Propaganda: Latest news, analysis, video interviews, video reports

WAR PROPAGANDA: Russia must mobilize itself to defend NATO in the new “war for the defense of the fatherland”
WAR PROPAGANDA: Russia must mobilize itself to defend NATO in the new “war for the defense of the fatherland”

Russia is fighting a new “war for the defense of the fatherland”, but this time the enemy is not Nazi Germany but NATO, which wants to defeat Russia through Ukraine, according to a false narrative carried by the Russian state media. The truth is that NATO is not part of the conflict in Ukraine, and the confrontation with the West cannot be considered a war for the defense of the fatherland because Russia was not attacked by anyone, it was Russia who invaded an independent state.

Marin Gherman
02 Mar 2023
DISINFORMATION: Romania is massing troops at the border with Moldova and in also in Chisinau, even if it denies it
DISINFORMATION: Romania is massing troops at the border with Moldova and in also in Chisinau, even if it denies it

Russian propaganda media have resumed the false narrative regarding the massing of Romanian troops at the border with the Republic of Moldova, even if it had been debunked by the press and officially denied by Romania. Mediafax, the press agency that published the fake news in Romania, replaced it without an explanation.

The narratives about Transnistria draw public attention away from Russia’s plans to destabilize Moldova and its defeats in Ukraine
The narratives about Transnistria draw public attention away from Russia’s plans to destabilize Moldova and its defeats in Ukraine

From disinformation spread by propaganda regarding the imminence of a war in Transnistria, Russia has now moved to official statements about Ukraine’s plans to invade the separatist region of the Republic of Moldova. Transnistria seems to be used to draw attention away from Russia’s plan to destabilize Moldova, as well as from the defeats sustained in Ukraine. Besides, the pro-Russian opposition in Chișinău could take advantage of the panic induced by the prospect of war.

FAKE NEWS: The government in Chisinau bans the Russian press at the behest of the West
FAKE NEWS: The government in Chisinau bans the Russian press at the behest of the West

The Government in Chisinau imposes sanctions and uses repression against the Russian media, at the behest of the West, writes rubaltic.ru, a Russia-affiliated media outlet, recently banned in the Republic of Moldova . It resumes older narratives of Russian and pro-Russian propaganda, meant to undermine Chisinau's efforts to protect the information space from disinformation campaigns designed to undermine the pro-European governance, all the more dangerous for security as Russia appears to be engaged in a hybrid war against the Republic of Moldova.

Veridica
27 Feb 2023
A year of war. Why peace is out of the question for now
A year of war. Why peace is out of the question for now

Putin expected Ukraine to give in quickly, and the West, frightened by the prospect of a gas crisis, divided and unable to make firm decisions, would react rather rhetorically, as it happened with the war in Georgia in 2008, or the initial attack on Ukraine, in 2014. Ukraine resisted, dispelling, at the same time, the myth of the mighty Russian army, and now it only envisions victory. Both camps seem determined to fight until they achieve their goals. The war continues.

Marin Gherman
24 Feb 2023
WAR PROPAGANDA: The “special military operation” saved Russia from NATO’s invasion and Ukrainian Nazism
WAR PROPAGANDA: The “special military operation” saved Russia from NATO’s invasion and Ukrainian Nazism

Russia was forced to launch military actions in Ukraine to save itself from NATO military bases and Ukrainian Nazism, and the “special military operation” is necessary and important for all Russian citizens, according to a propaganda narrative distributed one year after the start of the full-scale invasion. The truth is that Russia, without being threatened in any way, launched an imperial war to bring Ukraine under its control.

Marin Gherman
24 Feb 2023
FAKE NEWS: Ukraine is preparing to attack Transnistria, and an army of NATO tanks stationed on Romanian soil will head for Crimea
FAKE NEWS: Ukraine is preparing to attack Transnistria, and an army of NATO tanks stationed on Romanian soil will head for Crimea

Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova are preparing for a military operation against Transnistria and an “armada” of tanks stationed in Romania will come to help, writes the Russian publication politnavigator, citing statements made by so-called Russian experts. Just three days after the false narrative was published in the press, it was officially resumed , in a slightly modified form, by the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Veridica
23 Feb 2023
WAR PROPAGANDA: Ukraine will organize a genocide, and is planning to kill 5,000 Russians every day
WAR PROPAGANDA: Ukraine will organize a genocide, and is planning to kill 5,000 Russians every day

The Ukrainian authorities are going to organize a full-scale genocide of the Russian people and are planning to kill 5,000 people every day, according to Russian state media, which misquotes the adviser to the President of Ukraine, Mykhailo Podolyak. In fact, he only talked about the Russian military who invaded Ukraine and must be stopped, without mentioning the Russian people or the Russian speakers in the Ukrainian regions.

Marin Gherman
20 Feb 2023
WAR PROPAGANDA: Zelensky admitted ordinary Ukrainians have no reason to fight against Russia
WAR PROPAGANDA: Zelensky admitted ordinary Ukrainians have no reason to fight against Russia

Volodymyr Zelensky admitted that Ukrainians have no reason fighting in this war because they are not rich oligarchs, they live in dire straits and are overburdened by debt, according to a propaganda narrative disseminated by the Russian state media. In fact, Zelensky’s message is taken out of context – the president was actually addressing Russian servicemen taking part in the invasion, saying they don’t own “yachts or banks”.

Marin Gherman
16 Feb 2023
WAR PROPAGANDA: The EU sent soldiers to Ukraine before 2022, in order to weaken Russia
WAR PROPAGANDA: The EU sent soldiers to Ukraine before 2022, in order to weaken Russia

The EU sent troops, trainers and spies to Ukraine long before the 2022 war, according to a Russian state media propaganda narrative citing the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova. In fact, the EU has not sent any troops and is not taking part in the military actions underway on the territory of Ukraine.

Marin Gherman
15 Feb 2023
How Russian propaganda exploits Ukraine’s war fatigue
How Russian propaganda exploits Ukraine’s war fatigue

The timespan of the conflict, which exceeded original estimates, the losses sustained so far and daily hardships continue to leave their mark, and many Ukrainians now struggle with war fatigue – even though they are still determined to resist. Russian propaganda has been trying, using its specific mechanisms, to capitalize on this fatigue and on any other problems that are inherent to such a destructive war that seems to be never-ending.

Marin Gherman
14 Feb 2023
WAR PROPAGANDA: Ukraine is recruiting volunteers for its Nazi brigades
WAR PROPAGANDA: Ukraine is recruiting volunteers for its Nazi brigades

Kyiv has been recruiting volunteers for Nazi brigades that will invade Donbas and Crimea, the Russian media writes, providing a reinterpretation of a statement by Ukraine’s Interior Ministry. The metanarrative about Ukrainian Nazism is used by Moscow to justify the aggression against its neighbor as early as 2014, although far-right extremists are politically irrelevant in Ukraine and Nazi ideology is banned under the law.

Marin Gherman
07 Feb 2023
WAR PROPAGANDA: The actions of the Russian military in the Kherson region are an example of humane behavior
WAR PROPAGANDA: The actions of the Russian military in the Kherson region are an example of humane behavior

The Russian military behaved humanely towards the Ukrainian population and army during the invasion of southern Ukraine, according to the Russian state media, which quotes the self-proclaimed mayor of a city in the Kherson region. Mass graves and torture chambers have been discovered in southern Ukraine that show how humane the behavior of the Russians really was.

Marin Gherman
02 Feb 2023
From Z to Saint Javelin: symbols of the two sides of the war in Ukraine
From Z to Saint Javelin: symbols of the two sides of the war in Ukraine

The letter Z, written in paint on Russian tanks, a mural of “Holy Javelin” on a block in Kyiv, “babushka Z” coming out to meet the Russian army or the insult “Idi nahui” addressed to the invading forces – these are some of the symbols associated with the war in Ukraine. Moscow uses symbols to justify its invasion and convince Russian men to enlist; Ukraine, to raise the morale and determination to resist, but also to strengthen the population’s feeling of national identity.

Marin Gherman
01 Feb 2023
WAR PROPAGANDA: The former Prosecutor General of Ukraine is morally preparing Ukrainians for defeat
WAR PROPAGANDA: The former Prosecutor General of Ukraine is morally preparing Ukrainians for defeat

The former Prosecutor General of Ukraine has admitted that Ukraine will be defeated by Russia, the Russian media reports. Yuriy Lutsenko, who was also one of the leaders of the opposition during the pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych's term, would thus morally prepare the Ukrainians for defeat. In reality, the politician's words were taken out of context. What he actually wrote was that, despite the difficulties encountered, Ukraine will succeed in liberating all its occupied territories.

Marin Gherman
21 Jan 2023
WAR PROPAGANDA: Mothers and wives of Ukrainian soldiers killed in action are proteststing against war
WAR PROPAGANDA: Mothers and wives of Ukrainian soldiers killed in action are proteststing against war

A mass protest against the war was held in Kyiv by the wives and mothers of Ukrainian soldiers killed in action, according to a propaganda narrative carried by the Russian state media. In reality, a rally was held in the capital of Ukraine by the wives and mothers of the soldiers in captivity, who called on the president to organize a new exchange of prisoners.

Marin Gherman
18 Jan 2023
WAR PROPAGANDA: Because of Ukraine, the EU states will go into recession, and without Russian energy they will not make it through
WAR PROPAGANDA: Because of Ukraine, the EU states will go into recession, and without Russian energy they will not make it through

The EU will go into recession because of Ukraine and will hardly survive the harsh winters, according to Russian media propaganda narratives that intentionally misquote the IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva. In reality, she encouraged the Western states’ aspiration towards energy independence, stating that the EU risks going into recession due to the Russian aggression, but also other factors.

Marin Gherman
13 Jan 2023
Romania in 2022: Top FAKE NEWS & DISINFORMATION narratives debunked by Veridica
Romania in 2022: Top FAKE NEWS & DISINFORMATION narratives debunked by Veridica

The war in Ukraine, sovereigntist rhetoric and conspiracy theories regarding the so-called sanitary dictatorship were the topics of scores of disinformation narratives and fake news published in Romania in 2022. They were promoted by/on various media outlets (România liberă, Național, Activenews, GoldFM, gândește.org etc.) as well as on social media by controversial figures such as Sorin Roșca Stănescu, Cosmin Gușă, Diana Șoșoacă and Adrian Severin.

The Republic of Moldova 2022: Top FAKE NEWS & DISINFORMATION debunked by Veridica
The Republic of Moldova 2022: Top FAKE NEWS & DISINFORMATION debunked by Veridica

The war launched by Russia in Ukraine also led to an intensification of the use of propaganda materials, fake news and disinformation targeting the Republic of Moldova. The goal was to discredit the West and undermine the values it promotes, but also to blame the pro-European government for the economic and social issues initially triggered by the Covid pandemic, then by the war.

Veridica
06 Jan 2023
WAR PROPAGANDA: Russophobic foreign nationals will be entitled to tear apart Crimea and Donbas once these territories are liberated
WAR PROPAGANDA: Russophobic foreign nationals will be entitled to tear apart Crimea and Donbas once these territories are liberated

After the liberation of the Crimean peninsula and the occupied territories in Donbas, anti-Russian foreign companies will be entitled to tear apart these territories, the Russian media writes, quoting Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky. In fact, the Ukrainian leader spoke about projects designed to rebuild Ukraine, with the help of foreign companies. The president’s speech makes no mention of “Russophobia” or “tearing apart” Ukrainian territories, as the Russian propaganda claims.

Marin Gherman
06 Jan 2023
Ukraine in 2022: Top FAKE NEWS, DISINFORMATION and PROPAGANDA narratives debunked by Veridica
Ukraine in 2022: Top FAKE NEWS, DISINFORMATION and PROPAGANDA narratives debunked by Veridica

Classical disinformation themes and fake news were increasingly replaced with war propaganda as an instrument of publicizing Moscow’s false narratives. The purpose of these narratives, irrespective of how they were presented to audiences, was to manipulate public opinion, to legitimize Russia’s actions, to conceal war crimes and atrocities committed in Ukrainian settlements, to shatter the Ukrainians’ morale and fighting spirit, as well as to spread a controlled form of chaos in the proximity of ex-Soviet space.

Marin Gherman
04 Jan 2023
WAR PROPAGANDA: The Germans are disappointed by the EU’s decision to financially support Ukraine
WAR PROPAGANDA: The Germans are disappointed by the EU’s decision to financially support Ukraine

According to a propaganda narrative carried by the pro-Kremlin media, German society is outraged by the EU's decision to provide financial assistance to Kyiv in the context of the war, with such discontent reflected in the pages of national newspapers. In reality, only a few comments from Die Welt newspaper were selected and presented as the opinion of all Germans. Also, the news translated into Russian was intentionally misrepresented.

Marin Gherman
15 Dec 2022
WAR PROPAGANDA: The Ukrainian army sustained such huge losses, that school children are forced to donate blood for Ukrainian servicemen
WAR PROPAGANDA: The Ukrainian army sustained such huge losses, that school children are forced to donate blood for Ukrainian servicemen

The losses sustained by Ukraine’s army are so huge, that Ukrainian pupils are forced to donate blood for the servicemen, according to a propaganda narrative disseminated by the Russian media. In fact, underage children are forbidden from donating blood in Ukraine, and the authors of this false narrative made other errors that clearly prove the story was fabricated.

Marin Gherman
12 Dec 2022
WAR PROPAGANDA: The United States has been arming Ukraine since 2014 to push it to war against Russia
WAR PROPAGANDA: The United States has been arming Ukraine since 2014 to push it to war against Russia

The United States and its Western allies have been arming Ukraine since 2014 in order for it to start a war with Russia, writes the Russian press, which resumes, in another form, the narrative according to which the West and Ukraine are responsible for the war. In reality, Ukraine was invaded by Russia, and the provision of arms to Kyiv was a reaction to Russia’s aggression.

Marin Gherman
05 Dec 2022
WAR PROPAGANDA: Only Russian speakers from eastern Ukraine are mobilized in order to exterminate them
WAR PROPAGANDA: Only Russian speakers from eastern Ukraine are mobilized in order to exterminate them

The Armed Forces of Ukraine are mobilizing only Russian speakers in the southeast, so that once they are dead Kyiv can bring Ukrainian speakers from western Ukraine to these depopulated areas, reads a propaganda narrative disseminated by the Russian government media. In fact, losses on the battlefield prove that the army comprises many servicemen from western Ukraine, and the percentage of eastern recruits have gone up due to their resistance to Russia’s large-scale invasion.

Marin Gherman
01 Dec 2022
WAR PROPAGANDA: Moscow shows restraint when bombing Ukraine because it knows the population doesn’t support the neo-Nazi government
WAR PROPAGANDA: Moscow shows restraint when bombing Ukraine because it knows the population doesn’t support the neo-Nazi government

Russia is careful when bombing Ukrainian infrastructure because it knows this brotherly people does not support the neo-Nazis in power, reads a false propaganda narrative published by Russian media. The article quotes a controversial American political theorist, known for spreading countless conspiracy theories and for his enthusiastic support of Vladimir Putin.

Marin Gherman
29 Nov 2022
Russia wants to use refugees to cause a rift in Ukrainian society
Russia wants to use refugees to cause a rift in Ukrainian society

Russia’s war in Ukraine has displaced a huge number of Ukrainian refugees. Millions of people fled Ukraine, heading to other European countries, although many chose to relocate to some of the country’s safer areas. Russia has been trying to turn this crisis to its advantage. In EU countries, it has been promoting false narratives designed to generate public hostility towards Ukrainian refugees. In the case of Ukrainians relocated at national level, Russian propaganda sought to focus on fueling public unrest and internal tensions.

Marin Gherman
28 Nov 2022
Russian independent media: Prigozhin’s sends inmates to war, FSO plans to defend Putin with hypnotists and psychics
Russian independent media: Prigozhin’s sends inmates to war, FSO plans to defend Putin with hypnotists and psychics

The Russian independent media writes that a record-high number of inmates has disappeared from Russian prisons, after having been enrolled by Putin’s friend in the war against Ukraine. On the other hand, focus groups commissioned by the Kremlin reveal that the population opposes the war, contrary to the Kremlin’s wishes. Russian journalists also describe how generals guarding Putin want to use priests, hypnotists and psychics to bolster his protection.

FAKE NEWS: Already conquered by the West, Romania lets itself be trampled upon by Ukraine
FAKE NEWS: Already conquered by the West, Romania lets itself be trampled upon by Ukraine

With its sovereignty at the mercy of the great Western powers, Romania is now turning itself into a doormat for Kyiv and dismissed its Minister of Defense, Vasile Dâncu, just because he spoke of peace, according to the former Prime Minister, Viorica Dăncilă. The narrative very much resembles Russia's, according to which Ukraine - the country under attack - is the one that does not want peace. Viorica Dăncilă has also promoted the false narrative that Ukraine undermines Romania’s agriculture and, implicitly, its economy.

Veridica
23 Nov 2022
WAR PROPAGANDA: Putin did not attend the G20 summit because the West was preparing a terrorist attack against him
WAR PROPAGANDA: Putin did not attend the G20 summit because the West was preparing a terrorist attack against him

The Western secret services were preparing an attempt on the life of the Russian president during the meeting of the G20 leaders, that is why Vladimir Putin refused to participate in the summit, writes the pro-Kremlin press, also stating that the West regularly resorts to terrorism. In reality, there was no threat of an attack, Putin refusing to come to Indonesia amid the withdrawal of the Russian troops from Kherson. Moreover, Russia itself is resorting to terrorist methods, trying to demoralize the population of Ukraine through bombings.

Marin Gherman
20 Nov 2022
WAR PROPAGANDA: The French reject the policy of sanctions against Russia and the assistance provided to Ukraine
WAR PROPAGANDA: The French reject the policy of sanctions against Russia and the assistance provided to Ukraine

According to a propaganda narrative circulated in the Russian media, the French are calling on their government to stop its policy of sanctions against Russia and also stop supporting Ukraine because the interests of its citizens must come first. The thesis is substantiated only by quoting one far-right politician.

Marin Gherman
18 Nov 2022
WAR PROPAGANDA: Volodymyr Zelensky visited Kherson to give the go-head for the massacre of civilians
WAR PROPAGANDA: Volodymyr Zelensky visited Kherson to give the go-head for the massacre of civilians

After the visit to Kherson of Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, a gruesome massacre of civilians will commence, which is why residents are asked to steer clear of the city center, reads a propaganda narrative promoted by Russian government media. In fact, both the Ukrainian army as well as Kyiv leaders were greeted as liberators, while new information started to surface after Russia’s retreat regarding war crimes Russian troops might have committed.

Marin Gherman
15 Nov 2022