, we must support it and the staff throughout the war.”
• There is no information on the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine or the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine websites or their social media pages urging elderly people to go to the front. Ukrainian and international media have not reported the distribution of such leaflets. Instead, the news was actively spread by Russian resources, with the first mention of the “news” recorded on the “ByeBiden” Telegram channel on November 29 at 11:47. Additionally, the font used in the leaflets differs from the font used by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

• Russian Telegram channels are spreading information about the mobilization of students in the Sumy region. They cite allegedly the order of the Sumy Regional Military Administration as evidence.
• A video is being circulated online where Elon Musk supposedly states that he has a good attitude towards Vladimir Putin and monitors his statements. He also allegedly heard about the broadcast of “Direct Line with Putin” on December 14, where “important statements” will be made. Musk mentioned that he wants to obtain Russian citizenship and that he appreciates the memes that Russians make about him.
• A video is being circulated online claiming that those experiencing issues with internet from Kyivstar can switch to Starlink.

Now the TRUTH:

• In reality, this document is a forgery — it contradicts the current legislation of Ukraine, and only Russian media outlets are spreading it. The document also contains errors that indicate it is a fake. For example, in the word “професії” (“professions”), the ending “ї” is replaced with “і,” and in the third item of the action list, there is a lexical error — instead of “особливу увагу приділити до студентів…” (“pay special attention to students”), it says “особову увагу приділити до студентів…” (“pay personal attention to students…”). Additionally, the document lacks any dates, seals, and signatures. Every document from the Regional State Administration is registered and given a number, but the document lacks these details.
• Artificial intelligence was used to create the video fake. The same snippet of the same length is being circulated online. The likely primary source of the video is a Russian Telegram channel, and the full recording of the broadcast from the X social network is not available.
• This is not true; Kyivstar subscribers did not have the opportunity to connect to Starlink. The video appears as a news segment, although at the end, to supposedly learn more information, viewers are encouraged to subscribe to the Telegram channel. Therefore, this is a dishonest way to promote channels on Telegram. In reality, an old news segment from TSN was used to create the video, and it was dubbed with the necessary text using artificial intelligence programs.

• There is information being circulated online claiming that Ukraine has formed an ineffective tank brigade with almost no tanks. This is mentioned in an article by Forbes.
• A video is being shared online, allegedly stating that mobile groups of territorial defense are being formed in 12 regions of Ukraine, conducting door-to-door visits to serve conscription notices.
• Messages are circulating online claiming that due to a massive malfunction in the operation of “Kyivstar,” the operator will compensate each subscriber with 200 UAH on their mobile account.

Now the TRUTH:

• The article discusses the 5th Separate Tank Brigade. In 2018, it was fully equipped with T-72 tanks. According to the MilitaryLand military project, the brigade’s equipment was used to replenish losses in other units. In 2023, it has been fully restored and prepared for combat.
• Mobile Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center groups do exist, but they were created not in 12 regions of Ukraine but only in Zaporizhzhia. This was reported by the first deputy mayor of Zaporizhzhia, Oleksandr Vlasiuk. The purpose is to deliver conscription notices to conscripts who haven’t received them yet and inform them about the need to appear at the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center for clarification or for a medical examination. The fake video used footage from the local channel “MTM Zaporizhzhia,” where Vlasiuk informed about the operation of mobile groups in Zaporizhzhia, involving the municipal enterprise “Municipal Guard.” The latter will only be present as observers to ensure order and will not deliver the conscription notices.
• Fake posts include links to a Telegram channel where supposedly all details about compensation are available. However, the link leads not to a specific post but to a closed Telegram channel. Scammers are trying to increase the number of subscribers to the Telegram channel deceitfully. Kyivstar has refuted this information on its official resources. The company has not announced any compensation, and information on this matter can only be obtained from the organization’s official sources, such as the official Kyivstar Facebook pages, the Kyivstar official portal, the number 466 (from Kyivstar mobile numbers), or the number 0 800 300 466 (from numbers of other Ukrainian networks).

• Information is being circulated online claiming that in the Polish city of Wrocław, near a local passage called “Grunwaldzki,” a gnome has been installed holding a Ukrainian passport and a suitcase.
• There is an allegedly fragment from a TSN story circulating online, claiming that Ukrainian drivers are required to retake their driving tests. Vehicles of those who fail to comply will allegedly be confiscated. This “law” is said to be already implemented in some regions of Ukraine.
• “Komsomolskaya Pravda” has released material alleging the suppression of Russian-speaking citizens on the territory of Ukraine. The article includes the following claims: “…according to the 2001 census, 56% of Ukraine’s citizens identified themselves as Russians”; “In 2008, sociologists from the Gallup organization found that 80% of Ukraine’s citizens use the Russian language in everyday life and consider it native. A similar survey, conducted during the Maidan period, yielded the same results!”

Now the TRUTH:

• This is a fake. In Wrocław, a gnome with a Ukrainian passport was not installed. While there is indeed a statue dedicated to Ukrainian refugees, it was placed in a different location in March 2023, and its design differs from the photo circulated online.
• The information about Ukrainian drivers being required to retake their driving tests is false. The main service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine provides an up-to-date list of conditions and rules related to obtaining a driver’s license. There is no mention of retaking tests based on obtaining a license before 2022. The issuance of driver’s licenses is regulated by a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, with changes made in November 2023. However, these changes do not involve any of the points mentioned in the video. The video uses a fragment from a genuine TSN story titled “Country of Fake Drivers,” released on December 15, 2021. The story addresses corruption issues faced by potential drivers at different stages of obtaining a driver’s license. There is no mention of a change in the license acquisition procedure.
• The author of the material claims that the results of the 2001 All-Ukrainian Population Census showed that “56% of citizens consider themselves Russians.” However, in reality, only 17.2% held this belief. The material also mentions surveys conducted by the American Gallup Institute in 2008 and 2013, allegedly showing that around 80% of Ukrainians consider Russian their native language. The Institute did conduct research in Ukraine during these years, but it was not focused on determining the language used by the population. In 2008, Ukrainians were surveyed about which countries they believed Ukraine should build political ties with, and in 2013, they were asked about their perception of NATO as a threat.

• There is information being circulated on the internet about a purported healing recipe for soldiers – a solution of kitchen salt. The publication claims that fabric soaked in a salt solution can be used as a dressing for wounds, as salt prevents bacteria from multiplying and promotes cell regeneration.
• On Instagram and TikTok, videos are being shared, supposedly from a national television news broadcast, stating that on December 8, law No. 1768 was allegedly approved. According to this law, every family with a monthly income not exceeding 35,000 UAH can receive a one-time assistance of 10,000 UAH.
• On Instagram and TikTok, videos are being circulated, seemingly from a national television news broadcast, claiming that the first law on universal mobilization of women will allegedly come into effect from December 10.

Now the TRUTH:

• In the 20th century, especially during the First World War, the use of salt-soaked gauze for wound packing was indeed recommended in field conditions, but only for wounds that were already infected. Although advice on using dressings with kitchen salt for fresh wounds can still be found on folk medicine websites today, their effectiveness and safety are not supported by recent scientific research. There is also no scientific evidence that they can stop massive bleeding.
• This is a video fake. The video was created by using a news broadcast but overdubbing it with the help of artificial intelligence programs that can overlay the desired text on any video. This is evident because the lip movements of the presenters do not match the text they are voicing. Such videos are often circulated in low quality, adding fragments of other videos or photos to make lip desynchronization less noticeable. As for law No. 1768, it was adopted back in 2000, and the latest amendments were made over a year ago. There are no official announcements about the introduction of such payments.
• There is no such law. In Ukraine, women can still voluntarily register for military service. As for the video circulating on social media, it is a video fake. It was created by using a news broadcast but overdubbing it with the help of artificial intelligence programs that can overlay the desired text on any video. This is evident because the lip movements of the presenters do not match the text they are voicing.

• Kremlin media are spreading a story from the BBC that alleges journalists from Bellingcat learned from anonymous sources at the International Criminal Court about a case against Davyd Arakhamia. He is accused of supposedly selling weapons to Palestinian militants from HAMAS.
• Kremlin Telegram channels are sharing a screenshot of an information request allegedly from the commander of the Lviv region to the rector of one of the universities. The letter requests data on male students aged 17 to 70 by December 31, 2023.
• On Instagram and TikTok, videos are being circulated, supposedly from a national television news broadcast, claiming that Coca-Cola and Nova Poshta are giving artificial Christmas trees to Ukrainians.

Now the TRUTH:

• We found no reports on any BBC pages regarding an alleged criminal case against Davyd Arakhamia, the head of the “Servant of the People” faction. Moreover, Bellingcat journalists, who, according to the Russians, were the first to receive this information from “anonymous sources,” have debunked the news. On Bellingcat’s page, they stated that all claims, quotes, and the video itself are fabricated.
• The Lviv Regional Military Administration clarified that neither the commander nor Lviv Regional Military Administration units sent any such letters to universities. This is another Russian fabrication to discredit Ukraine. Furthermore, propagandists insinuate that minors and pensioners are being mobilized into the military.
• Neither Coca-Cola nor Nova Poshta announced such a promotion. The companies did not offer Ukrainians free artificial Christmas trees. There were no announcements about this on national television or in other media. This video is a deepfake. It was created using artificial intelligence: the news video was dubbed with the desired text.

• Russian Telegram channels and media are spreading information about the death of mobilized underage fighter Volodymyr Sachala from the 103rd Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defense.
• A video is circulating online allegedly depicting the first F-16 fighter jet heading to Ukraine at the end of November.
• Valerii Zaluzhnyi purportedly created a petition to remove immunity from deputies and send them to the front. The corresponding video, allegedly from a national TV news broadcast, is being shared, particularly on Instagram.

Now the TRUTH:

• Volodymyr Sachala was originally from the village of Osela in the Yavoriv territorial community. At the time of his death, he was 26 years old. In 2017, he joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine, later left, and re-enlisted in January 2023. He served in the 24th Seperate Mechanized Brigade, not in the 103rd Territorial Defense Brigade.
• The video was shared by the Instagram account “aviationdaily” on August 25, 2023. According to the post, the clip was taken from the Instagram page “worldofviperss,” where it appeared on August 20. There is no information in it indicating that the aircraft in the video is heading to Ukraine. After the 16th meeting within the Ramstein framework on October 11, 2023, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated that Ukraine would receive the first F-16s no earlier than spring 2024. Volodymyr Zelenskyi believes that Ukraine may receive the first fighters no earlier than 2024, depending on the results of training Ukrainian pilots.
• Valerii Zaluzhnyi did not create such a petition and did not suggest lifting immunity from deputies to send them to the front. In reality, this video is fake. The clip was created using artificial intelligence: the video from the news broadcast was voiced over with the necessary text using a program. The purpose of such videos is to increase the number of subscribers to Telegram channels, usually prompting viewers to subscribe at the end of the video. Potentially, such channels are dangerous, as they increase the number of subscribers deceitfully and can continue to create false news or be used for Russian propaganda.

• A quote is circulating online attributed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, claiming that he is ready to hold elections during martial law, but “the majority of Ukrainians are against it.”
• A video is being shared online, purportedly published by the channel “1+1,” which is part of the “Unified News” telethon. In the video, it is claimed that the Ukrainian counteroffensive is, in fact, a successful information-psychological special operation against the Russians.
• It is claimed online that the Territorial Defense Staff has allegedly decided to issue conscription notices in grocery stores in five regions of Ukraine. Lviv TDC Chairman Denis Chayuk supposedly commented that everyone needs to be mobilized to prevent them from fleeing abroad. A video on Instagram is being circulated, claiming to be a news segment from national television about this.

Now the TRUTH:

• The majority of citizens are against holding elections, as confirmed by opinion polls. From September 28 to October 4, 2023, the Razumkov Center’s sociological service conducted a face-to-face survey on behalf of the ZN.UA publication in 22 regions of Ukraine and the city of Kyiv. In the survey, 2019 respondents were asked to answer four questions related to elections. As a result, 69% of Ukrainians said that there is no need to hold parliamentary or presidential elections during martial law, while 13.8% supported holding elections. 5.7% of citizens indicated that it is more important to conduct parliamentary elections, and 2.3% stated that presidential elections should be a priority.
• The video is being shared only by Russian and pro-Russian sources. There is no such record on official “1+1” resources. The video itself contains mistakes and uses outdated or Russian footage.
• This is a video fake. The video was created using artificial intelligence: the news program was dubbed with the necessary text. In reality, there were no announcements about strengthening mobilization in specific regions of Ukraine, and conscription notices would be handed out in stores. The video encourages viewers to subscribe to a Telegram channel to find out in which regions mobilization will be intensified, but this is just an attempt to increase the channel’s audience through deceptive means. Also, Denis Chayuk does not lead the Lviv TDC; he was dismissed in October, although the video appeared in December.

• Information is being circulated online claiming that the Verkhovna Rada passed Law No. 9432, “On the Use of the English Language in Ukraine,” supposedly making English the primary language in the country. The post’s authors suggest that the adoption of the bill is necessary so that in the event of Russia’s victory, Ukrainians fleeing the country would know the language and easily adapt to life in European countries.
• There is information being spread online suggesting that former U.S. President Donald Trump was present at a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Arabian Prince Mohammed bin Salman. 
• Pro-Russian Telegram channels are reporting that on the morning of December 11, houses in Bortnychi, Kyiv region, were damaged due to the actions of Ukrainian air defense. Other reports claim that, allegedly, the air defense system failed to intercept all missiles heading for Kyiv.

Now the TRUTH:

• This is false. Currently, the bill has not been adopted. The document establishes the status of the English language as one of the languages of international communication, while Ukrainian remains the sole state language. If the bill is approved in its current form, it will come into effect two years after the end of the state of war.
• The post’s author attached a corresponding video without specifying the date of the recording. While the last meeting between the Russian leader and the Saudi Arabian Prince took place on the day of the publication of the message, which is December 6, it is a manipulation, as users may get the impression that the video was filmed in 2023. In reality, this recording was made in 2018 during the G20 summit.
• According to reports from the Ukrainian Air Force, around 4 a.m. on December 11, 2023, Russian occupiers launched eight ballistic missiles at Kyiv region. The strike was carried out from the north, presumably from the Bryansk region of the Russian Federation. All eight targets were destroyed by the anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Command “Center.” According to the Kyiv City Military Administration, during the interception of the missile strike on the capital, rocket debris fell in the Darnytskyi district. Four residents of Bortnychi were injured, and private houses were also damaged.

• The information is being spread online that, allegedly due to the high mortality rate of men on the front lines, Ukrainian women are being lured into the army in order to meet men. In the post, the authors include a video stating, “Want a real man: strong, brave, responsible? You know the answer. All real men are here now — join the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
• The Telegram channel “Resident” has disseminated information that, according to various estimates, 200 to 500 thousand people in Ukraine have lost limbs. Ottobock, a company specializing in prosthetic development, has reportedly been approached by 50 thousand Ukrainians alone. The author also writes that such losses are attributed to the incompetent provision of first aid in Ukraine, leading to the amputation of limbs that could have been saved.
• On Instagram, videos are being circulated claiming that lists of men who will be mobilized in December 2023 have appeared in the media. These lists are referred to as “smart mobilization.”

Now the TRUTH:

• This is a fake. The video was only circulated by Russian and pro-Russian propaganda resources. There is no such video on the official website or social media pages of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Through reverse searching of video fragments, we have determined that the video was edited from footage sourced from stock videos.
• This is untrue. The original Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article was inaccurately summarized. The casualty figures in the article are estimated to be ten times less — the article mentions 20-50 thousand Ukrainians who lost limbs, not hundreds of thousands. Moreover, the percentage of cases where amputation is actually necessary is only estimated to be 10%.
• This is a fake. The video was created using artificial intelligence, and the voiceover was added to news footage. In reality, there were no reports of such incidents in the news on television. No lists of mobilized men were published in Ukraine, and there is no smart mobilization implemented in Ukraine. At the end of such videos, viewers are encouraged to subscribe to a Telegram channel where supposedly more information about this so-called innovation can be found. Therefore, these videos are merely unscrupulous advertising to promote Telegram channels.

• Misleading information is being circulated online, claiming that the World Health Organization (WHO) is adopting acts to liberalize cannabis and other drugs. This allegedly leads to the decriminalization of narcotic substances in various countries worldwide, including Ukraine.
• Russian Telegram channels are once again manipulating the topic of mobilization in Ukraine, asserting that from November 1, Ukraine will mobilize 18-year-old young men and women with military obligations. According to these claims, men aged 18–24 were supposedly not taken to the front lines before if they hadn’t previously served in the military.
• Videos are being shared on Instagram, falsely suggesting that this year, Ukrainian cities’ Christmas trees will cost 609 million UAH.

Now the TRUTH:

• This is false. The World Health Organization (WHO) has not adopted acts to liberalize drugs. The organization does not influence the legislation of member states but only provides consultation to the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) regarding the potential harm and benefits of using specific narcotic substances for medical purposes. In Ukraine, the intention is to legalize only medical, not recreational, marijuana or other drugs.
• Such messages are manipulative. In our web search, we found the original article from the publication “Focus,” which indeed mentioned that from November 2023, conscription notices could be handed out to individuals aged 18 to 60. However, the publication later edited the material and added that notices would only be given if conscripts had combat experience, were reservists, or volunteered. Mobilizing men aged 18–27 in Ukraine is prohibited if they are not military conscripts. Starting from October 1, 2023, women with medical and pharmaceutical education will be enlisted in the military register.
• We could not find information confirming that local budgets plan to allocate a total of 609 million for the installation of Christmas trees. This has also not been reported in the media. Similar to the previous year, in Kyiv, the Christmas tree is planned to be installed and decorated using funds from sponsors. In several cities such as Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Cherkasy, Kropyvnytskyi, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk, and in several towns in the Lviv region, as well as in Pokrovsk (Donetsk region), Kremenets, Pidhaitsi (Ternopil region), and in the Zolotonosha community in the Cherkasy region, authorities have entirely abandoned the installation of a central Christmas tree. Moreover, the sum of 609 million UAH is significantly exaggerated. According to the “Chesno” movement, for the 2022 celebrations, 17 city councils allocated over 50 million UAH from the state budget. After the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, expenses for installing Christmas trees and decorating New Year’s locations for the 2023 celebrations in 16 regional centers amounted to 191,000 UAH.

• Kremlin media and Telegram channels are spreading a video in which the alleged daughter of an 86-year-old doctor shows her mother’s passport and claims that she has received a mobilization notice. According to the daughter, they lived in Bakhmut, but due to Russian shelling, they were forced to move to Dnipro.
• A video is being circulated on Instagram, claiming that Member of Parliament Mykola Tyshchenko has initiated a bill for the mobilization of women into the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
• From November 25, in 5 regions of Ukraine, fuel is supposedly only being provided to men with a military ticket.

Now the TRUTH:

• In reality, this mobilization notice was forged. Several errors immediately indicate the propaganda-driven nature of the document. Firstly, the military unit mentioned on the notice, with the number A7284, is located in Rubizhne, Luhansk Oblast. At the beginning of the large-scale invasion by the Russian Federation, the former head of the Luhansk Regional Military-Civil Administration on Facebook urged people to join the Territorial Defense Forces and provided a list of military units, including this number. Therefore, a woman from Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast could not have received a mobilization notice from a military unit in Luhansk Oblast.
• This is a fake. Neither Mykola Tyshchenko nor any other deputies have initiated bills for the mobilization of women. Currently, women can voluntarily enlist in the military. Such videos are created for the promotion of Telegram channels that are unlikely to publish quality news, given their promotional methods. These videos use excerpts from news stories from major Ukrainian television channels, and artificial intelligence is used to overlay the voiceover with the desired emotional text that will attract more attention.
• There has been no such innovation in Ukraine, and there are no plans for it. Men in all regions of Ukraine can purchase fuel at gas stations without showing a military ticket. This false news is spread primarily in vertical videos, mainly on Instagram and TikTok, to advertise Telegram channels. To create such videos, artificial intelligence is used to voice excerpts from news with the necessary emotional text that will attract attention and gain subscribers for the Telegram channel.

• Videos are being shared on Instagram, claiming that starting from December 1, parents of students in grades 1-4 are required to pay a mandatory fee of 3000 UAH.
• There is information being circulated online, alleging that Ukrainian stores are selling black caviar of Russian origin by relabeling it with a Ukrainian label.
• There is information being circulated online, as if The Wall Street Journal has published an article titled “It’s time to stop the magical thoughts about Russia’s defeat,” stating that there are no signs that Russia is losing the war of attrition, the Russian economy is not ruined, and Putin’s popular support remains unwavering. Russian bloggers add that soon US President Joe Biden will have to explain why Ukraine will never win and will never recover hundreds of billions of dollars.

Now the TRUTH:

• This is fake. No mandatory fees for parents of students in grades 1-4 have been introduced. This video was created for the promotion of Telegram channels, to which they recommend subscribing to supposedly learn more about this fake innovation. To create these videos, old news stories are used, and voiceovers with the desired text are overlaid using artificial intelligence programs.
• The “Ukrainian label” was most likely forged. We checked the assortments of major Ukrainian stores such as Silpo, Novus, Metro, ATB, etc., and found no caviar with such a label. Google reverse image search also failed to find images of a similar label. Instead, it closely resembles Russian packaging. Additionally, in the video, it is evident that the upper label with the supposed Ukrainian branding is damp, unevenly applied, and poorly adhered. This may indicate that it was deliberately applied under makeshift conditions to create the fake.
• This is manipulation. The article was selectively quoted. In the material, the author called on the U.S. and allies to move away from “magical thinking” about Russia’s defeat through a series of short-term steps and to focus on developing a long-term strategy for Ukraine’s victory.

• Russian Telegram channels are spreading photos allegedly showing correspondence among soldiers of the Special Forces unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate “Kraken.” In it, they discuss sending soldiers to the Zakarpattia region to reinforce the mobilization of men, particularly Hungarians. Supposedly, the command even allowed them to be tortured.
• The Verkhovna Rada supposedly passed law No. 7510 on the reimbursement of funds for gas transportation. Such videos are being circulated on Instagram with a call to subscribe to Telegram to learn more about this law. The video allegedly includes excerpts from TSN news and a speech in the Verkhovna Rada by Oleksii Honcharenko.

Now the TRUTH:

• This is fake. Outdated photos were used in the “correspondence.” The unit itself has stated that this news is Russian disinformation. By reviewing the correspondence, it cannot be asserted that it belongs to the “Kraken” fighters. It does not contain names or phone numbers, preventing the identification of whether the authors indeed serve in that unit. It is also unclear why fighters from a unit operating in the eastern direction would be redirected to the Zakarpattia region when there are territorial defense units and mobilization centers in the region.
• Bill No. 7510 was registered on July 1, 2022. The law addresses the state policy in countering aggression in cyberspace and has no relevance to gas transportation. Neither the government, parliament, nor gas transportation companies have reported such an innovation. Oleksii Honcharenko’s speech and the TSN story were manipulated using artificial intelligence programs: they overlay audio with the necessary false emotional messages to attract attention.

• A video is being circulated on Instagram claiming that IKEA is distributing free high-quality winter clothing to all Ukrainians located within Ukraine.
• Former CIA analyst Larry Johnson suggests that American and British intelligence services cannot agree on controlling even nominal leaders of Ukraine.
• It is claimed that Ukrainians are allegedly repackaging long-range missiles provided by NATO, adding Russian markings to strike Poland and blame Russia. This statement was made by collaborator Volodymyr Saldо.

Now the TRUTH:

• IKEA has not officially announced that it will be distributing winter clothing for free to all Ukrainians. Furthermore, IKEA does not operate in Ukraine. Such videos are created to deceitfully increase the number of subscribers to the Telegram channel, which they recommend subscribing to at the end. Recognizable news brand elements, such as old clips from the TSN program, are used for this purpose, and the audio is overlaid using artificial intelligence programs that can voice anything in any voice and language.
• So-called former CIA analyst Larry Johnson consistently repeats narratives aligned with Russian propaganda. He justifies Russia’s attack on Ukraine, glorifies the Russian army, and accuses NATO and the USA of provocations by Russia and control over Ukraine. All these claims are unfounded and untrue, including the statement about the supposed control of intelligence services over the Ukrainian government. Ukrainians independently elected the president and parliament in elections, so there is no reason to believe that Ukrainian leaders, as Johnson calls them, are nominal.
• There is no basis to believe that Ukraine is repackaging long-range missiles for an attack on Poland. Russian propagandists have falsely claimed before that Ukraine is preparing various provocations. Volodymyr Saldо is a collaborator appointed as the so-called governor of the Kherson region by the occupying authorities, and he repeats all the theses that are advantageous to Russia.

• American Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson expressed the opinion that NATO has deprived Ukraine of the right to neutrality and independence in an interview with Judging Freedom.
• As of January 1, the electricity tariff in Ukraine is increasing.
• A video is being circulated on Instagram, claiming that all Ukrainians, regardless of age or social status, will receive a payment of 6000 UAH in December to help in difficult economic situations. To learn more about the payments, the video urges viewers to subscribe to the Telegram channel at the end.

Now the TRUTH:

• The YouTube channel “Judging Freedom” systematically promotes narratives aligned with Russian perspectives, inviting pseudo-experts with pro-Kremlin rhetoric. Lawrence Wilkerson consistently repeats a narrative, echoing Russian sentiments, claiming that the war between Russia and Ukraine is only advantageous to the United States for economic development. The assertion that NATO has supposedly deprived Ukraine of neutrality and independence is also false. Neither NATO nor any NATO member violates Ukraine’s independence. Russia itself, by occupying Ukrainian territories, seeks to divert attention from its actions and blame the West for everything.
• Reports claimed that Chairman of the National Commission for Energy, Housing, and Utilities Services Regulation Kostiantyn Ushchapovskyi recently made statements about this. However, both National Commission for Energy, Housing, and Utilities Services Regulation and the Ministry of Energy publicly refuted information about an increase in electricity tariffs.
• There have been no payments of 6000 UAH for all Ukrainians to overcome a difficult economic situation. The purpose of such videos is to deceptively increase the number of subscribers to a Telegram channel, which is promoted at the end. Recognizable media brands, such as clips from the TSN program, are used in the videos, with the audio overlaid using artificial intelligence programs that can voice anything with any voice and language. It is not advisable to subscribe to such Instagram pages and Telegram channels, as they publish fake or, at the very least, unverified and unreliable news.

• The United States and the United Kingdom are allegedly interested in prolonging the war in Ukraine to keep their military-industrial complexes busy and, thereby, boost their own economies.
• The “Anubis” ritual service in Vinnytsia purportedly sells burial plots near the graves of Ukrainian military personnel.
• On Instagram, a video is being circulated claiming that mobilization is canceled in 15 regions of Ukraine because they have allegedly recruited enough people. To get the full list of such regions, viewers are urged to subscribe to a Telegram channel.

Now the TRUTH:

• The war against Ukraine was initiated by Russia, initially by occupying Crimea and parts of Eastern Ukraine in 2014, and in 2022, launching a full-scale invasion. Although the U.S. and the U.K. supply significant arms to Ukraine, they are not interested in prolonging the war. The war waged by Russia against Ukraine causes harm to the entire world, not just Ukraine. Therefore, no country is interested in the continuation of Russian aggression; on the contrary, they are interested in ending the war. The assistance provided by the U.S. and the U.K. is aimed at helping Ukraine win the war and, thereby, bring it to an end.
• The screenshot is fake. The website of the funeral home (not a ritual service) “Anubis” looks different. Neither on this site nor on the pages of other ritual services did we find an offer to purchase burial plots near the graves of Ukrainian military personnel.
• Mobilization has not been canceled in any region of Ukraine. On November 8, the Verkhovna Rada extended mobilization and martial law throughout Ukraine for 90 days, until February 14. In such videos, clips from the TSN program are used to take advantage of the recognizable brand and create a false belief that this news was reported on television. In reality, these videos use old fragments of programs, and the sound is overlaid using artificial intelligence programs that can voice anything with any voice and language. Such videos are created to deceitfully increase the number of subscribers to a Telegram channel, as recommended at the end. It is not advisable to subscribe to such pages on Instagram and channels on Telegram, as they publish fake or, at least, unverified and unreliable news.

• A video is being circulated on Instagram, claiming that according to the new law No. 3386, which comes into effect in November, people who have been in Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion and have not left the country even once can apply for financial assistance from the state in the amount of 14,000 UAH.
• According to information from The New York Times, mobilization in Ukraine may also affect all Ukrainian women, requiring them to go to the frontline.

Now the TRUTH:

• This is a fake. Firstly, there is no law with the number 3386. The website of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine only shows a draft law from April 2020 with that number, which pertains to amendments to the Civil Procedural Code. Secondly, there is no other legal act that introduces such payments for Ukrainians. Such videos are created and spread solely for the deceptive increase in the number of subscribers to Instagram pages and Telegram channels, which are recommended in these videos to allegedly get more information.
• The original article in The New York Times does not mention that mass mobilization will affect all women in Ukraine. The article titled “‘If Not Me, Who?’: As Ukraine Seeks Troops, Women Prepare for the Call” is dedicated to the stories of women who voluntarily went to the front and the changes being made in the Armed Forces of Ukraine to make the service of women more comfortable. The article also mentions recent changes, according to which women in the healthcare sector are also to be registered for military service. However, there is no mention of mass mobilization of all women.

• Allocating funds for the study of foreign languages allegedly indicates that Ukraine is being prepared for a division between Russia and Europe.
• Videos are being circulated on TikTok and Instagram claiming that in November, Law No. 4338 will come into effect, according to which people with disabilities, military personnel and their families, large families, and pregnant women will be exempt from paying for gas transportation.

Now the TRUTH:

• According to a survey by the Ministry of Digital Transformation, 68% of respondents have some knowledge of at least one foreign language. Over half want to improve their knowledge, and 93% of parents support children learning the English language. English is essential for work and career development. Additionally, English is expected to become mandatory for civil servants as part of the integration process with the EU. Therefore, there is no basis to consider the introduction of English as part of Ukraine’s division.
• This is fake. Firstly, there is no Law No. 4338. On the website of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, you can find, at most, a draft law from 2020 with the same number, but it relates to changes in the state registration of property rights. Secondly, there is no other legal act that would abolish the fee for gas transportation. Such videos are created and shared only for the deceptive increase in the number of subscribers to Instagram pages and Telegram channels, which they recommend subscribing to in these videos to supposedly get more information.

• On Instagram, videos are being shared claiming that from November 1, zero customs duties will be reintroduced for cars imported into Ukraine.
• There are claims that the U.S. CIA is allegedly preparing to orchestrate another Maidan in Ukraine. This time, according to Larry Johnson, a retired CIA intelligence officer and former official representative of the U.S. State Department, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are supposed to stand against the president.
• Users, citing an article from The Intel Drop, are spreading information that the charitable foundation of Olena Zelenska, under the guise of evacuating children from Ukraine, was selling them into a network involved in organ and human trafficking.

Now the TRUTH:

• This is a fake. There have been no changes to the legal acts of Ukraine or the adoption of laws or decrees that would reintroduce zero customs duties for cars. No national media outlets reported on this news. The video was created by cutting news clips from 1+1 and overlaying an artificial intelligence-generated voice of the host saying the required text. The purpose of such videos is to increase the number of subscribers to the Telegram channel, which is recommended to subscribe to at the end of the video to allegedly learn more about these changes.
• Larry Johnson has a pro-Russian rhetoric and consistently repeats narratives aligned with Russian interests. He has glorified Russia and its so-called “second army in the world,” whitewashed the reputation of the aggressor country, and even claimed that “Russia never started a war.” His narrative is a continuation of the false story that the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity were orchestrated by external forces interested in a change of power. This is untrue. The United States does not influence the organization of protests in Ukraine. There is no reason to believe that the U.S. deliberately instigates protests in Ukraine, especially considering that the U.S. is interested in stabilizing the situation and Ukraine’s victory, as they provide the most significant military support.
• This is a fake. The information was published by a media outlet that consistently spreads disinformation about Ukraine and reposts publications from Russian propaganda media. The article relies on the words of a man who claimed to be a former employee of the foundation. He did not provide his name, did not show his face, and did not provide any evidence. Moreover, the first lady’s foundation in Ukraine has not conducted and does not conduct the evacuation of children.

• On Instagram, videos are being circulated, claiming that starting from November 1, cars in Ukraine that are over 15 years old will be confiscated and handed over for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Supposedly, Ukrainians will receive compensation for new cars.
• Former British diplomat and MI6 agent Alister Crooke claimed that the so-called Kyiv regime is beginning to fall apart.
• Ukraine’s accession to the EU is purportedly a fraudulent trick leading Ukraine to collapse. According to this claim, Ukraine will never join the EU; instead, promises will be made and manipulated for ulterior motives.

Now the TRUTH:

• This is a fake. Firstly, no government body in Ukraine has made changes to the legislative acts of Ukraine or passed laws or decrees introducing such rules. Secondly, this video is created by splicing news footage from 1+1 and overlaying it with an AI-generated voice of the host, who says the required text. The purpose of creating and spreading such videos is to increase the number of subscribers to a Telegram channel, which is recommended at the end of the video to supposedly learn more about these changes.
• Alister Crooke is a pseudo-expert who systematically disseminates narratives consistent with Russian propaganda. In his speeches, one can find statements about the so-called “greatness of Russia” and the strength of its Armed Forces allegedly standing against the entire West. He also talks about the self-sufficiency of the Russian economy, which, according to him, has only become stronger against the backdrop of sanctions. His claims about the so-called “Kyiv regime” are also entirely in line with Russian narratives. Russian propaganda replaces the word “government” with “regime” to reinforce the so-called illegitimacy of Ukraine’s authorities, which, in Russia’s view, act not on behalf of the people. By referring to the Ukrainian government, led by Volodymyr Zelenskyi, as the “Kyiv regime,” the propaganda blurs the concept of the Ukrainian state, which, according to them, no longer exists.
• EU accession is an extremely lengthy process. Some countries took up to 10 years from the beginning of accession negotiations to actual entry into the EU, and Ukraine is currently in that stage. The duration of this process is related to the need for Ukraine to adapt all its legislation and the functioning of all its institutions to EU standards. Also, the EU is not using us for its own purposes – this is a typical narrative of Russian propaganda. The EU provides us with support and guarantees of entry in exchange for Ukraine implementing reforms, which are primarily in Ukraine’s interest. These reforms are expected to help minimize corruption, contribute to budget revenues, attract investments to Ukraine, and ultimately foster economic growth and the well-being of Ukrainians.

• Russian media, citing an article by Stephen Bryen for Asia Times, spread information claiming that the U.S. expressed a desire to limit the powers of the Security Service of Ukraine due to Volodymyr Zelenskyi’s actions. Allegedly, Zelenskyi is said to be using the SSU to suppress the opposition and arrest anyone who opposes the government.
• The New York Post reports on a Ukrainian woman who allegedly found employment in the United Kingdom as a naked cleaner. The publication adds that Ukrainian refugees supposedly consider such work entirely normal, as long as it pays well.
• Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, claimed that Ukraine is allegedly the most corrupt country in the world.

Now the TRUTH:

• In reality, the reform of the Security Service of Ukraine began long before the full-scale invasion, in 2019. As a result of this reform, the SSU’s activities are intended to focus on counterintelligence, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, protecting state sovereignty and territorial integrity, and safeguarding state secrets. In other words, the SSU will not be involved in economic and corruption-related crimes. The draft law 3196-d on the reform of the SSU has been adopted in the first reading by the Verkhovna Rada and is being prepared for the second reading. In summary, the SSU reform has been planned for several years, and the U.S. proposals are not related to Zelenskyi’s politics.
• The New York Post is essentially tabloid journalism, characterized by low-quality reporting that deliberately manipulates facts and public opinion in pursuit of sensationalism. There is no basis to believe that Ukrainian refugees are choosing such work en masse for the sake of earnings. In this case, the publication manipulated by using an isolated incident as if it were evidence of a trend, even though there is no data or facts to support this.
• Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico holds pro-Russian views, and therefore, in his rhetoric and actions, he consistently limits support for Ukraine. His claim that Ukraine is supposedly the most corrupt country in the world is untrue and aimed at discontinuing financial support for Ukraine, portraying it as an allegedly unreliable partner. However, according to the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, Ukraine’s corruption perception is not the worst in the world.

• Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy accused Ukraine of totalitarianism during the Republican debates. As arguments, he pointed to the ban on all opposition media, the dominance of state-owned media, Zelenskyi’s refusal to participate in the presidential elections, and his attempts to solicit funds for them in Washington. Ramaswamy also condemned the persecution of Orthodoxy in Ukraine and stated the inappropriateness of allocating money from American taxpayers to a country that oppresses Christians.
• There is information being circulated online claiming that an advertisement has appeared on the Ukrainian segment of YouTube in which a man, presenting himself as a Ukrainian military serviceman, urges Ukrainians with combat experience to join the Israel Defense Forces.
• Irish businessman Chay Bowes claimed that the EU’s losses from sanctions imposed on Russia amount to 1.5 trillion dollars. Thus, allegedly, the EU suffers more from sanctions than Russia.

Now the TRUTH:

• In Ukraine, opposition media were not banned; only those with pro-Russian rhetoric and narratives promoting the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty were restricted. Elections in Ukraine cannot be held under martial law conditions, as explained by both the authorities and various human rights organizations. Additionally, Ramaswamy contradicts himself by first claiming that Zelenskyi refused elections and then immediately stating that the Ukrainian president is allegedly seeking money for elections in the U.S. Ukraine has not banned Orthodoxy; however, there are measures to limit the influence of the Moscow Patriarchate, which is essentially under the auspices of the Russian Orthodox Church, which, in turn, blessed Russians to wage war against Ukraine.
• This video is fake. There is no such advertisement on YouTube, and the audio track of the original video was replaced using a special program that unifies the speaker’s facial expressions with the spoken content. The man in the video is a member of the press secretary’s unit of the IDF.
• Chay Bowes systematically repeats narratives aligned with the Russian perspective. In particular, the narrative that sanctions supposedly do not work and harm the EU more than Russia is purely pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The sanctions imposed on Russia include restrictions on trade, finance, technology, dual-use goods, industry, transportation, and luxury items. Sanctions are also in place against certain countries and companies. Despite more than 1.5 years since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the world continues to limit Russia’s access to the civilized world, global trade and financial markets, preventing Russia from building up its military potential and continuing its aggressive war.

• The government allegedly is not prepared for possible power outages, so Ukrainians are said to face an energy and fuel crisis, leading to shortages of products and water, and the need to cook on open fires near buildings.
• A report is being circulated online claiming to be from the “Al Jazeera” channel stating that Ukrainian refugee Oleksii Shynkarenko burned down the “23andMe” DNA laboratory in the USA. Allegedly, he became enraged over laboratory results that showed he is not 100% Ukrainian but only has 7.9% Ukrainian genes. Oleksii demanded a refund due to the error, and when the laboratory refused, he allegedly set the building on fire.
• The Orthodox Church of Ukraine is purportedly the result of hostile influence from the United States in Ukraine.

Now the TRUTH:

• There is no basis to believe that the government is unprepared for potential power outages. The government has previously announced the restoration of the Points of Invincibility, the reconstruction of energy facilities destroyed by Russia last fall and winter. Such messages are intended to provoke strong fear and push people to leave en masse or oppose the government and the army to end the war at any cost. In reality, despite warnings of a potentially challenging winter, forecasts involving people going without food or being forced to cook on open fires on the streets are not even discussed.
• Al Jazeera did not produce such a story. The video was edited from fragments of various video clips, and the story about the refugee was fabricated. The official website of the “Al Jazeera” channel and its English-language YouTube channel do not contain such a story or any mention of such news. Neither Ukrainian nor American media reported on this. Instead, the compiled story is only circulating in the Russian segment of social media.
• The United States had no involvement in the creation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The Historical Unification Council took place on December 15, 2018, at St. Sophia’s Cathedral. Before the start of the Council, Local Councils of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church were held, which decided to cease their activities as separate religious entities and unite into one Orthodox Church of Ukraine. On January 5, 2019, Patriarch Bartholomew signed the Tomos of Autocephaly for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, and on January 6, 2019, Metropolitan Epiphanius, the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, received the Tomos. On January 9, all members of the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate signed the Tomos, formally completing the process of obtaining autocephaly for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

• False information is being circulated online, claiming that the BBC, citing analysts from Bellingcat, reported a connection between the failure of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ counteroffensive and a Hamas attack on Israel. Allegedly, the former Ukrainian Minister of Defense, Reznikov, actively resold Western weapons to Hamas militants.
• Russian Telegram channels are spreading news that the emblem of the 103rd Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine, like the emblem of the SS “Galicia” Division, depicts Nazi symbols.

Now the TRUTH:

• The first headlines about this news began to appear in the Russian information space on October 10. However, on the same day, Bellingcat stated on their Twitter page that the video attributed to BBC and Bellingcat was fake. “We’ve reached no such conclusions or made any such claims. We’d like to stress that this is a fabrication and should be treated accordingly,” the investigators said. Bellingcat founder Eliot Higgins and journalist Shayan Sardarizadeh from the fact-checking project “BBC Verify” also confirmed that their organizations did not publish such news. Additionally, on October 9, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine stated that Russia was preparing an information campaign against Ukraine, planning to accuse Ukrainian military of selling weapons to Hamas through black markets. In reality, there is no evidence of the sale of Western weapons by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
• In 2021, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, approved emblems for the brigades of the Territorial Defense Forces. These emblems usually replicate the coats of arms of the cities from which these brigades originate. Since the 103rd Brigade is formed in the Lviv region, its emblem, like the coat of arms of Lviv, depicts the Galician lion. The Galician lion was also depicted on the emblem of the SS “Galicia” Division. However, it is not a Nazi symbol. The Ukrainian Helsinki Union considers the emblem of the Galician lion a symbol of enmity only when a crown is present on the coat of arms, as on the emblem of the SS “Galicia” Division. The coats of arms of Lviv and the 103rd Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces do not include a crown. Moreover, in 2022, the Supreme Court of Ukraine ruled that the emblem of the “Galicia” Division is not a Nazi symbol.

• Russian Telegram channels report that Ukraine will start mobilizing 18-year-old men and women subject to military service from November 1. This is supposedly evidence that Ukraine has begun implementing the concept of “Everyone must fight.”
• The CEO of Black Rock supposedly advised Ukraine to use crematoria for deceased soldiers to preserve black soil. Allegedly, burying soldiers is considered an irrational use of land already owned by American corporations.
• Russian Telegram channels are spreading a video claiming that Google, in honor of its 25th anniversary in 2023, launched a doodle resembling the flag of the Russian Federation. After complaints from Ukrainians, it was removed, but Russians supposedly still have archived videos of it.

Now the TRUTH:

• This is false. Russia is once again attempting to intimidate Ukrainians to reduce the number of those willing to resist the enemy. There have been no changes regarding mobilization in Ukraine from November 1, and 18-year-old men without previous military experience can only join the Armed Forces of Ukraine as volunteers.
• This is a fake. Firstly, a satirical Telegram channel fabricated the news, and other channels and media spread it as if it were a genuine statement. The CEO of BlackRock did not comment on the burial of Ukrainian soldiers. Secondly, the claims that American corporations own Ukrainian land are also untrue. Propagandists are not for the first time trying to scare Ukrainians into thinking that cooperation with investment companies means almost losing the country’s sovereignty.
• On its anniversary, Google did not launch animations resembling the Russian flag. The doodle had a completely different appearance and symbolized the company’s 25th anniversary.

• A video is being circulated on the internet featuring an advertisement in New York with the inscription: “Helping Jews = burning money. Stand with Ukraine.”
• A photo is being shared online, allegedly showing a statement from Ukrainian Parliament Deputy Sofia Fedina to the Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence proposing to lower the conscription age to 17. Later information emerged that she is already the author of a relevant bill on this topic.
• Russian propagandists have spread the news claiming that the population of Ukraine currently amounts to 23 million. This is allegedly confirmed by data from the Unified State Demographic Register.

Now the TRUTH:

• The video was edited. In reality, instead of the advertisement “Helping Jews = burning money,” the actual advertisement displays information about an event from the organization Stand Up To Cancer titled “For one night we stand together.“
• This is false. Sofiia Fedyna did not submit any statement or register a bill regarding the mobilization of men from the age of 17. The “statement” was created using a certificate of parliamentary identity that does not belong to her. There is no such proposal from the deputy on the Verkhovna Rada website.
• This figure does not correspond to reality. The register does not reflect the exact population of Ukraine. The register was created in 2012 and is populated as data on individuals are entered. For example, it does not include data on children who have not yet received documents or individuals who obtained documents before they became legally valid, such as pensioners. The Institute of Demography and Social Studies named after M. V. Ptukha of the NAS of Ukraine estimates the population of Ukraine in the government-controlled territories (excluding Crimea and occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions) to be between 28-34 million people. The UN Population Fund calculates within the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine and considers that Ukraine’s population as of 2023 is 36.7 million people.

• False information is being circulated online, claiming that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi called on Georgia to start a war against Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The alleged words include, “new security prospects will emerge due to changes in the neighboring region of the South Caucasus with the Black Sea,” and “thanks to our defense against Russia’s aggression, new opportunities will open up for Georgia to restore its territorial integrity.“
• Users have started receiving messages with the following text: “We exchange information about the Armed Forces of Ukraine for $. All information is in Telegram…”
• Ukrainians will use ATACMS weapon systems, transferred from the United States, against civilians. Such information is being spread by anonymous Telegram channels.

Now the TRUTH:

• The quoted statements indeed belong to Volodymyr Zelenskyi. They were taken from the President’s address to the leaders of the 10 participating countries of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) on October 13, 2023. However, the President’s words have been twisted and taken out of context. President Zelenskyi did not call on Georgia to wage war against Abkhazia and South Ossetia. On the contrary, he emphasized that the security of the Black Sea region depends on Ukraine’s success in resisting Russian aggression. In his address, Zelenskyi discussed Ukraine’s efforts to create new formats of cooperation and strengthen existing alliances in the Black Sea region. The main theme of his speech is geopolitical stability and protection against Russia’s destabilizing actions. “We all must remember that the common security and development of the economy and infrastructure in the Black Sea region are keys to the geopolitical stability of our entire Europe,” the President emphasized.
• Opening these links is dangerous. The messages were mainly received by users from Odesa, Kharkiv, and Donetsk regions. If you receive such a message, do not open it and do not follow any links provided. Transmitting information about the Armed Forces of Ukraine, critical infrastructure, or any cooperation with the enemy may result in criminal liability. Moreover, it could seriously harm Ukraine’s defenders.
• There is no evidence that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will use this weaponry against civilian targets, noted fact-checkers of the EUvsDiSiNFO project. In September 2023, the United States implemented a policy regarding the transfer of conventional weapons. Its goal is to track and prevent civilian casualties from weapons supplied by the United States, including to Ukraine. This fake attempt by the Russians is aimed at demonizing Ukrainian military and the United States. However, in reality, Russia is committing crimes against the civilian population of Ukraine, documented by human rights organizations and the United Nations.

• False information is circulating online that Zelenskyi supposedly prohibited striking 450 fuel-filled tanks in Crimea, blocked on the peninsula and intended for Russian tanks.
• Information is being spread online, claiming that members of Hamas placed Israeli children in cages. The authors provide a video and claim that laughter of the kidnappers can be heard off-camera.
• Another piece of evidence, allegedly proving that Ukraine sells Western weapons to Hamas, is a video showing anti-tank weapons, such as AT4 and NLAW, laid out on the floor. In the background, verses are being recited in Arabic, and words of gratitude to Ukraine for providing weapons can be heard. Kremlin propagandists are circulating this video with a reference to the film company “Dyatly pictures.”

Now the TRUTH:

• No media reported on a large concentration of fuel tanks in Crimea, and there is no similar information in the public domain. Ukraine is conducting fire strikes on Russian objects in Crimea. The source of this information is a Twitter account named “oreflyn.” In turn, the account owner stated that the primary source is a video from former KGB intelligence officer Yuriy Shvets. In the video, Yuriy Shvets did not claim that Zelenskyi specifically prohibited striking fuel tanks; he merely expressed confusion about why such strikes were not carried out. The so-called “expert” also mentions 350 tanks of fuel materials, not 450. During the Russian-Ukrainian war, Shvets criticized Ukrainian intelligence services and attempted to sow discord in the well-established cooperation between the Main Intelligence Directorate and the CIA. The former KGB agent also repeats Russian propaganda narratives, such as the presence of the “Thunder-2” missile system in Ukraine, even though skepticism surrounds the assumption of its existence in the Ukrainian army. He also talks about widespread corruption and embezzlement of weapons and medical equipment, distorting the words of U.S. Colonel Andrew Milburn.
• This video was recorded on October 4, before the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The user who filmed the children claimed to be their relative. The video contains elements suggesting it is humorous, and no harm was intended to the children.
• The Center for Strategic Communications has debunked this fake. Firstly, almost all the weapons shown in the video are fired, especially noticeable with the NLAW, as pointed out by “Information Resistance.” Secondly, if this were indeed filmed by Hamas, there would be triumphant songs about the eternal fight to the last drop of blood playing in the background, and the screen would be filled with logos of the Hamas movement and its sponsors. Thirdly, if Hamas had AT4 and NLAW, why hasn’t the world seen their use since October, according to the “Information Resistance”? Russian propagandists continue to produce fakes and create staged videos claiming that Ukraine supposedly supplies Western weapons to Hamas.

• Continuing aid to Ukraine is a dreadful decision, as it will not help the country win the conflict but will only lead to new losses. This opinion is attributed to Professor Joseph Atkins from the University of Mississippi, as quoted by Russian media.
• Russian propagandists have circulated a fake video depicting a giant banner allegedly hung in New York in support of Russia.
• Russian Telegram channels justify the missile strike on the “Nova Poshta” terminal near Kharkiv on October 21 by claiming that a military object was allegedly located there.

Now the TRUTH:

• The fake was debunked by the Center for Strategic Communications. Propagandists manipulate when they write headlines claiming that “something was stated in the U.S.” to create the impression that it represents the majority opinion. In reality, Atkins’ opinion is unpopular and lacks significant support in the West, as evidenced by the continuous support for Ukraine. The defense forces have not lost in the war; they confidently continue counteroffensives and restrain the enemy. Therefore, the professor’s statements about the “Ukrainian side already suffering defeat” have nothing to do with reality. The widespread narrative by the American that the continuation of arms supplies to Ukraine will lead to new losses is Russian. Thus, the fake creators attempt to weaken Western assistance. Ukraine must achieve victory over Russia to prevent its return and the engulfing of the whole of Europe in war again. The U.S. and other countries understand this well, and that’s why they are providing assistance. After all, they know that victory of good lies ahead, not defeat.
• This is a video fake. Such a banner could not be allowed to be hung in New York, and the way the banner hangs in the fake video violates several norms of the New York City Building Code. Moreover, there are no mentions of this in global or American media.
• On October 21, 2023, Russia launched a missile strike on the “Nova Poshta” terminal in the town of Korotych in the Kharkiv region. As a result of the attack, 6 employees of the company were killed, and 17 were wounded. The company published footage from surveillance cameras inside the terminal seconds before the attack. The video shows the handling of packages, and there is nothing visible that would suggest it is a military object — no tank engines, as claimed by propagandists, no military equipment, weapons, or people in military uniforms.

• Enemy sources are spreading screenshots of an “article” from the American publication The American Insider about the head of the National Bank of Ukraine, Andrii Pyshnyi. Propagandists claim that the article was purchased by the NBU head because it contains laudatory reviews of his work as the head of the National Bank.
• Ukrainians are urged to “stock up on goods” due to “rising prices” related to the war in the Middle East.
• Information is circulating online, claiming that allegedly the probation law enacted by Volodymyr Zelenskyi eases the punishment for prisoners. Supposedly, there will now be no punishment for theft, robbery, smuggling, child exploitation, etc. Photos with a wanted notice in the Poltava region are being shared online for the Polish mercenary Mazur Mecheslav Petrovych. He is accused of desertion from the military unit, causing serious bodily harm, and violence against a minor.

Now the TRUTH:

• The fake was identified and refuted by the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. The website referred to by propagandists is fake. The Center found that the website was registered in October 2023, and the first publications on it date back to September. Moreover, the genuine publication “The American Insider” uses the domain “org,” while the fake website uses the domain “live.” Therefore, there is no “ordered article.” This disinformation is a continuation of the information campaign to discredit the National Bank of Ukraine.
• This is a new hostile information campaign identified by the Center for Strategic Communications. By spreading such narratives, Russians are trying to provoke Ukrainians to empty store shelves and distrust the authorities. In reality, the war in Israel will not affect the rising prices of products in Ukraine. Prices for vegetables, fruits, and dairy products may increase in the near future, but this is a seasonal occurrence, as these products need to be stored in specialized storage facilities during the cold season. Despite the predicted price increases, the cost of most products in the fall of 2023 is still lower than last year. Therefore, there is no reason to panic.
• This is a fake. The “orientation” text contains grammatical and spelling errors. Information about Mazur Mecheslav Petrovych is not available in the Ministry of Internal Affairs database.

• Enemy sources spread disinformation claiming that a residential building in Zaporizhzhia was damaged as a result of the work of Ukrainian air defense forces.
• There is information circulating on social media suggesting that French media outlets such as Contrepoints, Liberation, 20 minutes, Societe link a bedbug epidemic in France to an influx of Ukrainian refugees bringing bedbugs on their personal belongings.
• There is information circulating online suggesting that artifacts in a museum in Kharkiv are being digitized, implying that they are being prepared for transportation to West of Ukraine. Propagandists insinuate that these artworks will later be sold abroad.

Now the TRUTH:

• The reported destruction is actually a result of a Russian missile strike on Zaporizhzhia on the night of October 18. According to local authorities, one of the enemy missiles hit a multi-story residential building. The Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council noted that by spreading such disinformation, the enemy is attempting to conceal its latest war crime and shift responsibility onto Ukraine.
• This is a fake. French publications did not mention Ukrainian refugees when covering this year’s bedbug epidemic. In particular, the publication “Liberation” responded to the spread of fake screenshots with its name, stating that it did not accuse Ukrainian refugees of the bedbug infestation. There is no such publication on the websites of any of these French outlets: “Contrepoints,” “Liberation,” “20 minutes,” and “Societe.” A Google search using key quotes also yielded no results. The screenshots were likely forged, as French media did cover the bedbug issue but without mentioning Ukrainian refugees.
• This is a fake. There is no mention of the removal of exhibits, but the museum became a participant in the international project “Memory Savers,” which involves digitization. Some exhibits were indeed transported from the museum in Balakliia, as mentioned in the post, but this happened after a Russian projectile fell near the building, and Russian occupiers broke a safe with precious metals during the city’s occupation. Therefore, all exhibits were genuinely transported from the museum to initiate the reconstruction of the premises, and there is no information about the loss of these exhibits. Similarly, there is no news in the information space about the removal or disappearance of collections from Izium and Kupiansk.

• A photo of a cake with a figure resembling Volodymyr Zelenskyi on a gallows is circulating online. The cake is purportedly made by Israeli confectioner Avi Melamedson as a protest against the corruption of the president, which allegedly led Ukrainian weaponry to end up with Hamas.
• Some Ukrainian Telegram channels, citing an article from the magazine “Focus,” are spreading information that banks in Ukraine have started blocking bank cards for conscripts who did not appear at military conscription centers. Telegram channels claim that “such cases are happening more and more often.”
• Information is spreading online that the Taliban has appealed to Iran, Jordan, and Iraq to allow its troops into Israel to help Hamas “conquer Jerusalem.” Allegedly, The Jerusalem Post reported this.

Now the TRUTH:

• This is false – there are no such publications on The Jerusalem Post website or on Avi Melamedson’s Instagram page. The confectioner also denied the fact that he made or posted a photo of the cake.
• The fake was debunked by the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO). The original article on “Focus” states that failure to appear at the Military Commissariat is treated as an administrative offense, and courts issue a resolution imposing administrative liability in the form of a fine. This resolution is sent to the executive service, which initiates proceedings and blocks accounts. Accordingly, bank accounts are automatically blocked for non-payment of the fine. Banks do not make such decisions based on appeals from Military Commissariats.
• The information about the Taliban’s request to cross the territories of neighboring countries and join Hamas appeared on a fake Twitter account. The spokesperson and head of the political office of the Taliban denied such statements. Reliable media sources have no reports of the Taliban’s readiness to fight against Israel.

• Russian Telegram channels are spreading information that secret observers will appear on Ukrainian trains, supposedly identifying individuals disloyal to the Zelenskyi regime.
• Profiting from those affected by the war, prices are constantly rising. Due to the increasing prices, people in Ukraine will soon start starving, social media users claim.
• Pro-Russian Telegram channels are spreading information claiming that the Ukrainian Cinematographic Association has created a petition appealing to the president of the Cannes Film Festival. The petition supposedly states that European filmmakers should involve Ukrainian actors in their films along with “Blacks, gays, and the disabled.”

Now the TRUTH:

• On railway complexes and trains, railway security marshals, special workers of the departmental militarized security of the society, who are responsible for the safety of passenger transportation and will respond to threats, are now operating. This was reported by “Ukrzaliznytsia” on October 9. Marshals work discreetly, so passengers will not know who the law enforcement officer on the train is. They will not be seeking individuals disloyal to the authorities.
• These messages were identified and refuted by the Center for Strategic Communications. Similar comments are written by Russian bots on behalf of one of the coordinating groups of propagandists. These and similar communities instruct social media users on spreading narratives that will have a psychological impact on Ukrainian society. For instance, Russians were tasked with writing dissatisfied comments about rising prices on behalf of Ukrainians to create the impression that Ukrainian society is unstable, and the Ukrainian government is robbing people. In reality, prices for goods and services in Ukraine are rising due to Russia, as the production suffers from the destruction of infrastructure by occupiers, mining, and disruptions in the supply; demand for security has increased, leading to higher prices for related products; trust in business has decreased due to the war.
• The petition is indeed published on the “Change.org” website. This is a global platform for public campaigns, and anyone willing can post petitions on it. Only an email is required for registration. It’s unlikely that the Ukrainian Cinematographic Association would choose such a communication format with the president of the Cannes Film Festival; a more typical option is an appeal via letter. There are no mentions of the petition on the official Facebook page of the Ukrainian Cinematographic Association. Moreover, the author of the petition on the site is not the film association but an individual — Fidor Maktyk. A Google search using both Latin and Cyrillic names yielded no results. There is no information about anyone with that name. Instead, a reverse search on Google by photo showed that the avatar depicts Russian actor and producer Denis Los.

• There is news circulating online that in Ukraine, vouchers for training as a sapper are being issued to people with disabilities to send them into combat.
• In anticipation of the heating season, scheduled power outages are being reintroduced in Ukraine. This information is being circulated by some media outlets and social media users.
• On TikTok, videos are being widely shared about changes in the curfew schedule in Ukraine starting from October 25. The video creators claim that this information is based on a statement by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, who allegedly stated that this measure is necessary to control the population during the winter period. The video creators also ask viewers to follow a link to find out the specific curfew hours in their respective locations.

Now the TRUTH:

• In October 2023, the Ukrainian State Employment Service expanded the list of professions and specialties eligible for training vouchers, which cover the cost of education. Now, among the listed professions, there is the occupation of “sapper.” Training for the profession of “sapper” in Ukraine will be provided for several categories of citizens, including those with vocational, professional, or higher education, including individuals with disabilities.
• The fake was debunked by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. There are currently no plans for power outages in any of the regions, according to the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine. They stated, “The electricity produced by Ukrainian power plants is currently fully sufficient to meet consumer needs. Energy specialists are actively preparing the energy system for the heating season.” However, the Ministry of Energy emphasizes that schedules for power outages may be applied in case of: mass enemy shelling and, as a result, damage to power equipment; technological disruptions, and adverse weather conditions.
• The fake was refuted by the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council. In reality, there are no new curfew schedules, and the links urging users to click on them lead to various Telegram channels and third-party websites. In addition, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada did not make any such statements, as decisions regarding the curfew schedule fall within the competence of the heads of regional state administrations. Such videos with clickbait titles are created to increase the reach of resources and attract new users.

• Russian propagandists are spreading information that allegedly Ukrainian Serhii Dubinin allegedly participated in the storming of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 and backed supporters of Donald Trump. A photo of him with a participant in the assault is cited as proof. In 2014, Dubinin allegedly engaged in “recruitment of local neo-Nazis” and was associated with the “Azov” brigade.
• Russian Telegram channels and media are distributing a video of American neo-Nazi Kent “Boneface” McLellan and claiming that he was allegedly a volunteer in the Azov unit and participated in force actions of the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps “Right Sector” and also recruited US volunteers for them.
• Russian Telegram channels are spreading a story, which allegedly says that the French authorities evicted Ukrainian refugees from a school in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, where they lived, and settled 25 illegal immigrants from Guinea.

Now the TRUTH:

• A keyword search on Facebook showed that in 2014, Serhiy Dubinin worked as a camera operator on the “Inter” TV channel. Dubinin filmed a story about the defense of the Donetsk airport and the assault of the Russians. The cameraman continued to work on the front line and shot videos for the TV channel. However, the man had nothing to do with “local neo-Nazis”. Dubinin also got into the storming of the Capitol in 2021 as a cameraman. Using key words, we found the story of that day on the “Inter” TV channel. At the end of the video, the journalist introduces the team that worked on the story, including Serhiy Dubinin.
• In 2014-2015 and 2022, Kent McLellan could not be part of the Ukrainian units, as he was not physically in Ukraine. This is confirmed by documents about his arrests, court decisions, contradictions in the words of the American compared with the words of Russian propagandists.
• Using keywords, we found an article and story from the French edition of CNews, which talk about Guinean migrants. However, there is no mention in the plot of the refugees from Ukraine who were evicted from a kindergarten in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. On the contrary, the author of the material writes that after several months of Ukrainian refugees living in the building, the building was reconstructed, and only after that, 25 newly arrived migrants were settled in the kindergarten. Some of them claim to be minors. In addition, the mayor of the 7th arrondissement of Paris noted that she was informed about the arrival of migrants within an hour.

• Germany allegedly deliberately keeps only refugee women in the country so that they can give birth to a new generation of Germans, while men are allegedly mostly deported.
• Russian Telegram channels spread information about a charity dinner in Paris in support of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. In particular, during the speech, the King of Britain Charles III allegedly said that those who support Russians and African Americans should not be among those present.
• The information is spreading on the network that the cover of The Economist in 2013 allegedly shows that Hamas will invade Israel on paragliders and that the latter’s prime minister will be Benjamin Netanyahu. The illustration shows, among other things, a confrontation between a representative of the terrorist group Hamas and Prime Minister of Israel Netanyahu, men fly on hang gliders to meet each other, a layer of smoke with the inscription “anger” is formed between them.

Now the TRUTH:

• This statement is unfounded, because there are no facts that would indicate such a change in Germany’s demographic policy. Such messages are aimed, on the one hand, at women, in order to increase their fear of staying abroad or to influence the decision to emigrate. On the other hand, such reports are aimed at showing that Ukraine is allegedly losing support in the West and the partners only want to use Ukrainians as genetic material.
• On September 20, 2023, a dinner was indeed held in Paris with the participation of the British royal family, the President of France and famous people. Its main theme is strengthening Franco-British cooperation to overcome modern challenges. Ukraine and the counteroffensive were not the focus of attention that evening. In his speech, Charles III never mentioned the Russians or their support, African Americans, or Ukrainian offensives. In general, the 3-day visit of the royal family to France is seen primarily as an effort to restore good relations between Paris and London after Brexit.
• This is a conspiracy theory. Benjamin Netanyahu headed the government at the time of another escalation of relations between Israel and Hamas in 2012. The sides exchanged massive rocket attacks, without the use of infantry, which is exactly what was depicted on the cover.

• Ukrainian diplomacy has failed because it allegedly spoiled relations with Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Russia, and Belarus — that is, with almost all the countries surrounding it.
• Ex-TV presenter Tucker Carlson said that Ukraine and NATO would not be able to defeat Russia despite any financial assistance from the USA.
• Ukraine allegedly transferred weapons to Hamas using the grain deal.

Now the TRUTH:

• In fact, Ukraine did not spoil diplomatic relations with Russia and Belarus — these countries did it themselves when they attacked Ukraine. The Hungarian and newly elected Slovak governments have pro-Russian views, which is why they pose threats to Ukraine’s support from the EU. The conflict with Poland is connected with the export of Ukrainian grain, however, the support of Ukraine from Poland continues. After all, if Ukraine does not resist the Russian invasion, Poland will be the next to be attacked by the Russian Federation.
• Tucker Carlson systematically disseminates narratives consonant with Russian ones. Russia uses his quotes as proof that there is mass support for the Russian Federation in the West, although this is not the case. In this thesis, Carlson repeated the narrative of an alleged proxy war, that is, a situation where the parties to the conflict are represented by other participants. But NATO is not fighting in Ukraine against Russia. NATO countries, in particular the United States, do provide unprecedented support to Ukraine, but this is a war of Russia against Ukraine, not Russia and NATO.
• The Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine has already explained that the Russian special services sent Western weapons captured during the war in Ukraine to the Hamas terrorists. Thus, Russia is once again trying to discredit Ukraine in the international arena. At the same time, the leading partner of Ukraine — the USA — has repeatedly said that there is no evidence of resale of Western weapons by Ukraine.

• The US is ready to provide Israel with intercontinental ballistic missiles — CNN.
• In a few days of active fighting from Israel, there are more videos than in 2 years of a full-scale Russian invasion — Donald Trump Jr.
• The Taliban have asked neighboring countries for permission to cross their territory to join Hamas’ actions against Israel.

Now the TRUTH:

• The news is made up. There are no reports on the CNN page about the transfer of such missiles to Israel. In addition, these missiles are not designed to attack neighboring territories, and their transfer is prohibited by international agreements. Intercontinental ballistic missiles have a minimum range of more than 5,500 km. The distance from Tel Aviv to the Gaza Strip is about 80 km, and to the Iranian capital — more than 1.5 thousand km.
• In fact, a full-scale Russian invasion has been covered since February 24, 2022. Video of the fighting is published by both Western journalists and OSINT analysts (Bellingcat or Geoconfirmed) and Ukrainian (DeepState or InformNapalm).
• The source of such news could be an account that was pretending to be the official page of the Taliban’s public relations department on Twitter. The name of the fake page was later changed. This information also appeared in The Jerusalem Post but was later deleted. There were no reports in the reliable media about the readiness of the Taliban to fight Israel.

• Hamas leader Yahya Sinwara has been eliminated — The Times Of Israel
• Joe Biden signed an executive order to allocate $8 billion in military aid to Israel
• Hamas openly thanked Ukraine for the sale of Western weapons

Now the TRUTH:

• In fact, the Israeli publication quoted the threatening words of the chief spokesman of the Israeli army, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari. He meant that the military and political leadership of Hamas would be destroyed and that Yahya Sinwar could already be considered “dead.”
• There are no reports on the White House website about allocating $8 billion in military aid to Israel. The text on the image, which is distributed on the network, has been forged. Instead, the original memorandum with an identical title refers to the allocation of $400 million to the US Ministry of Defense, which should be directed to military aid to Ukraine in the future.
• The video shows conventional weapons — grenade launchers, assault rifles,and machine guns, which are in service in many countries. In addition, the person’s face is not visible on the recording, and the sound, most likely, could be superimposed on the finished video. In addition, the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine reported that the Russian special services had sent Western weapons captured during the war in Ukraine to Hamas terrorists. In this way, Russian propagandists are once again trying to discredit Ukraine on the international stage. However, the USA has repeatedly said that there is no evidence of resale of Western weapons by Ukraine.

• During his speech in Valdai, Putin repeated numerous fakes of Russian propaganda. In particular, in one of the theses, Putin claimed that the so-called “special military operation” is aimed at ending the war that the West has been waging for 10 years.
• In another thesis, Putin lied, as if the West had never counted the number of children who died in Donbas.
• A video of a guy who was allegedly forcibly mobilized at the age of 18 is being shared on TikTok. Pro-Russian Telegram channels claim that the 18-year-old boy could not serve in the army before mobilization, and therefore this is proof that Zelensky is allegedly forming an army of children and teenagers, like the Hitler Youth of Nazi Germany.

Now the TRUTH:

• Speaking about the war that supposedly lasts for 10 years, Putin most likely had in mind the war in Eastern Ukraine, which began in 2014. However, there is no basis to believe that the West initiated, let alone waged, this war. It is Russia itself that has been fueling hostility in Eastern Ukraine for years and promoting anti-Western sentiments there. It was Russia that deployed its troops to Eastern Ukraine in 2014, and for many years, despite numerous evidence including the identification of Russian military personnel, equipment, and weaponry, denied this.
• This is false. The Special Monitoring Mission of the OSCE, which, by the way, included representatives from the Russian Federation, confirmed information about 91 civilian casualties in just 2021, including 16 deaths and 75 injuries (60 men, 18 women, 8 boys, and 5 girls).
• There is no reason to believe that the young man was conscripted forcibly or that this is being done to form a youth army. In reality, in Ukraine, joining the Armed Forces of Ukraine is allowed from the age of 18, so the young man could have volunteered for service. Prior military experience is not mandatory for this. Russia continues to widely spread manipulations about supposed mass mobilization, including using the image of children and youth to create an even greater atmosphere of fear.

• On October 6, in Kharkiv, Russia allegedly struck a hotel where foreign mercenaries were staying.
• The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, said that the alleged supply of long-range missiles to Ukraine will force Russia to “put a red button on the table” and lead to a nuclear escalation.
• In one of the Ukrainian Telegram chats, where social payments from the state and benefits are discussed, a video appeared showing that summonses have already begun to be given even to women.

Now the TRUTH:

• Every time Russia launches a targeted attack on civilian infrastructure, propagandists claim that it was either a military target, or it was a strike on foreign mercenaries, or it was allegedly a mistake by Ukrainian air defense. In fact, as a result of a Russian missile attack in the morning of October 6, two people, including a child, were killed in Kharkiv. 30 people were injured. 2 apartment buildings were damaged and a three-story residential building was destroyed, the Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko said.
• Lukashenko is spreading Russian narratives about nuclear escalation, which is part of the intimidation of not only Ukraine, but the entire world. The purpose of such statements is to cut off military aid to Ukraine. However, as the dynamics of aid to Ukraine show, this tactic does not achieve the desired result.
• From the discussions in the same Telegram chat, it can be seen that the chat was probably either hacked, or Russian users joined it, or bots. This message was deliberately thrown into a group where there are many women to sow fear and panic among them. In Ukraine, summonses are not issued to women, and women can register for the military voluntarily.

• The attack on the village of Groza in the Kupiansk district of the Kharkiv region could be staged by Ukraine allegedly to stimulate funding for Ukraine and to justify increased mobilization.
• Five Ukrainians got into a fight on a bus that led to a car accident in Mestre (Italy).
• Russian Telegram channels are spreading information that Sweden has officially confirmed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have lost all 10 Leopard 2A5 tanks of Stridsvagn 122 modification, which were previously transferred to Ukraine. Armored vehicles supposedly belonged to 21 separate mechanized brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which lost the Swedish tanks.

Now the TRUTH:

• There is no reason to believe that Ukraine struck the village of Groza. A Russian missile hit a local cafe where a military memorial service was held. 52 people died, which is almost every sixth resident of the village. Two children were among the dead. The attack on the village of Groza in the Kharkiv region became the largest missile attack of the Russian Federation in 2023. The locals are inclined to the version that the attack could have been directed by one of the villagers, but there are no specific suspicions of the locals or the law enforcement officers so far.
• Near Venice, Italy, a passenger bus fell from a overpass near the railway. At least 21 people were killed. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko reported that four Ukrainians died and another four were injured. However, in reports about the accident there are no mention of a fight on the bus allegedly caused by Ukrainians. Only Russian media and Telegram channels have written about this, without providing any evidence. 
• On September 23, 2023, Forbes published an article stating that Russian UAVs damaged two Swedish Stridsvagn 122 tanks, which indeed belonged to the 21st Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Citing Russian video footage, the article’s author suggests that the tank initially hit a mine, and a few hours later, it was hit by Russian UAVs. OSINT analysts from the Oryx platform also report that two Stridsvagn 122 tanks were damaged and abandoned. However, we have not found any official statements on the pages of the Swedish Ministry of Defense regarding the alleged destruction of Stridsvagn 122 tanks. Furthermore, the press officer of the Swedish Minister of Defense, Pal Johnson, stated to Reuters fact-checkers that he had made no statements about the loss of these tanks on the battlefield. In contrast, Swedish volunteer Jonas von Matern personally spoke with the commander who led the company of Stridsvagn 122 tanks. The commander stated that the Russians did indeed damage two tanks, but they are still operational.

• Russian Telegram channels are spreading information that a French travel agency allegedly said that the losses of Ukrainians in the war amounted to 500,000 killed soldiers. Also, the travel agency allegedly came up with a contest, the main condition of which was to upload a photo of a fallen soldier and take a picture in front of any landmark.
• There is information spread online claiming that McDonald’s in Ukraine offers a cherry pie that may contain “Russian baby bones”.
• The National Bank of Ukraine canceled the fixed exchange rate, and therefore the hryvnia will go into “free flight”, and prices will rise excessively.

Now the TRUTH:

• We did not find a single report in the foreign media about the contest of the French travel agency or the statement about 500,000 dead Ukrainian soldiers. Most likely, the propagandists took this photo from the Internet and added the logo of the French publication in order to convince readers of the “truthfulness” of the news. On August 18, 2023, The New York Times, citing anonymous US officials, reported that the number of people killed and wounded as a result of the war reached 500,000. We are talking about losses from both sides, not only from the Ukrainian side. Anonymous American officials note that about 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers died in the war and another 100,000-120,000 were wounded. While on the Russian side, the number of dead is approximately 120,000.
• At first, Ukrainian users and satirical groups began to spread the image as a joke (meme). Later, Russian sources presented it as a real packaging change at McDonald’s. However, the company did not announce such a campaign on its official website or pages in social networks. Checking the photo with the FotoForensics tool showed that the image has signs of editing (changed areas are brighter than other elements). Even without the use of image verification tools, it is noticeable that the note about “Russian babies” is written on the original photo: the packaging has a rounded shape, accordingly, the text written on it is also rounded. Instead, the expression “Russian babies” is direct, without rounding. If it were printed on the packaging, it would follow its shape.
• The NBU has introduced a managed flexibility regime. This is a regime where the official exchange rate depends on operations on the interbank market. Before that, from February 24, 2022, Ukraine had a fixed exchange rate, when the National Bank set the official rate. The main goal of the National Bank is to return to a floating exchange rate, but given the war risks, this may take a long time. So this is an intermediate period that will allow the economy to adapt to internal and external conditions. Nothing fundamentally changes for the cash market. After all, the cash rate is different from the official one anyway. Back in May 2022, the NBU lifted the restriction that the cash rate should not deviate from the official rate by more than 10%. The changes concern only currency trading between banks. Probably, due to the abolition of the fixed exchange rate, the dollar may go up. However, nobody can accurately predict how much the rate will change or how long it will stay at the new level. At the same time, the NBU retains the possibility to intervene promptly and prevent sharp spikes if the need arises.

• Russian Telegram channels are spreading information that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has allegedly introduced draft law No. 10084, which allows men over 60 to be mobilized. Now they want to raise the military age for ordinary soldiers to 65, and for senior officers to 70.
• Information is spreading online claiming that leaflets with the slogan “Education won’t save the country! Join the Armed Forces of Ukraine!” are being distributed in Ukrainian higher education institutions. Additionally, the leaflet prominently features the logos of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Student Union of Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute, as well as contact information for the local recruitment center under the heading “Update your information at the Territorial Recruitment Center.”
• Russian Telegram channels and media are distributing video of American neo-Nazi Kent “Boneface” McLellan and claiming that he was allegedly a volunteer in the “Azov” unit and participated in the force actions of the Right Sector Volunteer Ukrainian Corps, as well as recruited US volunteers for them.

Now the TRUTH:

• First of all, in part 2 of Article 22 of the Law “On Military Duty and Military Service” even before draft law No. 10084, it was stated that servicemen may be left in military service over the age limit for a period of 5 years at their request. For this, a person must have high professional training, experience of practical work in the position held by him and be recognized by the military medical commission as fit for health. Secondly, the draft law proposes to allow military personnel to remain in military service at their request during martial law without restrictions on age and term of military service. The conditions for this are the same as before: high professional training, work experience and fitness from the military medical commission in terms of health.
• The press officer of the Kharkiv Regional Territorial Recruitment Center, Olena Rodina, denied the preparation of leaflets with such appeals. “What the Russians spread is always fake. The narrative “Education will not save the country” does not exist for us at all! Children of Ukraine studied, studied and will continue to study!”. The real slogan of the campaign is the expression: “Acknowledging fear is brave. We need the brave!“. The student union of the Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute also denied its connection with the leaflets. In August 2023, the Ministry of Defense presented the information campaign “Update data in the Territorial Recruitment Center,”. The purpose of the campaign is to motivate Ukrainians to update their personal data at territorial recruitment and social support centers. It is implemented by placing informational materials (videos and images) in the telethon “Yedyni Novyny(United News)” and on other TV channels, on the radio, in cinemas (Multiplex, Planeta Kino, Oscar and others), on digital outdoor advertising platforms, in Ukrzaliznytsia trains, in the form of banners on partner sites on the Internet, on social media pages of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. No mention of physical postcards. Moreover, the images created as part of the campaign are significantly different from those in the video.
• In 2014-2015 and 2022, Kent McLellan could not be part of the Ukrainian units, as he was not physically in Ukraine. This is confirmed by documents about his arrests, court decisions, contradictions in the words of the American compared with the words of Russian propagandists.

• On September 30, in Russia, the so-called day of Donbas and Tavria’s return “home” was held — this is what propagandists called the day when pseudo-referendums on joining Russia were held in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. 
• The list of reforms that the authorities received from the US should kill Zelenskyi’s rating. Therefore, the Ukrainian authorities are allegedly already considering the option of holding elections before they have to report to the United States on the implementation of these reforms.
• According to another version, the Ukrainian authorities will sooner go to peace talks with the Russian Federation than implement this list of reforms.

Now the TRUTH:

• There is no “returning home” day — the pseudo-referendums that the Russians staged had nothing to do with free democratic choice. The so-called international observers at the pseudo-referendums were exclusively from countries friendly to the Russian Federation. It is not known what the turnout was and how people actually voted, because the secrecy of voting at polling stations was not respected. Fighting continues in the regions, which are not safe conditions for the organization of any election process. It is not known whether those who voted were really Ukrainians from the South and East of Ukraine, whether they were not threatened by the Russians, or whether they were actually actors brought by Russia.
• The USA formed a preliminary list of reforms that the Ukrainian authorities must implement within a year and a half. Similar requirements already exist in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union (EU). This list is the “basis for consultations” with the government and key partners, explained the US Embassy in Ukraine. The requirements outlined in it are not new: Ukraine has long been committed to carrying out anti-corruption and judicial reforms — this, among other things, has always been a condition for lending from the IMF and the EU, and now it is a condition for receiving financing from Western partners. At the same time, there is no reason to believe that Zelenskyi would hold elections in order not to implement these reforms. The current authorities have repeatedly emphasized that holding elections in war conditions is impossible, because it is impossible to ensure security at polling stations, voter turnout, it is impossible to organize polling stations at temporarily occupied territories, and additionally it is necessary to plan voting for Ukrainians abroad. Therefore, there is no reason to claim that the authorities are preparing for the elections, and not for the implementation of reforms.
• Fulfillment or non-fulfilment of these requirements will in no way affect Ukraine’s receipt of military aid from the United States. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that Ukraine will soon agree to peace negotiations. Support for Ukraine will continue, and therefore, there will be an opportunity to continue to resist the enemy and return Ukrainian lands under control.

• The proposal of Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of the National Security Council, that all Ukrainians should have weapons at home, is related to the preparation of a civil war within Ukraine after the end of the so-called “special military operation”.
• In Crimea, the Russian passport of Olena Zelenska was found in allegedly Zelenskyi’s apartment nationalized by Russia.
• In the interim budget, the US removed financial aid to Ukraine for 45 days to finance the government. Therefore, the Ukrainian authorities can arrange domestic provocations, such as an international emergency, to bring attention back to Ukraine.

Now the TRUTH:

• In an interview with Nataliia Moseichuk, Oleksii Danilov spoke about weapons in the context of defense against Russia and meant the readiness of every Ukrainian to defend his country. There is no reason to claim that the authorities are preparing a civil war in Ukraine. However, it was Russia that spread the narrative about the civil war for years, in order to prove that there are allegedly no Russian troops in the East of Ukraine.
• The Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security has already refuted this fake. Authors of the fake took the photo for the “document” from the first lady’s Instagram. Thus, the “passport” was allegedly issued in 2014, but the photo in it is from 2023. There is also a discrepancy between the date of issue and the passport number. The “document” states that it was issued in 2020, not in 2014, as the propagandists say. In addition, at the bottom of the first page (where the MRZ code is located), Zelenska’s paternal name is written with an error in transliteration — Vlodymyrovna.
• For the Ukrainian state, the approval of the project of temporary financing of the government for a period of 45 days, which does not include financing of aid to Ukraine, in the US means the continuation of work with partners. Currently, there is no threat to the previously approved supplies of weapons and equipment. Currently, the temporary budget resolution has been adopted only for 45 days. The Congress and the Administration made sure that the funds of the previous budget for aid programs to Ukraine were transitory — the Ambassador of Ukraine to the USA, Oksana Markarova, wrote about this on Facebook. At the same time, there is no reason to believe that the Ukrainian authorities would arrange provocations to draw attention to Ukraine. Every day, it is Russia that commits crimes against Ukraine and Ukrainians: shelling civilian infrastructure, killing civilians, torturing civilians and prisoners of war, damaging the environment, cultural monuments, deporting Ukrainians, including children. Therefore, it is Russia that is doing everything possible so that the world’s attention is focused on Ukraine, however, it is through the narrative of the so-called “provocations” that Russia tries to justify its own brutality. Probably, this is how Russia prepares the groundwork for another crime, in order to later try to justify it in this way.

• The information is spread on the network claiming that allegedly the Russians destroyed on the front  the Leopard tank transferred to Ukraine with a crew consisting of a Bundeswehr servicemen. “When we stopped their next “meat storm” and tapped Leopard, we came to the burned equipment in the hope of capturing the tank crew. And we found that the tank driver was seriously injured and the rest was killed. The mechanic, when he came to his senses and saw us, began to shout “Nikht Schisen” (do not shoot),” — said the commander of the group with the call sign “Legend”. “The mechanic-driver of the knocked-out tank said several times that he was not a mercenary, but a soldier of the Bundeswehr, and the entire crew was from the same company,” the soldier added.
• Information is spreading online that Pope Francis was allegedly included in the “Myrotvorets” base for “supporting Russian Catholics and complicity in Russian crimes.”
• Russian propaganda channels spread the news that a mural was allegedly painted on the wall of a house in Berlin depicting Volodymyr Zelenskyi as a cannibal eating the torn off arm of a Ukrainian soldier.

Now the TRUTH:

• There is no evidence, apart from the words of the Russian military. The German Ministry of Defense denies the presence of German tank crews in Ukraine. In particular, the Ministry of Defense of Germany denied information about the participation of Bundeswehr tankers in hostilities on the territory of Ukraine. “There are no German tank crews in Ukraine,” emphasized one of the official representatives of the German Ministry of Defense, giving a comment to the German publication Deutsche Welle. This fake was also refuted by independent German fact-checkers from Correctiv. They explain that in order for the Bundeswehr military to take part in armed operations abroad, the approval of the Bundestag, the federal parliament of Germany, is required. Currently, the Bundeswehr participates only in the European training mission (EUMAM UA) to support the country attacked by Russia.
• It is about the 266th Pope Jorge Mario Bergoglio. This name is allegedly listed in the database. However, if you try to find a suitable person on the “Myrotvorets” website, the search will not yield results. There is no such person in the base.
• In the post, the propagandists refer to the relevant news that allegedly appeared on Deutsche Welle’s Instagram page. However, there is no such news in Instagram media. Also, there is no post about the mural on the Deutsche Welle website, Facebook and Twitter. In addition to Deutsche Welle, the propagandists refer to the website of the newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, which allegedly also published news about the mural. However, there is no such news on the website of the mass media. There is also no such post on the newspaper’s Facebook and Twitter. On the fake screenshot, the name of the President of Ukraine is written incorrectly, transliterated from Russian, or even with a mistake — “Vladimir Zelenski” and “Zelinsky”, although the correct German would be Wolodymyr Selenskyj. On the day and time shown in the fake screenshot from the newspaper’s website, another article was published, dedicated to Kim Jong Un’s visit to Russia.

• Information is spread online that the American businessman Elon Musk has been added to the “Myrotvorets” database.
• Russian Telegram channels are spreading a segment of one of the stories, in which it is said that three burglars robbed the house of the family of a fallen soldier allegedly during his funeral in the Lviv region in 2023.
• A luxury bomb shelter was allegedly built in Lviv. The shelter allegedly has a barista, a DJ, and a bartender, and an all-inclusive subscription costs UAH 30,000 per month.

Now the TRUTH:

• On the site “Myrotvorets” at the request of Elon Musk, there is no corresponding data, a search in previous versions of the site viewed in the web archive also did not yield results. The information that Elon Musk was allegedly added to this database began to be spread in 2021. This publication appeared on the website “Panorama“, which publishes satirical news. On October 3, 2022, this site again published a similar “news”. In just a few days, Russian news resources began to reproduce the information en masse. At that time, Elon Musk even reacted to the publication and asked to provide a link to the questionnaire in “Myrotvorets”, but this was never done since such a page never existed. Neither in 2021, nor in 2022, nor in 2023 was Musk’s name in the database.
• Using keywords, we found an original story about a theft in a military man’s house, which was published on the Internet on July 25, 2016. The event took place on July 22 of the same year in the city of Zolochiv, Lviv Region. Thieves entered the house during the funeral of serviceman Andrii Shvets, who served as a volunteer in the ATO (anti-terrorist operation) in the East. Later, the police detained the suspects, three teenagers, who stole money and property worth about 40,000 hryvnias. At most, according to the police, the teenagers knew the deceased soldier because he helped one of the boys with legal advice before the service. Propagandists once again used the old story to ridicule and discredit Ukrainians. Earlier, we already refuted a similar fake that allegedly British Prince Andrew was accused of sexual violence against Ukrainian children after a visit to Ukraine. In this case, the propagandists also used the old story of the Prince Andrew scandal, which actually has nothing to do with Ukraine.
• The video was originally published on the local Lviv Telegram channel as a joke. There is no luxury bomb shelter in Lviv — a video circulating on the network was created by artificial intelligence at the request of what a premium shelter would look like.

• The Russian military treats captured Ukrainian soldiers better than the Armed Forces of Ukraine: provide medical care, give them the opportunity to meet their families, feed them, etc.
• Ukrainians started to hate Russia and all Russians under the influence of Western propaganda. The so-called Anglo-Saxons have turned the Ukrainian people against their alleged Russian brothers for years.

Now the TRUTH:

• In reality, the Russian military is torturing and killing Ukrainian prisoners of war. For example, this is precisely what the Russians did in the Olenivka colony: first, they brutally tortured the prisoners of war there, and later they destroyed the colony in order to hide the traces of torture, killing the prisoners and falsely shifting the blame for it to Ukraine. Theses about how good it is in Russian captivity, Russia uses in order, on the one hand, to lie about the fact that the Ukrainians allegedly treat prisoners cruelly, and on the other hand, to encourage our military to lay down their arms and surrender instead of continuing to resist.
• This absolutely propagandistic thesis has nothing to do with reality. Among all the world countries, Ukrainians have the worst attitude towards Russia and Russians because Russia attacked Ukraine in 2014, occupied part of Eastern Ukraine, and illegally annexed Crimea. And in 2022, it began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, trying to occupy the entire country. Russia itself is doing everything possible to be hated not only by Ukrainians but also by the whole world.

• On September 25, the 67th session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will begin, which will, in particular, consider the safety of ZNPP. Russian “diplomats” published comments on the draft resolution proposed by supporters of Ukraine. And, of course, they repeated the typical myths about Ukraine and the ZNPP. In particular, Russia’s comment states that allegedly in 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine shelled the ZNPP, its infrastructure, and the satellite city of Enerhodar for many months.
• Also, in the commentary to the resolution, the Russian Federation says that Russia allegedly did not and does not use any violent actions against peaceful nuclear facilities. This is confirmed in the relevant reports of the Director General of the IAEA.
• The call for the “urgent withdrawal of all unauthorized military and other unauthorized personnel from the Ukrainian NPP” in Russia was deemed practically incorrect. Allegedly, there are no third-party individuals or military personnel at the station. The Russian forces at the Ukrainian NPP consist solely of the National Guard (not armed forces) and the Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops.

Now the TRUTH:

• It is false. In 2022, it was Russia that fired at the ZNPP, its infrastructure, and Enerhodar. For example, on March 4, 2022, as a result of Russian troops shelling the Zaporizhzhia NPP, a fire broke out in the training building, and the first power unit was hit. Already on March 14 of the same year, the Russian military detonated part of the ammunition on the site of the station. On July 12 last year, the mayor of Enerhodar, Dmytro Orlov, announced the artillery shelling of the city by Russian troops. According to the head of Enerhodar, the main goal was to sow panic among the population and use the crowd of people leaving the city as a “human shield”. On August 6, 2022, the ZNPP was attacked by multiple rocket launchers (MSRS). They hit the site of the ZNPP directly next to the station’s dry storage of spent nuclear fuel. Already on August 8, the Russian media reported on the place from where the Ukrainian side was allegedly shelling the station with rocket launchers. Later, Energoatom proved that the shelling was carried out by the Russian military.
• It is false. After the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia repeatedly threatened the security of nuclear plants in Ukraine. In September 2022, Russian troops also shelled the industrial zone of the South Ukrainian NPP. Referring to Enerhoatom’s data, the IAEA noted that as a result of the attack on the facility, three power lines and windows were damaged, but the three reactors continued to work in their usual mode, and the workers were not injured. The press release also indicated that this situation clearly demonstrates potential threats to other nuclear facilities in the country. In August 2022, Grossi stated that the situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP was “completely out of control”, as the occupation of the facility disrupted the supply chains of parts necessary for the smooth operation of the ZNPP, and the staff was under pressure from the Russian military. The report, which the IAEA released on September 5, 2022, referred to the placement of “military personnel, vehicles, and equipment” in the engine room of power units #1 and #2. In November 2022, the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution calling on Russia to withdraw its troops and personnel from the station. The IAEA’s 2023 reports indicate that the seven nuclear safety principles have not been met. In May, the IAEA recorded an increase in the number of military presence at the facility and continued shelling.
• This is manipulation. Russian military and outsiders are constantly on the territory of the ZNPP. Moreover, the IAEA notes that maintaining the plant’s operational efficiency and safety is the result of the efforts of the Ukrainian operational staff. On the other hand, the presence of military personnel and equipment, as well as representatives of Rosatom, complicates their work. Therefore, the organization recommended to continue to operate the system according to the project and to remove military equipment in areas where it can interfere with the operation of the equipment. Russia also lied about the military: military personnel are citizens serving not only in the armed forces but also in other military formations. According to Russian law, the Roshvardiya is a military organization. Moreover, the mentioned forces of radiation, chemical and biological protection are directly part of Russia’s armed forces. Russia contradicts itself: first, it says that there are no military personnel at the ZNPP, and then it names the two military structures that are there.

• Freedom of speech ceased to exist under Zelenskyi. This is allegedly evidenced by the arrest of Nestor Shufrych.
• The authorities of Ukraine allegedly lied about the prospects of joining the EU and NATO in order to force Ukrainians to go to the front.
• The narrative that the sanctions against the Russian Federation have failed and caused more damage to Europeans than to Russia is once again spreading on the Internet.

Now the TRUTH:

• Nestor Shufrych was suspected of treason. According to the SSU, as evidenced by the investigation materials, Shufrych closely cooperated and carried out the tasks of the former secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Volodymyr Sivkovych, an FSB agent whose task is to coordinate the Russian agency in Ukraine. One of Shufrych’s main tasks was subversive activity in the information sphere. He systematically spread the Kremlin’s narratives that the Ukrainian state is a supposedly artificial entity, that Ukraine and Russia have a single history, and that Ukrainians and Russians are supposedly “one nation.” In this way, Shufrych tried to develop pro-Russian sentiments in Ukrainian society.
• Since 2015, Ukraine has been carrying out the reforms necessary for joining the EU, and continues to do so even under martial law. Similarly, in order to join NATO, Ukraine must not only reform the army, but also carry out economic and anti-corruption reforms. It is impossible to carry out reforms in all branches of public administration in a short time, and some reforms have many transitional stages. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that the process of Ukraine’s accession to the EU and NATO has stopped. And besides, it is manipulative to say that Ukrainians were forced to go to the front in order to join the EU and NATO. Since February 24, thousands of Ukrainians have voluntarily decided to defend the country.
• Back in August of this year, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, called it a lie that EU sanctions against Russia are not working. Over the course of a year, the sanctions have significantly limited Moscow’s capabilities, causing financial distress, cutting off the country from key markets and significantly impairing its industrial and technological potential. According to Borrell, the economy of the Russian Federation shrank by 2.1% in 2022. All components of Russian private demand, including private investment and consumption, remain subdued. Only government expenditures related to military operations, i.e., defense expenditures, are increasing. Borrell wrote that compared to 2021, in 2022 58% of the EU’s total imports from Russia had already been cut, calling it an “unprecedented disconnection (of ties)”, while non-energy imports from Russia, he indicated, had fallen by almost 60%. The head of European diplomacy also indicated that the G7+ energy sanctions on oil “proved their effectiveness”, because the price of Russian oil has fallen since the EU embargo and G7+ restrictions on oil prices began.

• The so-called ex-CIA analyst Scott Ritter claims that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have allegedly proven that they can gather tens of thousands of people, give them thousands of pieces of equipment, and as a result achieve practically nothing, not counting the many thousands of personnel losses.
• There is a video circulating online about a rebuilt school in Mariupol. Allegedly, this serves as evidence that Russia is actually reconstructing the city.
• The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, handed over the book “Ukrainian Crimes Against Humanity (2022-2023)” to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The book allegedly presents evidence of crimes collected by the so-called International Public Tribunal on the crimes of the so-called Ukrainian neo-Nazis and their aides. Allegedly, people who directly suffered from the actions of Ukrainian troops are talking about them.

Now the TRUTH:

• Russia uses Scott Ritter to prove that supposedly respected experts in the West also favor Russia — but this is false. In fact, Scott Ritter systematically repeats narratives consonant with the Russian ones and is not an expert, because his biography is quite dubious. Yes, even this time Ritter manipulates, omitting the entire progress of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the deoccupation of Kyiv region, Kherson region and Kharkiv region, and evaluates the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine only based on selective facts.
• With such videos, Russia is trying to convince Ukrainians that life under Russian occupation is better than in free and independent Ukraine. However, in such videos, Russia omits the fact that Mariupol was almost completely destroyed by Russia itself. Rebuilding a few houses or schools for stories on state-run Russian TV channels does not solve the problem that the rest of the city is destroyed by the Russian army.
• The Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security Council analyzed that the book contains clear narratives of Russian propaganda, which the Kremlin is trying to impose on society as facts verified by the so-called International Public Tribunal. For greater plausibility of their lies, the “authors” found “witnesses of the crimes of the Kyiv regime”. However, the credibility of the collected evidence remains highly questionable, as the author of the book and the international members of the tribunal have long been involved in spreading Kremlin propaganda in the mass media.

• The authorities are allegedly not holding elections because sociology shows a drop in Zelenskyi’s rating.
• An article allegedly appeared on Diia’s website justifying Ukrainians who fought on the side of the Nazis.
• The news is spreading online that the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, has been added to the “Myrotvorets” base for participating in acts of humanitarian aggression against Ukraine, aiding the Russian occupiers and spreading propaganda.

Now the TRUTH:

• In such messages, pro-Russian Telegram channels refer to closed sociology conducted by the Office of the President. Such data is not publicly available, so it is easy to manipulate it, and besides, it is not known whether the authors of anonymous Telegram channels really have access to such information. After all, elections in Ukraine are not held not because of the president’s ratings, but because elections cannot be held under martial law. In particular, due to limited access to frontline regions and regions where active hostilities continue, it is also impossible to hold elections in temporarily occupied territories, it is impossible to ensure the safety of voters and observers at polling stations, and in addition, millions of Ukrainians are abroad.
• There is no such article on Diia’s website. Also, a keyword search does not yield results for such an article on any other resource. Therefore, the screenshot was probably faked in order to once again reinforce the narrative about the alleged presence of Nazis in Ukraine.
• This is a fake. Currently, Andrzej Duda is not in the “Myrotvorets” base. A search in the web archive, which allows viewing previous versions of the site, does not yield results. However, if the president of Poland was really included in the list, reliable Ukrainian and world media would have reported about it, but none of them published such news. The Center for Combating Disinformation also denied the information that Andrzej Duda was added to the “Myrotvorets” website.

• Information is spreading on the Internet that allegedly in an interview with The War Zone portal, the head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, admitted that Abrams tanks will not last long on the front line. He also said that long-range ATACMS missiles, which the USA can provide to Ukraine, will not change the situation at the front.
• The news is spreading online that Volodymyr Zelenskyi has offered the artist Marina Abramovich to become an ambassador of Ukraine and “take care of Ukrainian schools”.
• Russian propagandists share video in which NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg allegedly confirms that NATO expansion caused Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Now the TRUTH:

• This is manipulation. In an interview, Kyrylo Budanov stated that both sides do not use heavy weapons on the front lines for a number of reasons, and combat operations are conducted with the help of infantry and artillery. He said that one hundred ATACMS missiles will not fundamentally change the situation at the front, at least hundreds are needed.
• This is a fake. There is no confirmation that the President of Ukraine invited Marina Abramovich to become the ambassador of Ukraine and cooperate with Ukrainian schools. There is no mention in Ukrainian and English-speaking reliable mass media that Volodymyr Zelenskyi invited Abramov9ch to become an ambassador. Also, there are no similar publications on the website of the Office of the President of Ukraine, on the official Telegram channel of the president and on his public Facebook page. Marina Abramovich also did not mention the offer to become the ambassador of Ukraine in her social networks, public pages, as well as on the website of her project.
• This is manipulation. Stoltenberg’s quote was taken out of context. In fact, the NATO Secretary General said that Putin’s policy aimed at preventing the expansion of the Alliance had failed. Instead, Russia’s neighbor Finland became a member of NATO.

• The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, said that Belarus is not at war and does not want to fight.
• The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergei Lavrov, said that the USA is allegedly leading Ukraine’s war against Russia, because it supplies Ukraine with weapons and ammunition.
• A video of Anthony Blinken, who says that Ukraine has liberated more than 50% of the territories captured by the Russian Federation, is being distributed on the Internet. The posts add that this information is allegedly taken from a “parallel reality” and in this way hint that it is not true.

Now the TRUTH:

• This statement is devoid of logic, because Belarus is already participating in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Belarus allowed Russia to attack Ukraine from its territory in a full-scale invasion that began on February 24. Enemy shelling of Ukraine was conducted from the territory of Belarus. Even now, Russian equipment and troops are still stationed in Belarus, which pose a threat to Ukraine.
• The USA is indeed one of the allies of Ukraine that has provided the most weapons and financial aid. However, the USA does not determine how Ukraine’s opposition to Russia will proceed. Even if the United States provides intelligence, the decision on what actions are necessary to repel enemy attacks and expel them from Ukraine is made by the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine independently.
• Such messages are manipulative. OSINT analysts and Western officials confirm the information that Ukraine has liberated 50% of its territories. In the original video, part of which is being shared online, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken says that Ukraine has returned more than 50% of the territories that Russia seized since February 24, 2022. However, Blinken did not mean a part of the territory that Russia captured back in 2014. In June 2022, the President of Ukraine noted that Russia controls about 125,000 sq. km of Ukraine. Whereas, according to the Washington Post’s latest calculations of September 8, 2023, Russia controls only about 66,000 sq. km. On the general map of Ukraine from the analysts of the Deep State platform, it can be seen that in general the Russian Federation occupied 17.9% of the territories of Ukraine, including Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. At the same time, the Ukrainian military continues the deoccupation. In November 2022, the Swedish OSINT analyst Def Mon also provided a map with liberated Ukrainian territories. According to the analyst, as of November 6, 2022, Ukraine deoccupied more than 75 thousand sq. km of territories. In total, since the beginning of the large-scale invasion, Russia has occupied more than 105 thousand sq. km.

• The demolition and alteration of World War II monuments are aimed at forcing Ukrainians to forget history and to forget about the victory in this war.
• The authorities of the Kharkiv region deliberately manipulate the data on the number of people remaining in Kupiansk in order to use them as human shields. Thus, Russian Telegram channels claim that the head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration, Oleh Synehubov, and the mayor of Kupiansk, Andrii Besiedin, initially stated that there were 12,000 people in the Kupiansk district. But Besiedin recently stated that approximately 5,000 people remained in the city, and 3,777 civilians were evacuated. That is, 8,223 people should stay, but not 5,000.
• There’s a video circulating online in which a man complains that he is being forcibly deported from Europe to Ukraine for an illegal border crossing. However, according to the video’s author, he left Ukraine legally.

Now the TRUTH:

• Decommunization does not deny the victory over the Nazi regime in World War II, nor does it diminish the role of any of the Allies who contributed to that victory. Decommunization, in particular with regard to monuments of the Second World War, is taking place so that Ukraine and Ukrainians have as few reminders as possible of the times of the USSR, which deprived Ukraine of its independence and slowed down its development. Russian propaganda still uses nostalgia for the times of the USSR to convince that life in Russia, which calls itself the rightful successor of the Union, is supposedly better. And therefore, the life of Ukrainians under occupation or as part of the Russian Federation would also supposedly be better than in an independent, pro-European Ukraine. 
• First of all, propagandists mix the news. In August, the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration assumed that up to 12,000 people could be evacuated from the Kupiansk district. Already on September 10, the head of the city’s military administration, Andrii Besiedin, announced that since the beginning of the full-scale war, the population of Kupiansk has decreased fivefold: from 27,000, there are now about 5,000 people. Later, on September 13, the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration Synehubov reported that 2,339 people have already been evacuated from 56 settlements in the Kupiansk district, which are constantly under fire, and another 1,438 people have left on their own. That is, the propagandists mixed up the news about the number of people in the city of Kupiansk and the number of potential and actual evacuees from the Kupiansk district of Kharkiv Oblast. So, there is no reason to believe that citizens are being made into human shields, because propagandists manipulate data.
• As the author stated, the video about his extradition to Ukraine is a prank. The man in the video is Bohdan Pruskyi, who calls himself a blogger and rapper from Ukraine. He supports Russia and systematically spreads Russian propaganda.

• Russia allegedly strikes the Odesa region to identify and destroy the hangars in which Ukraine stores aircraft.
• On the Russian website Avito, trophy fragments from a destroyed Challenger 2 tank in Ukraine have been put up for sale.
• Information is spread online claiming that on September 6, the Russian military allegedly targeted the location of Ukrainian forces in the city of Kostiantynivka. The authors of the post state that there are photos and videos showing wounded Ukrainian soldiers at the site of the hit.

Now the TRUTH:

• There are no open data or reliable statements that would give grounds to claim that there are planes in the grain hangars in Odesa. Russia systematically justifies its shelling of civilian infrastructure with alleged attacks on exclusively military facilities. However, in reality, Russia began attacks on the port infrastructure of Ukraine on the eve of the termination of the grain agreement. With such attacks, Russia terrorizes not only Ukraine but also countries that depend on Ukraine’s grain, provoking the risk of famine in them.
• The same photo of an allegedly destroyed Challenger 2 tank has been circulating online since at least 2019. It is claimed that this is a tank shot down in Iraq. So, the photos that appeared on the Russian resource have nothing to do with the Russian-Ukrainian war and do not prove that the Russians have a trophy shot down Challenger 2.
• It is false. Russian troops shelled the market in Kostyantynivka. According to locals, there were no military facilities nearby. In the photo from the events scene, there are no wounded soldiers, only civilians. In fact, on September 6, around 2 p.m., the Russian military shelled a crowded market in the center of Kostiantynivka. As a result, according to the Donetsk regional prosecutor’s office, 15 people died; the oldest victim was 83 years old, the youngest was 18 years old, and 36 people were injured. According to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, most victims are local residents. The fire caused by the shelling covered 300 m² and damaged about 30 trade pavilions and two residential buildings. The type of weapon used in the attack has not been determined at the time of writing. The Prosecutor’s Office has started an investigation under Part 2 of Art. 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, violation of the laws and customs of war.

• Jens Stoltenberg allegedly lied when he said that peace would come when Putin and Russia lay down their arms. Because according to this claim, it is Zelensky and Ukraine who are supposed to lay down their arms.
• Former UN weapons inspector in Iraq Scott Ritter said that Russia’s goal in the war is supposedly only to preserve the culture and historical ties of the South and East of Ukraine with Russia. 
• A video from a protest in Odesa, where people can be heard shouting “Shame!”, is being shared online. In the posts, users point out that the protest is allegedly against the President of Ukraine and call for similar events in other cities.

Now the TRUTH:

• Russian propagandists have already lied so much that they seem to have forgotten that it was Russia that attacked Ukraine, not the other way around. Accordingly, Russia is the aggressor, and it is quite natural to demand that Russia stop attacking Ukraine. Russia does not have such powerful allies as Ukraine, so it is trying to discredit NATO, the USA, European countries, and other partners of Ukraine.
• Scott Ritter is not a true independent expert but merely repeating the Kremlin’s narratives to a Western audience. Therefore, this time he only repeated the theses that benefit Russia and justify Russia’s war against Ukraine. Russia does not try to preserve culture or history — Russia forcibly imposes the Russian system on the inhabitants of the temporarily occupied territories and rewrites history, forcing people to forget their origins and, more importantly, all the atrocities of Russia against Ukraine for many centuries.
• Using some of the inscriptions on the posters of the rally participants, we found a similar video that is being shared by users. On September 2, 2023, Odesa citizens held a protest near the city hall on City Day. In particular, people demanded that the local authorities cancel the tenders to reconstruct the building of the Kyiv District Court in Odesa. Earlier, at one of the meetings, city council member Petro Obukhov announced that they plan to spend 106 million UAH on the reconstruction of the court building. Such a decision outraged people, so they came out with posters “First the Armed Forces, then everything else”, “deputies, my taxes for the Armed Forces” and chanted “Shame!”. However, the protest had nothing to do with Volodymyr Zelenskyi; its participants did not demand that the president resign. With such fake posts, propagandists are trying to discredit the President of Ukraine and sow hostile attitudes in society toward the top leadership of the state.

• The so-called Ukrainian Nazis allegedly planned a terrorist attack against Jewish pilgrims who arrived in Uman for Rosh HaShanah. This is allegedly indicated by messages in radical anti-Semitic chats.
• In Kyiv region, a factory was sold for nothing — only for 6,500 UAH. The new owner also received 105 hectares of land as a gift along with the building.
• There is information circulating online claiming that the Verkhovna Rada has allegedly passed a law establishing the status of “mother of war.” The authors indicate that the document stipulates that every woman up to the age of 60 or a woman who gave birth after February 24, 2022, is entitled to receive payments from the state. Additionally, children who did not reach adulthood at the time of the full-scale invasion of Russia can receive the status of “child of war” and are allegedly assigned payments ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 UAH.

Now the TRUTH:

• There is no basis to believe that Ukraine was planning a terrorist attack against Jewish pilgrims in Uman. Russia likely employed a tactic of mirroring, preemptively accusing Ukraine of crimes against civilians that Russia itself commits. Russian propagandists have spread similar statements after mass attacks on Ukrainian civilian targets, claiming either that Ukraine intentionally shells to frame Russia, that Ukrainian air defense mistakenly hit a residential building, or that all casualties are actors staged for photo and video reports.
• This is a manipulation. It is about the Tryliskiy distillery, and this was the third attempt to sell it through the Prozorro.Sales system. According to the law, they used a hybrid Dutch auction, which involves gradually lowering the lot price step by step until one of the participants stops the process. Since there was only one participant in this case, he won with a bid of 6,500 UAH, at which point he stopped the price reduction during the auction — 1% of the starting price. According to the law, land plots are not privatized, so these 105 hectares are not transferred to the new owner. What the new buyer will definitely receive is the enterprise’s debt of 11.5 million UAH, an obligation to retain the staff for six months, and to resolve issues with the courts, arrests, and pledges, many of which have accumulated at the Tryliskiy distillery. Currently, the winner must sign the auction protocol, pay the lot’s cost, sign the contract, and, most importantly, settle all the enterprise’s debts. Only after this will the privatization of the plant be considered completed. If this is not done, the winner will lose the 131,000 UAH deposit. Then the plant will remain state-owned and will be put up for auction again.
• It is false. The Verkhovna Rada did not pass the law introducing the status of “mother of war”. The resolution on the status of a child injured due to hostilities and armed conflicts has been in place since 2017 but was amended in 2023. No law in Ukraine provides for payments to children born after February 24.

• Russian telegram channels spread information about the death of a cadet of the Flight Academy of NAU. Allegedly, after the last stage of training, he was sent to the front as a machine gunner, where he died.
• Russian Telegram channels are distributing an excerpt of an interview with the chief of staff of the “AZOV” brigade, Bohdan “Tavr” Krotevych, where he says that the counteroffensive was greatly hyped, and now everyone is supposedly wondering why we haven’t won yet. Also, in the video, he allegedly says that Ukraine is fighting against a state that has never lost.
• The Russian Telegram channel shared a video in which a barista from Ukraine draws a swastika on coffee.

Now the TRUTH:

• The official Facebook page of the Flight Academy of the National Aviation University contains information about the death of Sikorsky cadet Danylo Oleksiiovych. On August 29, they bid farewell to the fallen serviceman in Kherson. Illia shared his memories of Danylo. They studied together with the deceased at the Flight Academy. He reported that Danylo independently went to the military commissariat, joined the ranks of the 3rd separate assault brigade and fought in the Bakhmut direction. The military leadership did not send Sikorsky as a cadet to the war zone.
• The video excerpt is taken out of context. Krotevych mentioned the strong PR of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the context of predicting when the war will end. In the same interview, he pointed out that Russia is not “invincible” and has not been “destroyed” yet. He also stated that there is no such scenario where Ukraine will lose.
• It is not true. The video is an advertisement for online courses of late art in Bolivia, and there is no mention of Ukrainians in it. The original video was published on the Instagram page of the late art courses. There is no mention in the video that the drawing with the swastika was made by a barista from Ukraine. In the upper left corner of the video there is a subtitle in Spanish. Translation into Ukrainian: “Here I offer you a simple and quick way to make a beautiful drawing on coffee. If you like it, please subscribe and leave comments.” This video was probably posted to attract attention, because with almost 4,800 followers of the page, the video has more than 10.5 million views.

• On September 10, Russia held elections of various levels with by-elections of State Duma deputies, heads of a number of regions, and deputies of state authorities in some subjects. Such pseudo-elections were held in the occupied territories of Ukraine: parts of the Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Donetsk regions. Russian sources said that international observers were allegedly satisfied with the elections.
• A video, allegedly from the BBC news service, is circulating on the Internet, in which it is indicated that Yevgeny Prigozhin did not actually die in a plane crash. The video says that a “BBC source” reported that Prigozhin’s death had been staged. The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, and the leader of the PMC “Wagner” allegedly agreed on this at a closed meeting in the Kremlin on June 29. The latter was supposed to disappear from the media space of the Russian Federation before the presidential elections in Russia in 2024.
• A video in which a man talks about the alleged mass arrests of Ukrainians of military age in Germany is being circulated online. After that, they are sent to Ukraine to the front.

Now the TRUTH:

• Even before the elections began, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine appealed to the parliaments and governments of foreign countries, international organizations and their assemblies not to recognize these elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Back in June, the European Union condemned Russia’s intention to hold pseudo-elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine and called them a violation of international law. The occupiers started preparing for the elections to local administrations in May 2023. Among the candidates, there are more Russians, in particular, from Siberia and the Ural. However, former representatives of the Ukrainian authorities, who switched to the side of the Russian Federation at the beginning of the invasion, also submitted their applications. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine noted that the vast majority of candidates do not even have a higher education and work as janitors, security guards, and cleaners. The occupiers simply use their personalities to hide the real “leaders” of the occupied territories. Later, information appeared about the sounds of explosions in some buildings of the “election commission”. The occupation authorities did not comment on anything and announced a high turnout for the elections. In Luhansk Oblast, the occupiers announced nine times that polling stations were mined. Also, in order to get the majority of votes, the occupation authorities allowed Ukrainians without Russian passports to vote.
• This is a fake. We could not find this video on the BBC website. Also, the video was not published in social networks: Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok, Facebook or YouTube channel. In the materials about Prigozhin’s death, the BBC referred to information from Russian state agencies and only suggested that the Federal Security Service could have been behind the plane crash. At the request of Reuters journalists, the representative of the BBC stated that the lawyers of the publication already know about this fake video and are dealing with it. Propagandists deliberately refer to well-known media to make the reader believe the information.
• It is not true. According to Venislavskyi, the process of extradition of violators to Ukraine is currently impossible. Even if extradition is applied, it will be used only for evaders who entered another country illegally. Responsibility for illegal methods used to evade military service and cross the border do not include mobilization and sending to the front.

• A video is being shared on TikTok, allegedly after receiving a summons, a Ukrainian man tore it up right in the middle of the city, as a result of which the military officers grabbed the man and forcibly put him in a car.
• Russian Telegram channels claim that in Kyiv on the night of September 10, cars, houses and streets were allegedly damaged by Ukrainian air defense, and not by Shahed wreckage.
• Conspiracy stories were spread in Russian telegram channels, alleging that since the mid-2000s, NATO, through the SSU, has been spreading secret caches of weapons and ammunition in eastern Ukraine in order to later start a civil war. Allegedly, this is how Ukraine was supposed to be divided into Russia-controlled and NATO-controlled.

Now the TRUTH:

• The Center for Strategic Communications refuted the fake. The video of the “giving the summons” and “detention” was filmed and posted by a user of the platform for a humorous purpose, and the Russians took it at face value. This video is an obvious production, with editing and changing locations. At the same time, the video shows that one of the “military commissars” “detains” a Ukrainian in rubber slippers, and while “packing the boy” to the car, both “military” burst out laughing. The enemy is once again trying to discredit the Ukrainian army and mobilization, which is why it is important to be critical and scrupulous about information on social networks.
• There is no reason to believe that the damage was caused by air defenses and not drones. According to the city authorities, in Kyiv on the night of September 10, fragments of downed Russian drones fell in the Sviatoshynskyi, Shevchenkivskyi and Podilskyi districts of the capital. In particular, the mayor of Kyiv reported that debris was burning on the roadway in the Solomyanskyi district, and there was one victim in the Podilskyi district. Almost every day after the attacks, Russia claims that all the damage was caused by air defense, and even that Ukraine attacked itself in order to shift the blame to Russia. However, it is worth remembering that the work of air defense is primarily the protection of Ukrainian cities on foot from enemy air targets, with which Russia attacks anything, even civilian objects.
• This is a conspiracy theory not supported by any facts. However, here Russia is recalling the old disinformation narrative that a civil war allegedly began in Donbas in 2014. It is false. Russia attacked Ukraine in 2014, first occupying and annexing Crimea, and later Donbas, occupying part of the territory and continuing its war of aggression already in 2022.

• The Western allies allegedly talked about the poor training of our army. The same allies who trained our soldiers according to NATO standards. Allegedly, even after tens of thousands of people were killed, the Ukrainian counteroffensive yielded nothing.
• Vasily Nebenzya, the Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN, said that the majority of Ukrainians are aware that their main enemy is allegedly not Russia, but the so-called criminal Ukrainian government.
• Under Zelenskyi’s rule, Ukraine is allegedly losing the signs of democracy. This, in particular, is evidenced by the fact that from September 9 to 16, the police will massively check residents of Kyiv and the Kyiv region, looking for deserters and unregistered weapons.

Now the TRUTH:

• This is a hostile psychological operation recorded by the Center for Strategic Communications. Enemy propaganda is actively spreading this fake via Facebook from the empty page of Oworor online shop, which was created on August 29. There are no official confirmations of theses from these posts. If you see in your feed posts from empty pages that have clear signs of fake, propaganda, psychological operations — do not give them any likes or comments, because any activity and interaction with such posts increases their popularity. It is only necessary to complain about the publication.
• There is no survey that would show that Ukrainians have a more hostile attitude towards their own government than towards Russia and Russians. Thus, according to the Razumkov Center survey, 93.8% of Ukrainians have a negative attitude towards Russia. According to surveys by the Rating group, 93% of Ukrainians have a negative attitude towards Russia (compared to 56% in 2021). So Nebenzya, even at a high diplomatic level, openly lies to the whole world.
• The original of this message appeared in Strana.ua with reference to an anonymous source in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It is noteworthy that neither the National Police of Ukraine nor the Ministry of Internal Affairs officially stated this, so this report cannot be considered reliable. At the same time, in Ukraine under the conditions of martial law, security control is really strengthened. In particular, citizens must always carry their passport with them. This is not a sign of the loss of democracy — these are security measures related to the war unleashed by Russia. It is also noteworthy that Russian sources talk about Ukraine’s loss of democracy — that is, the media of that country, which has no signs of democracy at all and gravitates toward a totalitarian regime.

• Allegedly, Zaporizhzhia Telegram channels write that bodies of those killed during the counteroffensive of Ukrainian defenders are burned at night in the Zaporizhzhia crematorium in order to hide the number of dead.
• Professor John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago said that the Ukrainians proved incapable of waging a war, so reading stories and watching videos about victims in Ukraine is simply boring. Ukrainians are allegedly being led to the slaughter — and it was the West that pushed them to do so. Allegedly, there are various testimonies that the Ukrainians delayed the counteroffensive because they understood that nothing would work.
• In his speech on the anniversary of the liberation of Donbas from the German occupiers — on September 8 — Vladimir Putin reminded that now Russia supposedly faces the same task — to liberate Donbas from Ukrainian occupation.

Now the TRUTH:

• The Center for Strategic Communications refuted the fake. In fact, only the Telegram channels of the Russian special services, mimicking the Zaporizhzhia groups, write about it. The propagandists did not take into account that there is no crematorium in Zaporizhzhia. In 2021, its construction began, but it has not yet been completed. Later, authors of fakes began to pretend that there was a crematorium in the city after all, and indicated the address of the Ritual Service. But the service does not burn bodies, it transports them to the crematoriums of Kharkiv and Odesa.
• John Mearsheimer regularly spreads theses of Russian propaganda. All the rhetoric of this political scientist is imbued with the theme of the alleged “impossibility of Ukraine’s accession to NATO.” Its goal is to convince the world that the West is to blame for the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war and to encourage Ukraine’s allies to abandon the idea of Ukraine’s possible membership in NATO. The claim that Ukraine allegedly was and remains incapable of a counteroffensive is not supported by any facts, nor is there any reason to believe that the Ukrainian authorities made the decision to start the counteroffensive under pressure from the West.
• Even though 1.5 years have passed since the start of the full-scale invasion, Putin is still looking for justifications for why he is waging war. It makes no sense to draw analogies with the Second World War: in fact, Russia has all the signs of fascism, not Ukraine. It is also pointless to talk about the so-called occupation of Donbas by Ukraine, because Donbas has always been Ukrainian, and the Russian Federation has always imposed a pro-Russian position on the residents of the region.

• The authorities conduct inspections of military medical commissions and territorial recruiting centers to create opportunities to mobilize absolutely all men.
• Poland has started extraditing Ukrainians of conscription age who have illegally gone abroad, writes Rzeczpospolita with reference to the data of the Polish border service.
• In Ukraine, intensified mobilization is being carried out in order to frighten Ukrainians and force them in a state of shock to accept the freezing of the conflict, a kind of “Minsk-3” or “Istanbul Conditions 2.0.”

Now the TRUTH:

• Inspections of the military medical commissions and territorial recruiting centers are connected with recorded facts of corruption. In particular, due to several recorded cases, when the military medical commissions issued fake health certificates to obtain a temporary deferment from military service or complete removal from military registration. In this regard, the authorities will introduce checks on the issued conclusions of the military medical commissions and change the conclusions of the military medical commissions for some types of health conditions, mainly regarding transferred infectious diseases. However, this is not a sign that all men are mobilized: there are still many reasons, in particular for health reasons, for a temporary postponement or complete removal from registration.
• According to the information that “Rzeczpospolita” received from the Border Service of Poland, men who smuggle illegals to Europe were deported from Poland. That is, NOT those Ukrainian men who illegally left Ukraine on forged disability certificates were extradited from Poland, but those involved in the illegal transportation of such men.
• The Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly stated that the only acceptable end to the war for Ukraine is the liberation of all territories of Ukraine within the administrative borders of 1991, that is, taking into account the annexed Crimea and the occupied Donbas since 2014. Mobilization is not happening at a stronger or slower pace — in Ukraine, general mobilization has been announced since February 24, 2022. “Minsk-3” and “Istanbul conditions 2.0.” — terms invented by Russian propaganda, which are not used in any official communication of the Ukrainian authorities.

• Russia struck the Auchan hypermarket in Kyiv on the night of August 30, because ammunition for the Armed Forces of Ukraine was stored there.
• In Dnipro, on September 1, schoolchildren accidentally made public the data on the number of dead of the 25th separate airborne brigade, hanging 503 paper airplanes on the installation in honor of the memory of the dead.
• 4,000 residents of Kupiansk refused to evacuate because they are waiting for the return of the Russian army.

Now the TRUTH:

• There is no objective reason to believe that the attack on Auchan was related to the fact that ammunition was stored there. In addition, fragments of a downed missile fell on Auchan, so the target of the strike was probably different. In addition, ammunition cannot be stored in a civilian facility, a hypermarket visited by hundreds of people every day, at least given Russia’s propensity to attack civilian facilities.
• On September 1, in the center of Dnipro, on Heroiv Maidan Square, a commemoration of the children who died since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine was held. In the city, an installation was created in memory of children who will never sit down at a desk again — according to the Office of the Prosecutor General, there were 503 of them as of September 1.
• More than 4,000 people wrote the refusal to mandatory evacuation from the Kupiansk district. Andrii Besiedin, the head of the Kupiansk city military administration, announced this on the air of the national telethon. Kupiansk itself and the Kupiansk district are under daily shelling. However, according to Besedin, people refuse to leave because they do not want to leave their homes and households. Today, more than 400 children remain in the community. The local authorities constantly work with the population and carry out explanatory work on the need to evacuate from dangerous areas.

• Russian media write that the President of Ukraine allegedly said in an interview with Nataliia Mosiichuk that he is ready to give up Crimea and will be ready for negotiations with Moscow after the withdrawal of the forces of the Kyiv regime to the border of the peninsula.
• The Deputy Head of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, stated that the population of the territory controlled by Kyiv is 19.7 million people. There are already 17.9 million outside the country. In fact, half of the 37 million in 2022 and about 40% of the population at the beginning of the XXI century.
• Ukraine allegedly spent all the money received for the counteroffensive only on the return of one settlement of Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Now the TRUTH:

• The Center for Strategic Communications debunked the fake. Authors of the fake extracted various excerpts from Zelenskyi’s interview, distorting their content. In fact, the president of Ukraine said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine do not need to transfer hostilities to the territory of the Russian Federation, because for us only the deoccupation of our lands is important. As for Crimea, the President of Ukraine noted that the liberation of the peninsula through political means will help preserve the lives of Ukrainians. He did not claim that Crimea is Russian, or that Ukraine is ready to abandon the deoccupation of these territories.
• According to the Institute of Demography and Social Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the population as of January 1, 2023 ranges from 28 million to 34 million people. More accurate data can be obtained by counting the specific number of people crossing the border in the West of Ukraine and with Moldova. It is also difficult to determine the exact number of those who left for Russia. According to UN estimates from August 15, 2023, there are 6.2 million Ukrainian refugees officially registered in the world. At the same time, the opendatabot website also reports that, according to data from the State Border Service, from January 2022 to June 2023, more than 26 million citizens left Ukraine, and more than 23 million citizens returned. Probably, the discrepancy in the number is due to the fact that the State Border Service counted Ukrainians who left in January 2022, as well as most likely those who crossed the border several times. Therefore, the population of Ukraine could not fall from 41 million people to 20 million, because citizens not only leave, but also return. According to the UN survey, about 62% of Ukrainian refugees plan to return to Ukraine in the future.
• In August, Ukraine was indeed able to regain control over the village of Robotyne, but this does not mean that all the funds allocated for the counteroffensive were spent only on this. The liberation of this settlement is important, because it opens the way to Tokmak and eventually to Melitopol and the administrative border with Crimea. In order to continue the liberation of territories, it is necessary to constantly replenish armored vehicles and long-range missiles capable of reaching logistics facilities and command posts of the occupiers. In general, during the summer it was possible to free about 250 square km of territories.

• The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine is considering a decision to cancel distance education in educational institutions.
• Pro-Russian Telegram channels write that 200,000 Ukrainians should be drafted into the ranks of the Armed Forces in the fall, and 300,000 more in the winter and spring.
• On August 30, the Armed Forces of Ukraine allegedly struck the center of children’s creativity in the temporarily occupied city of Kamianka-Dniprovska.

Now the TRUTH:

• The Center for Strategic Communications refuted the fake. There is such a myth that the Ministry of Education allegedly canceled distance learning — this is manipulation, the Minister of Education and Science Oksen Lisovyi emphasized on the air of the telethon: “Distance learning exists because safety is a key priority for us, the physical and mental safety of children. And in this situation, we definitely cannot insist on exclusively face-to-face education.” At the same time, the Minister of Education and Science added that there are good examples when separate remote classes are created in one school, so the possibility of distance learning remains.
• The Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine discovered this fake. There are no official statements, in particular from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, which would confirm this information. Such messages are aimed at intimidating Ukrainians and are part of the narrative about the so-called forced mobilization. The purpose of such messages is to incite enmity towards employees of  territorial centers of recruitment and military personnel.
• Ukrainian UAVs targeted the so-called “polling station” in the temporarily occupied city of Kamianka-Dniprovska, at the moment when the so-called “chairs of precinct election commissions” of the entire district were gathered there. The meeting was allegedly attended by more than 30 traitors, who were guarded by the Russian military, in particular, from Kadyrov. During the meeting, they wanted to organize the distribution of ballots and voting booths. The SSU “adjusted” the plans of the occupiers with the help of attack drones.

• An anti-Ukrainian flash mob is taking place in Poland, where Wi-Fi networks are signed with words offensive to refugees from Ukraine. This information is spread by users of social networks and the Kremlin media with reference to a video made by the German media Deutsche Welle.
• The Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Shchevtsov stated that “the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus was a response to the aggressive behavior of the West within the borders of the Union state.”
• In Ukraine, children are given en masse to be raised by the Nazis from Azov, as if preparing their Ukrainian Hitler Youth.

Now the TRUTH:

• The Center for Strategic Communications refuted the fake. In fact, Russian fake authors used Deutsche Welle’s signature style to create this lie to create a fake confirmation of a non-existent anti-Ukrainian flash mob. The Polish editorial office of Deutsche Welle replied that they “are not the authors of this film.”
• The Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine discovered this disinformation. Statements about deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus are needed by Russia to intimidate Ukraine and its Western partners. Allegedly, if the support does not stop, a nuclear escalation of the conflict is possible. At the same time, the head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov explained that the results of the training showed that Belarus was completely unprepared for the use of such weapons.
• There really is an Azovets camp in Ukraine. However, the soldiers of the military regiment are not trained in the camp. No ideologies are promoted there. There they teach those skills that can be learned in the lessons of pre-service training and history in schools. Medicine and robotics are taught there, as in many after-school education centers. They use military terminology and a military-style strict schedule, as in many other military-patriotic children’s organizations. Staying and studying in the camp is completely voluntary, that is, it cannot be said that children are being mass-educated as soldiers and, accordingly, are allegedly mass-prepared to participate in the war.