Spilnota Detector Media

Manipulation Western leaders say they seek to “eliminate” Zelenskyi

Such information was disseminated in social networks and propaganda media. Reports say that the US is unhappy with Zelenskyi’s policies “because of the constant shelling of Moscow”. Like, Volodymyr Zelenskyi is engaged in arbitrariness and lawlessness reigns in Ukraine. The authors add that Western leaders dream of “getting rid of and eliminating” Zelenskyi. They assure that the United States is already looking for the next president of Ukraine. The publications also cite Politico publications. This is manipulation.

Analysts of the StopFake project took up this case and determined that the Politico material does not refer to the “liquidation of Zelenskyi”, that is, the assassination or removal from power. They are talking only about possible scenarios in the event of an attempt by Russians on the President of Ukraine. The material itself is called "Ukraine's plan if Russia assassinates Zelenskyy”. In his column, an American journalist analyzed the situation with the likely murder of Zelenskyi.

Indeed, at the beginning of a full-scale invasion, there were several unsuccessful attempts to eliminate Zelenskyi. The journalist described the course of actions of the Ukrainian authorities in such a situation. That is, the material did not talk about the murder or removal from power of Zelenskyi. In the author's column, the media worker described his thoughts and predictions. At the same time, the propagandists distorted the context of the material and invented the theses that were beneficial for themselves.

By spreading this manipulation, the authors seek to show that the world is dissatisfied with Zelenskyi and they want to get rid of him. Thus, propagandists present the President of Ukraine as an “incompetent” leader who is engaged in arbitrariness.

Manipulation Joseph Biden says US overcomes cancer

This thesis was circulated on social networks, in particular on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. Reports say that during one of the briefings of US President Joe Biden, he said that cancer was “overcome” in the United States. The authors add that Biden once again turned out to be speaking up. The reports are convincing: such behavior indicates the “old age” of the official. This is manipulation.

The fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project took up this case and found that on July 25, 2023, the President of the United States gave a speech about expanding access to mental health care. He also commented on the administration's plans for other aspects of the medical sector. So he said that he seeks to reduce the incidence of cancer in the United States. During the speech, he explained that if he had the opportunity to do anything, he would first of all cure cancer. Currently, he is considering the possibility of reducing the incidence of cancer as much as possible. That is, the propagandists distorted the context of the speech and came up with their own theses.

Propagandists are systematically trying to discredit the US President, showing his “clumsiness” and “senselessness”. Allegedly, the strategic partner of Ukraine is not competent at all and does not deserve recognition. Thus, the authors ridicule Western leaders.

Analysts have recently refuted similar cases about an official where they want to undermine his authority. For example, how Joe Biden seems to be buying books about dementia, “sniffing” a teenager, or, they say, fell asleep during a meeting with the President of Israel.

Manipulation Due to mobilization, 4 million veterans will appear in Ukraine after the war

On anonymous telegram channels, propagandists spread information with pro-Russian rhetoric that after the end of the war there will be 4 million war veterans in Ukraine. They argue that this is an indirect confirmation of the scale of mobilization and losses in Ukraine. However, this is manipulation.

Analysts of the VoxCheck project drew attention to it. They found that Minister for Veterans Affairs Yuliia Laputina spoke several times about the number of people who might need help from the relevant ministry after the war. So, on May 8, 2023, in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine, she stated that until February 24, there were “about 500 thousand people in Ukraine who are directly participants in the Anti-Terrorist Operation and the Joint Forces Operation”. At the same time, Laputina emphasized that if one adds to this figure the family members of those killed and injured during the Revolution of Dignity, as well as “all other categories”, including participants in the Second World War and persons equated to them, participants in peacekeeping missions, the number of these persons will be “approximately 1.2 million”. The minister only added that after the war this figure would be many times higher and could reach “4-5 million people”.

By manipulating the statements of Ukrainian officials, propagandists want to give out the desired for reality and create a false impression that Ukraine has lost. In fact, Laputina spoke about the total number of people to be supported by the Ministry of Veterans, namely the military and their families, civilians who suffered as a result of the Revolution of Dignity and the war. VoxCheck analysts note that this indicator cannot be used to assess the scale of losses and mobilization in Ukraine.

Manipulation The UPA was engaged in terror of the population almost throughout the country, which is confirmed by the map

Propagandists distribute in anonymous telegram channels with pro-Russian rhetoric a map, which allegedly indicates the places where the UPA was engaged in terrorizing civilians. However, this is manipulation.

Analysts of the VoxCheck project drew attention to it. They found out that the map does not depict the terror of the UPA, but only the places of its activities on the territory of Ukraine. On it one can see the territory of activity UPA-North, UPA-West and UPA-South. For a reverse search of the map distributed by propagandists, one can find a supplement to the first part of Mykola Lebed's book “UPA. Ukrainian Insurgent Army”. In particular, it shows the actions of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and the OUN underground on the territory of Ukraine during the occupation of Ukrainian lands by Nazi Germany.

By spreading such fakes, propagandists want to emphasize the cooperation of the UPA with the Nazis and justify Russia's aggression against Ukraine. In particular, although Russian “researchers” write about the crimes of the UPA, they do not mention that they were committed by NKVD detachments under the guise of the UPA. Yaroslav Faizulin, a participant in the Ukrainian World War II project, on the basis of archival data, claims that in the western regions of Ukraine, as of July 26, 1945, there were 156 special groups of the NKVD under the guise of UPA units.

Manipulation US armies raise salaries “for participation in Ukrainian battles”

Such information was disseminated in social networks, in particular, on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. Reports say that US military personnel stationed in Ukraine will receive an increase in salary. The authors refer to the material of the Army Times. This is manipulation.

Fact-checkers of the StopFake project took up this case and determined that the journalists really reported on the approval by the US government of additional allowances for US military personnel serving in Ukraine. However, it is about a small group of American military personnel who are located in the American embassy in Kyiv and work as a security service. The material did not mention that this category of persons would participate in the Russian-Ukrainian war.

The propagandists simply distorted the meaning of the material and pulled out only the theses that were beneficial to them.

Manipulation American boxer Mike Tyson urged Volodymyr Zelenskyi to fight drug addiction

Such information was disseminated in social networks, in particular, on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. American boxer Mike Tyson is reportedly suggesting that Zelenskyi “fight drug addiction”. The authors add that the whole world already “knows” about the dependence of the Ukrainian president and world leaders are trying to turn him, they say, onto the right path. An alleged video of the Reuters news agency is added to the publication.

The Center for Counteracting Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council explains that the video has been compiled. First of all, it is without sound, which means it is impossible to determine what the athlete was saying. Moreover, with the help of a reverse Google search, fact-checkers managed to find out that Reuters does not have exactly such a video with Tyson, where he tells something live in the studio. It is most likely that the news agency badge was superimposed on the video sequence, because this is not the original video.

That is, the authors of the messages did not provide hard evidence that the athlete called on the Ukrainian president to be treated for drug addiction. They posted the video without sound and the alleged source. This makes it easier for propagandists to manipulate and simply promote the thesis they want.

Manipulation In Ukraine, a woman was put behind bars because of correspondence with a relative from Russia

In the Russian segment of Facebook, information is being disseminated that residents of Cherkasy were sentenced to 10 years in prison, allegedly due to correspondence with their sister from Russia and criticism of Stepan Bandera. This is manipulation.

The fact-checkers of the Center for Strategic Communications drew attention to the case. The woman's name is Tetiana Drobot, in October 2022 she received 10 years in prison. However, the reason was not the correspondence with the sister living in Russia, but the transfer to the Russians of data on the deployment of the Ukrainian military. Drobot also called for changing the border of Ukraine and incited ethnic hatred.

Thus, the Russian propaganda is trying to discredit the Ukrainian authorities and military command. Russia simply reflects its actions and thus tries to present itself as a permanent victim of Ukraine's “aggression”. Earlier, we talked about the fact that a video is being distributed on the network, where people in uniform take everything valuable in a German family and say: “Heil Zelenskyi!”.

Manipulation The command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine throws the elite units to demine the fields with their feet

Anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric are circulating a video of a Ukrainian soldier saying that the Ukrainian military is clearing minefields with their own feet. And this is confirmed by the fact that the military command is throwing elite units to the slaughter. This is manipulation.

The case was investigated by the VoxCheck fact-checker. The propagandists used the story of Radio Svoboda (Liberty). On the video there is a fighter of the 47th separate mechanized brigade “Magura” with the call sign “Frenchman”. The video distributed by the propagandists and the video of Radio Svoboda (Liberty) are identical. The military says that the Russians densely replaced the fields and places where sappers cannot reach, the military will clear mines with their own hands. “It is very difficult because they have been standing here [the Zaporizhzhia direction] for more than a year, and all the fields are very heavily mined with anti-tank and anti-personnel mines. Unfortunately, we can say we will clear these fields with our own feet”, the military man said.

Thus, the Russian propaganda is trying to discredit the high military command of Ukraine, which allegedly does not spare the Ukrainian military and leaves them to their deaths. They also try to show the incompetence of officials and therefore the impossibility of Ukraine winning the war. Earlier, we refuted the fake that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are calling for the destruction of all people in the de-occupied territories.

Manipulation UK lifts sanctions on ex-director of Russia Today

Russian media and social media users spreading pro-Russian rhetoric claim that the UK has allegedly lifted sanctions against Russia Today ex-director Anton Krasovskyi. In particular, at one time he was marked by calls to kill Ukrainian children. However, information about his exclusion from the sanctions list is a manipulation.

Specialists in the StopFake project drew attention to it. They found out that on July 21, 2023, a document actually appeared on the official website of the British government, according to which Anton Krasovskyi was excluded from the sanctions list. However, an explanation of this decision can be found in the same document: Krasovskyi was excluded from the list, since he was accidentally entered there twice. The British simply removed the duplication. Moreover, the clarification also states that Krasovskyi remains on this sanctions list, and his assets will continue to be frozen.

By spreading such manipulations, propagandists want to give the false impression that the West is ready to make peace with Russia and is gradually lifting sanctions restrictions on the main Russian criminals, but it is not true.

Manipulation The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine admitted that “Ukrainian air defense missiles hit” residential buildings

Russian media are spreading information that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have confirmed that they are placing air defense systems near residential buildings and have recognized “hits of homes of civilians”. This is manipulation.

Specialists in the StopFake project drew attention to it. They found out that the propagandists deliberately took out of context and disfigured a quote from Yurii Ihnat, a representative of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In particular, he did not speak about the “deliberate deployment of air defense forces near residential buildings”. On the air of the national telethon on July 16, Ihnat said that the forces of the Ukrainian air defense system were positioned to protect previously peaceful cities, as well as important critical and military infrastructure. He stressed that due to the fact that it is impossible to cover the entire territory of Ukraine with the available air defense systems, these complexes are located near settlements. On July 21, Ihnat even reacted to disinformation saying that it was Russia that was spreading it.

According to the speaker, propagandists make such statements to cause panic among Ukrainians and justify their aggression against Ukraine. Detector Media has already written about how other propagandists support their message about the “harm” of the Ukrainian air defense system for civilians.

Manipulation Zelenskyi “called up” 3,000 US soldiers to war in Ukraine

Such information was disseminated in social networks, in particular, on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. Reports say Volodymyr Zelenskyi recently made the decision to call up 3,000 U.S. military reserve soldiers due to “huge losses” in the war. The authors refer to the “edition” of The Babylon Bee. This is manipulation.

The fact-checkers of the Brekhunets (Liar) project took up this case and found that the propagandists really took the news from The Babylon Bee humorous forum and passed it off as information from an authoritative source. Although someone can write on the forum and the moderation rules there are completely different. The site also indicated that they publish fake news and that they are satirical. That is, propagandists distorted the context of the news and passed it off as real.

Russian propaganda systematically nourishes the narrative that regular military personnel of other states, the so-called “foreign mercenaries”, are fighting in Ukraine. Thus, Russian propaganda is also trying to justify the failures of the Russian army. Like, they are fighting not with “weak” Ukrainians, but with “specially trained NATO members” or Americans.

Manipulation Interpol will search for Ukrainians who fled from mobilization to Europe

Russian media, broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric and in the Russian segment of Facebook, disseminate information that the Kharkiv police will allegedly transmit information about Ukrainian citizens who fled from the mobilization to the countries of the European Union. This statement was made by Serhii Bolvinov, head of the investigative department of the National Police of the Kharkiv region. This is manipulation.

Fact-checkers of the StopFake project investigated the case. On July 14, Serhii Bolvinov did write on Facebook about cooperation with Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization). However, this cooperation is not because of the Ukrainians in the EU countries, as Russian propaganda claims. Bolvinov said that Ukrainian law enforcement officers would contact the organization because they want to bring to justice the collaborators who fled Ukraine and settled in the EU. Russian propaganda took the phrase out of context.

By manipulating the facts of mobilization, Russian propagandists are trying to discredit the Ukrainian authorities and sow panic in society. Previously, we refuted the manipulation that in Ukraine a military uniform was created for pregnant women in order to send them to the front.

Manipulation French instructors do not care about the fate of the Ukrainian military

Russian media disseminate information that allegedly French instructors who train the Ukrainian military do not give a damn about their future fate. Referring to the author of the Le Monde edition, Elise Vincent, they claim that the instructors, after completing the training, arrange “farewell meetings” for Ukrainians who “leave for possible death”. Like, the instructors say: what will happen to the Ukrainians does not concern us. However, this is manipulation.

Specialists of The Insider project drew attention to it. They allege that Vincent's brief article, “French Train Ukrainian Soldiers in Poland”, states that France has declassified information about a Ukrainian military training program at a former Soviet military base in Poland, which is attended by 120 French instructors and 80 additional personnel. The French Colonel Benoit, who participates in the training, notes the high motivation of the Ukrainian military. But the phrase propagated by propagandists is taken out of context. The full version of the article says that “there is no official talk about the fear of the future”, in the context of which Benoit said that further events are “not their topic”.

In this case, propagandists are trying to pass off the phrase of one colonel as proof of the indifferent attitude of foreigners to the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. However, the phrase itself refers only to the ceremony of completing the training.

Manipulation Early in the counteroffensive, Ukraine lost as much as 20 percent of its weapons and armor, The New York Times

Russian media, as well as anonymous telegram channels with pro-Russian rhetoric, referring to an article by The New York Times, disseminated information that since the start of the counteroffensive, Ukraine has lost up to 20% of all armored vehicles that were transferred to it by Western partners (tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers). However, this is manipulation.

Specialists in the StopFake project drew attention to it. They argue that the New York Times publication actually only mentions that up to 20% of the heavy weapons, including Western ones, used in the counteroffensive during the first two weeks of June, could be destroyed or damaged by the enemy. The authors of the article report that in the following weeks, the level of Ukrainian losses of armored vehicles dropped to 10%, as Ukraine changed its offensive tactics.

By manipulating foreign publications, propagandists want to create the erroneous impression of Ukraine's failure on the battlefield and show the ineffectiveness of Western weapons. However, in this situation, even in this article it is indicated that a number of Western weapons are not used in the counteroffensive, and the losses of Western equipment are exaggerated.

Manipulation Jens Stoltenberg refused Zelenskyi to shake hands

The information was disseminated in the Georgian segment of Facebook. Reports say that during the NATO summit, Zelenskyi met with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg. As a result of the meeting, Zelenskyi extended his hand, while Jens Stoltenberg allegedly refused to shake hands. The authors add that hundreds of cameras recorded this moment, and as evidence they cite a photo of one of the photojournalists. This is manipulation.

Georgian fact-checkers of the Myth Detector project investigated this case and found out that the photo was taken not at the NATO summit, but on April 20 in Kyiv. It was also a meeting of officials. In the video meeting, you can see when Zelenskyi extends his hand to Stoltenberg, he looks at the cameras, and as soon as he notices the outstretched hand, he crushes Zelensky's hand. That is, the propagandists used the old video of the meeting and took a screenshot of the moment that was beneficial to them. However, as a result, Jens Stoltenberg did not refuse Zelenskyi to shake hands.

By spreading this manipulation, the authors seek to show that allegedly Zelenskyi is not respected in political circles and that he is generally ignored. Thus, they seek to undermine the authority of the President.

Manipulation Zelenskyi said he would legalize marijuana so that people “endure pain, stress and trauma”

This thesis was circulated on social networks, in particular on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The reports describe how, on June 10, 2022, the Verkhovna Rada registered a bill on medical cannabis that regulates its use in various areas. At the same time, the authors added that already on June 28, during his speech, Volodymyr Zelenskyi noted that he would legalize marijuana so that people “endure pain, stress and trauma”.

The fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project drew attention to the case, and found out that during his speech the President really spoke about the need to develop the field of rehabilitation assistance in Ukraine. One of the steps is the legalization of the drug based on cannabis. He also noted that he is promoting this idea so that, first of all, people do not have to endure pain, stress and injury. That is, the propagandists simply distorted the context of Zelenskyi's quote.

Zelenskyi does not want Ukrainians to “be patient”, on the contrary, he spoke about improving the rehabilitation sector in Ukraine: opening centers, rehabilitation departments, and training specialists. The legalization of cannabis-based medicine is just one step towards improving the rehabilitation conditions for the military and war victims.

Manipulation If the US are to provide Ukraine with cluster munitions, Russia has no choice but to use them in response on the territory of Ukraine

Anonymous telegram channels and Russian media broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric report that Russian Defense Minister Serhii Shoihu said in an interview that “if the United States supplies Ukraine with cluster munitions, the Armed Forces of Russian Federation will be forced to use similar weapons”. This is manipulation.

The fact-checkers of the Center for Strategic Communications investigated this case. In May 2022, the human rights organization Human Rights Watch published a report stating that the Russians use at least 6 types of cluster munitions in Ukraine. Russia bombarded Kharkiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and other cities with them. On April 8, 2022, the Russians used a Tochka-U ballistic missile with a cluster warhead and struck it at the Kramatorsk railway station. Then 54 adults and 7 children died.

Thus, Russian propagandists transfer responsibility for Russia's crimes to Ukraine and expose themselves as a constant victim of “aggression”. Like, Ukraine attacks first, so Russia will have to use cluster munitions in return. Earlier, Detector Media talked about the message that Ukraine is making fake attacks on nuclear facilities in order to discredit Russian troops.

Manipulation British publications ignored the NATO summit and Zelenskyi’s participation in it

Anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric on July 12 published a selection of British tabloid covers featuring a sex scandal involving a BBC journalist as the main topic. Russian propaganda asks a rhetorical question: “Find at least a word about Ukraine and the NATO summit …”. This is manipulation.

The fact-checkers of the Center for Strategic Communications paid attention to the case. They note that The Sun, Daily Mirror, Daily Star and others “traditionally prefer the “yellow” theme”. And some of the most popular and authoritative socio-political publications, such as The Times, The Independent, The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian, not only wrote articles, but also covered the announcements of materials about Ukraine and the NATO summit on the first pages.

Thus, Russian propagandists are trying to discredit the UK and promote the view that the West is tired of the war in Ukraine and ignores the news related to it. Earlier, Detector Media denied the fake that the German edition of Handelsblatt published a cover with Volodymyr Zelenskyi who cannot get into the NATO door.

Manipulation Finland wants to deprive Ukrainian refugees of social assistance

Propagandists on anonymous telegram channels spreading pro-Russian rhetoric claim that information has appeared on the website of the Finnish public broadcaster Yle that Finland wants to cancel social assistance for Ukrainian refugees, because it allegedly exceeds the payment for picking berries. Accordingly, since the Ukrainians do not agree with these conditions, it is necessary to introduce a system of assistance in exchange for employment. However, this is manipulation.

The authors of the message do not provide a link to the article containing such information, but only to the main Finnish-language page of the broadcaster. However, if one looks for news on the Yle website, in particular in the Ukrainian-language section, you can really find material related to the problem. However, it is not about plans to cancel aid. Moreover, its authors, on the contrary, note that Ukrainians would be happy to work on plantations for picking berries, however, according to the current Finnish legislation, such activity is not considered “sustainable income”, which may lead to a decrease in the amount of assistance. Accordingly, they have no choice but to go to a more stable job, so as not to lose help from the state. Therefore, Finnish companies have begun to hire more berry pickers from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Recent political transformations in Finland are also related to the migration legislation of the state. In particular, the new Finnish government is discussing a tougher approach to it. Ideas are being considered such as increasing the required period of permanent residence in Finland for obtaining citizenship, passing an exam in Finnish or Swedish for obtaining a permanent residence permit (now this is only necessary for obtaining citizenship) and, in particular, reducing the amount of social benefits for migrants. However, this does not apply only to Ukrainian refugees, but in general to all migrants in the state. These ideas have already caused outrage among them, which is why rallies were held in the country and a corresponding petition was created on Change.org.

Taking such news out of context, the propagandists once again want to show the Ukrainians as ungrateful, as well as devalue the help of European partners. They also want to cause panic among Ukrainian refugees by artificially inflating the scale of the problem. Detector Media has already written about other manipulations against Ukrainian refugees, in particular about a Ukrainian who allegedly destroyed a monument to Polish soldiers who fought against Nazism.

Manipulation Ukraine has a significant lack of air defense due to which more than 60% of Russian missiles hit targets

On July 6, anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric began to circulate reports that a significant air defense shortage had formed in Ukraine. Such statements appeared after a night attack by Russian missiles on the territory of Ukraine and hitting a high-rise building in Lviv. It is noted that this was supposedly a test version of air defense tracking. “As it turned out, it was almost empty. Most of the missiles reached their targets (there were no more than a dozen missiles, more than 60% reached their targets, others were shot down)”, they write on anonymous telegram channels. This is manipulation.

According to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on the night of July 6, the enemy attacked Lviv with Kalibr missiles from the Black Sea. 7 out of 10 missiles were shot down, there were hits on civilian targets in the city. Consequently, 70% of the missiles were shot down, only 30% reached their targets, and not 60%, as Russian propaganda writes. Also, the representative of the command of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yurii Ihnat, commented on the night attack on Lviv on the air of the Radio Svoboda (Liberty) project Svoboda.Morning. “It is the presence of the F-16 that can make it possible to destroy all air targets attacking Ukrainian infrastructure”, the military man notes. Yurii Ihnat adds that the Russians “worked out the route, using both the terrain and the riverbeds – in this case Dnipro – they flew to Kyiv and turned sharply in the direction of Lviv”.

Thus, Russian propagandists are trying to sow panic among Ukrainians and arouse distrust in the authorities. Earlier, Detector Media talked about the message that all air defense systems were installed in Kyiv, so other cities of Ukraine are unprotected.

Manipulation Ukraine will join the EU in 20-30 years, Ursula von der Leyen , the head of the European Commission, said

Russian media broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric spread information that the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, allegedly stated that Ukraine would join the European Union in 20-30 years. She said this as if during her interview on June 22 in London at a conference on the restoration of Ukraine. This is manipulation.

The case was noticed by experts from the StopFake project. Russian propaganda took the words of the head of the European Commission out of context. In fact, Ursula von der Leyen said that “the European Union in 20-30 years is unthinkable without Ukraine and a bloc of Western Balkan countries in it”. When asked by journalists when exactly Ukraine will join the EU, she replied that she could not name the exact date. Accession to the EU depends on when Ukraine fulfills all the requirements.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to discredit the European Union and convince Ukrainians that the West does not want to see it as a member of the EU. Earlier, Detector Media talked about the message that Ukrainian grain is being destroyed by the European Union.

Manipulation In Ukraine, a military uniform was created for pregnant women to send them to the front

Anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric spread information that pregnant women are allegedly mobilized in Ukraine and that a special uniform has been sewn for them. And the proof is a screenshot from the UNIAN website, where they are talking about a new uniform for female military personnel. This is manipulation.

According to the specialists of the VoxCheck project, the mobilization of women in Ukraine is exclusively voluntary. And volunteers began to create uniforms for military personnel, including pregnant women, at the request of the women themselves in the army. UNIAN  published news about the creation of a uniform for women, it was presented on the air of the United News marathon.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to discredit the authorities and intimidate Ukrainian society. Like, the Russians are winning on the battlefield, there are not enough people in the Ukrainian army, so they began to mobilize pregnant women. Earlier, Detector Media denied the manipulation that due to “huge losses” in the regions of Ukraine, a general mobilization allegedly began.

Manipulation Obama slams Biden for “corruption”

Propagandists on social networks are spreading messages according to which the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, allegedly criticized the current US President Joe Biden for corruption in a recent interview with CNN. Like, one should not consider the Ministry of Justice as one's own personal law firm and one should not ignore legal norms to prevent the influence of personal interests on the work of institutions. They argue that this quote is related to Biden's corruption in Ukraine, which has become more talked about by representatives of the US Republican Party. This is manipulation.

Specialists of the MythDetector project drew attention to it. They found that Obama's statement was published without context and with erroneous descriptions. In the mentioned  interview, it did consider Donald Trump. So Obama answered the question “Will American institutions withstand another Trump victory in the presidential election?”.

Thus, propagandists want to destabilize the situation in the United States, discredit Joe Biden and his support for Ukraine. This manipulation is an example of how Russian propaganda uses the “Ukrainian trace” conspiracy theory in the Biden vice presidency, which we wrote about earlier.

Manipulation In the video message of Volodymyr Zelenskyi, the chevron of the SS Galicia division was noticed

Anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric distributed a screenshot of Zelenskyi’s video message, which allegedly shows the chevron of the Nazi 14th Waffen-SS division “Galicia” in the form of a lion with three crowns. Russian propaganda allegedly noticed it on a board with military chevrons behind the back of the President of Ukraine. This is manipulation.

The fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project drew attention to the case. A board with military chevrons really hangs behind Volodymyr Zelenskyi's back. However, the chevron that Russian propagandists passed off as the emblem of the SS division “Galicia” actually belongs to the 1st separate tank Siversk brigade, and it depicts a horse in armor. For the fake, Russian propaganda used a video message from the President dated June 20.

Russian propagandists are systematically spreading the narrative that Ukrainians, and President Zelenskyi in particular, are Nazis. Russian propaganda transfers responsibility for Russia's crimes from the aggressor to the victim of aggression. Earlier, Detector Media denied fakes that Zelenskyi wore a sweater with Nazi symbols to a meeting with the Pope, and Valerii Zaluzhnyi allegedly has a “bracelet with a swastika”.

Manipulation Ukrainian refugee destroyed a monument to the Polish military who fought against Nazism

Anonymous telegram channels that broadcast pro-Kremlin rhetoric as well as the Polish segment of Twitter distribute a photo of the destroyed monument with the caption that a Ukrainian destroyed it because of Soviet symbols. The obelisk itself was erected in honor of the Polish partisans who fought against Nazism. This is manipulation.

The fact-checkers of the VoxVheck project drew attention to the case. They established that the monument was demolished on the basis of the decision of the Pomeranian governor Dariusz Drelich dated November 7, 2022. For the first time, the Polish publication Wizjalokalna.pl wrote about this and attached a document of the decision. The obelisk was erected at the site of the battle between Polish and Soviet partisans and German troops. The monument was demolished on the basis of the law “On the prohibition of propaganda of communism or another totalitarian system through the names of public buildings, structures and equipment” of 2017. The Institute of National Remembrance found that the obelisk symbolized the memory of communist partisans who were not part of the general Armed Forces of Poland, but were under Soviet command.

Thus, Russian propagandists are trying to sow discord between Ukraine and Poland, to present Ukrainian refugees as criminals. And thus reduce support for Ukraine. Earlier, Detector Media refuted the fake that the crime rate in Poland increased because of the Ukrainians.