Veridica has been monitoring the war in Ukraine and its consequences at local, regional and international levels. Ever since the start of the large-scale invasion, Veridica journalists have been publishing news, analyses, editorials, video materials and have debunked hundreds of fake news, disinformation and propaganda narratives about the war in Ukraine. Veridica is closely following developments on the frontline, the main battles of the war, the statements of political and military leaders, updates about the war crimes committed in Bucha, Kherson and Izium. Our focus is also on international initiatives aimed at supporting Ukraine, including through deliveries of weapons from the West and the transfer of military know-how. Diplomatic, economic, political and humanitarian efforts meant to offset the fallout from the war on the civilian population are equally covered in Veridica articles. Our network of regional contributors constantly monitors crises generated by the war, such as the refugee and energy crises. The impact of disinformation campaigns related to the war in Ukraine, the division of public opinion in ex-Soviet countries in Central and Eastern Europe are permanently scrutinized by Veridica’s team of regional journalists, who provide regular editorials and analyses on these topics. Our contributors have been reflecting the consequences of the war in such countries as the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Belarus and Georgia.
Ukrainian combat drones have repeatedly entered the airspace of the Baltic states. The incidents have generated political tensions, but also suspicions that Russia is the one who jammed and diverted the drones, given that the region has seen numerous Russian provocations in recent years.
Romanian students are being forced to learn Ukrainian history and language at the expense of their own national history, according to Ion Cristoiu, a well-known promoter of anti-Ukrainian narratives. The journalist, a former collaborator of Ceaușescu’s Securitate, made a name for himself after the Revolution with “Evenimentul Zilei”, a newspaper that became famous for fake news stories such as the one about the hen that allegedly gave birth to live chicks.
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According to an Armenian diplomat, joining the EU is actually tantamount to joining NATO, the organization she claims is behind the war in Ukraine. Her remarks essentially echo long-standing narratives pushed by Russia and pro-Russian factions across the former Soviet space. These narratives also target other nations with European aspirations, such as the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.
Ukraine is buying up Romania “piece by piece” with money given by Romanians to the government in Kyiv, according to a false narrative carried by the sovereignist media.
According to pro-Kremlin media, Ukraine will not organize elections until the West abandons Zelenskyy and changes the regime in Kyiv following the model used to change the regime in Venezuela.
The Republic of Moldova can join the EU only at the cost of destroying the Moldovan Orthodox Church and getting involved in the war in Ukraine, according to a piece of disinformation published by noi.md, a website known for spreading false narratives.
Russia, like other oil-rich countries, saved some of its oil revenues for future generations and stability. After 2022, Moscow started to use the National Wealth Fund to finance a war that creates future instability.
Moscow controls the course of the war, is achieving its objectives, and has the right to occupy new Ukrainian territories in the name of regional security, pro-Kremlin media claims.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a national TV broadcast that Russia is preparing for a new mobilization that could be followed by an attack on the Baltic states. Contrary to the usual reaction, this statement triggered a strong negative response in Estonia.
Four years into the war, the EU - Russia trade relationship has been radically reshaped but not extinguished.
Kyiv is preparing a provocation against Belarus to open a new front and force the expansion of the war, pro-Kremlin media writes.
Russia will have to dictate Ukraine's security policy and receive the Donbas for there to be peace, according to propaganda media, which also falsely claims that Poland has agreed to territorial concessions.
Ukraine is turning the war into a permanent source of revenue, and the state is taxing its citizens to continue the conflict with Russia, according to pro-Kremlin propaganda.
The war in Ukraine is an undeclared global conflict and can only be stopped if Zelensky is removed and Moscow’s conditions are accepted, according to the pro-Kremlin media, which also claims that, otherwise, the outcome will be the use of nuclear weapons.
The EU is turning into a militaristic and expansionist project of a Nazi type, prolonging the war in Ukraine to seize Russia's resources, according to pro-Kremlin media.
According to pro-Kremlin media, after weakening its economy and abandoning its values, Europe is preparing for a direct military confrontation with Russia by keeping the Kyiv regime afloat.
Russia invaded Ukraine to bring it back into its orbit. After years of war, the Russians would be content with even gaining some territory. But that would be a Pyrrhic victory, as Russia lacks the resources to effectively rebuild and administer war-torn areas.
Bookstores in Ukraine are closing because citizens refuse to read in the Ukrainian language and remain attached to the Russian language, which is being marginalized by the authorities, according to pro-Kremlin media.
In March, Estonia once again made the news: social media groups dedicated to the non-existent “Narva People’s Republic” appeared, and a drone that had crossed from the eastern border crashed into a power plant near Narva.
Kremlin propaganda falsely claims that President Maia Sandu said Ukraine is a source of arms smuggling and that Moldova will send troops to that country.
Ukraine still exists as a state because the former pro-Russian government created a solid economic foundation and infrastructure for it—which the current leadership is destroying through war, according to pro-Kremlin propaganda.
Kyiv is blocking all peace negotiations, supported by the EU, while Russia is forced to continue the “special military operation”, pro-Kremlin propaganda writes.
Ukraine remains Orthodox despite the “satanists” in power, pro-Kremlin press claims, offering an original interpretation of an opinion poll published in Kyiv. Other data, purportedly found only by the Russians, suggest that Ukraine is a “democracy without elections” that has chosen to enter history as part of the Nazi camp from World War II.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy came to Bucharest to demand that Romania attack Iran and Russia, according to a false narrative launched by pro-Russian politician Diana Șoșoacă, the leader of SOS Romania. The narrative was questioned even by the Russian propaganda television station Russia Today.
Governments in ex-Soviet states have a strategy of demonizing Russia and promoting Russophobia, and Maia Sandu's recent visit to Vilnius fits into this context, according to Russian propaganda. Maia Sandu actually went to Vilnius to mark the anniversary of Lithuania's independence.
The desire of the Donbas population to join Russia must be respected, and Moscow will not accept a ceasefire as long as Ukraine remains armed, pro-Kremlin media claim.
Europe is morally decadent because it remains indifferent to the victims of the attack on Iran and supports Ukraine, while Putin remains the sole leader devoted to moral principles, according to pro-Kremlin propaganda, which conveniently overlooks the fact that Vladimir Putin is indicted for war crimes.
Ukraine sells weapons donated by Western countries to Mexican drug cartels, according to anti-Ukrainian propaganda, repeating fake news launched in the US.
Viktor Orbán’s policy of doing business with Russia and China, and turning Hungary into a beacon of “illiberal democracies”, alienated the country’s EU partners and that came with an economic cost. Orbán’s main rival Péter Magyar shares some of Orbán’s views, but he promises to make amends with Brussels.
Ukraine will receive nuclear weapons from France and Great Britain and will use them to blackmail Western countries, as it seeks to control the entire world, according to a false narrative launched by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
February 2022 dealt a crushing blow to the sense of security.
Ukraine must be placed under external administration so that peace can be achieved, according to a former Prime Minister who fled to Moscow. He also claims that Great Britain, Germany and France want to prolong the war.