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War in Ukraine: Latest news, analysis, video interviews, video reports

“The People’s Republic of Kherson” – another failure disowned by the Russians. Moscow’s attempt to create new separatist entities and Ukraine’s resistance

“The People’s Republic of Kherson” – another failure disowned by the Russians. Moscow’s attempt to create new separatist entities and Ukraine’s resistance

Despite its overwhelming superiority in terms of military strength, Russia did not attain any notable objective in Ukraine, primarily due to the Ukrainians’ staunch resistance. Evidence of that can be found in the territories occupied by the Russian army, where the population refuses to accept occupation forces and the few local collaborators the Kremlin is trying to impose in key leadership positions.

Angela Grămadă
Angela Grămadă
07 Apr 2022
DISINFORMATION: Zelensky conditions the right of the Romanian community in Ukraine on Bucharest’s help

DISINFORMATION: Zelensky conditions the right of the Romanian community in Ukraine on Bucharest’s help

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky makes the protection of the rights of the Romanian minority in Ukraine conditional on the aid that Romania should provide to the Kyiv authorities in this war.

Mădălin Necșuțu
Mădălin Necșuțu
07 Apr 2022
FAKE NEWS: The USA is sending to Ukraine Afghan military who fled their Taliban-occupied country

FAKE NEWS: The USA is sending to Ukraine Afghan military who fled their Taliban-occupied country

The Russian media is distributing propaganda narratives, according to which the USA will deploy former military of the Afghan armed forces to Ukraine. In fact, the USA has not and will not deploy troops to the territory of Ukraine in the context of the war with Russia.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
06 Apr 2022
The Republic of Moldova – between Ukraine’s pressure and the dependency on Russian gas

The Republic of Moldova – between Ukraine’s pressure and the dependency on Russian gas

In recent weeks, the Republic of Moldova has seen increasing pressure from Ukraine. Kyiv is persistently calling on Chișinău to take measures in order to rally itself to the international sanctions imposed on Russia. Such a move would be however irrelevant in economic terms, and wouldn’t represent such a strong signal not even at political level. Instead, it could cause bigger troubles for the pro-European government,

Mădălin Necșuțu
Mădălin Necșuțu
06 Apr 2022
From Vladimir Putin's Cancer to FSB’s Involvement in Boris Nemtsov's Assassination: Stories from the Russian Independent Media

From Vladimir Putin's Cancer to FSB’s Involvement in Boris Nemtsov's Assassination: Stories from the Russian Independent Media

The Proekt team, declared an undesirable organization in the Russian Federation last year, returns with an extensive investigation into Vladimir Putin's health problems. The Insider writes how, before being assassinated, the politician Boris Nemtsov was pursued by FSB agents later involved in the poisoning of Alexei Navalny. Russian publicists are also pondering the chances of Putin being tried by the Hague Tribunal for war crimes.

Mariana Vasilache
Mariana Vasilache
05 Apr 2022
DISINFORMATION: Ukrainian refugees take advantage of Moldovans’ hospitality

DISINFORMATION: Ukrainian refugees take advantage of Moldovans’ hospitality

Ukrainian refugees are aggressive and disturbing, and the hosts are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with them. In the Republic of Moldova, they vandalize Soviet monuments and pick up fights with the locals, writes the Russian publication mk.ru, citing social media, but without providing any proof for such allegations. In the Republic of Moldova, several such pieces of disinformation have been debunked by the media.

Veridica
Veridica
04 Apr 2022
Volodymyr Zelensky’s messages to the world: calls for help, references to political symbols and historical events, denouncement of Russia’s war crimes

Volodymyr Zelensky’s messages to the world: calls for help, references to political symbols and historical events, denouncement of Russia’s war crimes

Zelensky spoke up for Ukraine in front of numerous legislative and international bodies. Each time, the message carried a call for help and a plea to stop Russia. The speeches that conveyed this message were adapted to the specific audiences Zelensky addressed, including references to historical figures and events, as well as shared ideas and values.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
04 Apr 2022
WAR PROPAGANDA: 95% of Ukrainians are waiting to be liberated by Russia, says the Luhansk separatist leader Marat Bashirov.

WAR PROPAGANDA: 95% of Ukrainians are waiting to be liberated by Russia, says the Luhansk separatist leader Marat Bashirov.

Most Ukrainians are waiting to be liberated by Russia, which has been forced to launch a special operation and is the victim of Ukraine’s aggression, says the Luhansk separatist leader. These false narratives are amplified by the Russian media.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
01 Apr 2022
The war in Ukraine is pushing Bulgaria away from Russia but the move is threatening the ruling coalition in Sofia

The war in Ukraine is pushing Bulgaria away from Russia but the move is threatening the ruling coalition in Sofia

The invasion is having long-term effects on the relationship between Bulgaria and Russia. Pro-Ukraine demonstrations and numerous volunteer initiatives for the Ukrainian refugees have spread all over the country, and patience for the controversial Russian ambassador to Sofia is running out, as the government mulls plans to finally diversify its gas resources..

Svetoslav Todorov
Svetoslav Todorov
31 Mar 2022
The impact of the war on Ukrainian society: an outburst of hatred towards Russia and a spectacular increase in Zelensky’s approval rating

The impact of the war on Ukrainian society: an outburst of hatred towards Russia and a spectacular increase in Zelensky’s approval rating

The war had a powerful impact on the perception of Ukrainians, something which has been confirmed by opinion polls published after February 24. From a politician with plummeting numbers, Volodymyr Zelensky’s approval rating has now reached unbelievably high levels. Russia is now hated by most Ukrainians, who also distance themselves from the Moscow Patriarchy

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
31 Mar 2022
Memories of past aggressions made even pro-Russian Czechs take a stand against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Memories of past aggressions made even pro-Russian Czechs take a stand against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

The Czech Republic was quick to denounce Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and prime-minister Petr Fiala even took a risky trip to a besieged Kyiv, to show his support. The most surprising Czech reaction came from president Milos Zeman, a staunch pro-Russian who unequivocally condemned the invasion and asked for a firm response to Putin.

Michael Švec
Michael Švec
30 Mar 2022
DISINFORMATION: NATO is fighting Russia to the last Ukrainian

DISINFORMATION: NATO is fighting Russia to the last Ukrainian

NATO / US are forcing Ukraine to fight against Russia for the latter to be defeated and Vladimir Putin overthrown. The narrative falls into the category of Russian propaganda that seeks to shift responsibility for the war from the aggressor to the victim (Ukraine) and its supporters (NATO). In Romania, the narrative is promoted by Ion Cristoiu, an active promoter of pro-Russia disinformation in the public space.

Mădălin Necșuțu
Mădălin Necșuțu
30 Mar 2022
In the Republic of Moldova, the Russian war propaganda is unreservedly assumed by the pocket parties alone

In the Republic of Moldova, the Russian war propaganda is unreservedly assumed by the pocket parties alone

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused a stir in the Republic of Moldova as well, as the country has Russian troops on its territory, a frozen conflict and an aggressive separatist entity backed by Moscow. The scenario of an invasion is increasingly less likely, given the difficulties the Russian troops have encountered in Ukraine, which does not mean though that the risk of some of the challenges escalating is not there.

Mădălin Necșuțu
Mădălin Necșuțu
29 Mar 2022
WAR PROPAGANDA: The UN supports the genocide targeting Russian speakers in Ukraine

WAR PROPAGANDA: The UN supports the genocide targeting Russian speakers in Ukraine

The Russian media accuses the UN of having allegedly encouraged the “genocide” organized by Ukrainian “Nazis” against Russian speakers in Ukraine, since the Security Council did not adopt the resolution regarding the ceasefire proposed by Moscow. The UN General Assembly previous adopted a resolution – ignored by Russia – in which it called for a termination of the conflict.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
29 Mar 2022
WAR PROPAGANDA: A Russian official has called for the “denazification” of the Baltic States, Poland, the Republic of Moldova and Kazakhstan

WAR PROPAGANDA: A Russian official has called for the “denazification” of the Baltic States, Poland, the Republic of Moldova and Kazakhstan

A local official from Moscow has called for the denazification of Poland, the Baltic States, the Republic of Moldova and Kazakhstan, by applying the same method used in the case of Ukraine, namely a Russian military intervention. The Russian state media, agencies such as TASS or RIA Novosti, have ignored the initiative.

Veridica News
Veridica News
28 Mar 2022
Kiev, Odessa, Lvov versus Kyiv, Odesa, Lviv. Ukraine’s other war

Kiev, Odessa, Lvov versus Kyiv, Odesa, Lviv. Ukraine’s other war

The war in Ukraine has brought to the attention of journalists and communicators an issue that had been a concern for Kiev for several years: the spelling of proper names. People and localities alike are better known by their Russian names. Ukraine insists that the spelling should be in Ukrainian.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
28 Mar 2022
Russian independent media: some troops refused to go to war in Ukraine

Russian independent media: some troops refused to go to war in Ukraine

Subject to a virtual ban in Russia, where journalists risk serving prison time if they write about the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Russian independent media continues to write about the conflict and its effects. This week, Veridica has selected articles about journalist Oksana Baulina, killed in Kyiv during a shelling of the Russian army, about the refusal of Russian soldiers to fight in Ukraine and about the Kremlin-linked billionaires’ waning power.

Mariana Vasilache
Mariana Vasilache
28 Mar 2022
DISINFORMATION: The mines launched by Ukraine could blow up the Black Sea, causing a cataclysm in Europe

DISINFORMATION: The mines launched by Ukraine could blow up the Black Sea, causing a cataclysm in Europe

The mines Ukraine has planted in the Black Sea could set off the hydrogen sulfide deposits in the sea and thus cause a cataclysm in Europe. The false narrative was promoted in Romania by Sorin Roșca Stănescu on Cozmin Gușă’s radio show. Both have previously fostered disinformation and fake news and have aligned themselves to Russia’s positions.

Mădălin Necșuțu
Mădălin Necșuțu
25 Mar 2022
The weirdest narratives of Russian propaganda during the war in Ukraine

The weirdest narratives of Russian propaganda during the war in Ukraine

Viruses synthesized to target certain populations and areas transported by birds instead of missiles, an army of Satanists fighting on the side of Ukrainian forces and “delicate” bombings carried out by the Russian army – these are some of the weirdest narratives launched by Russian propaganda after the invasion of Ukraine.

Mariana Vasilache
Mariana Vasilache
25 Mar 2022
WAR PROPAGANDA: Ukrainian forces have destroyed Mariupol

WAR PROPAGANDA: Ukrainian forces have destroyed Mariupol

Mariupol has been destroyed by Ukrainian (nationalist) forces in the city, desperate for not getting any reinforcements from Kyiv, the Russian government media writes. The narrative is meant to draw attention away from the fact that the Russian army shelled the city systematically, without caring about killing civilians or causing damage.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
24 Mar 2022
The war in Ukraine is shaping Turkey’s policy-making, although a break with Russia is out of the question

The war in Ukraine is shaping Turkey’s policy-making, although a break with Russia is out of the question

Against the backdrop of a worsening economic crisis, Turkey is trying to reconnect with its former allies, after years of pushing them away with its aggresive rhetoric and policies. However, Ankara must also take into account its relationship with Russia, given that it is dependent on that country for energy, agricultural products, tourism and trade.

Dragoș Mateescu
Dragoș Mateescu
23 Mar 2022
WAR PROPAGANDA: To drag NATO into the war, Ukraine will attack the United States Embassy in Lviv and will blame Russia for it

WAR PROPAGANDA: To drag NATO into the war, Ukraine will attack the United States Embassy in Lviv and will blame Russia for it

Ukraine will attack the US Embassy in Lviv and will blame Russia with a view to forcing NATO to enter the war, according to a recent propaganda narrative fostered by the Russian state media, which quotes a statement of the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
23 Mar 2022
How pro-war Russian propaganda is taught in schools. Reports by Russian independent media

How pro-war Russian propaganda is taught in schools. Reports by Russian independent media

In the articles selected this week by Veridica, journalists are calling on their peers who sided with the Putin regime to tell the truth. They describe how war is being presented in schools across Russia and argue that information justifying the Russian aggression in Ukraine was introduced in school curricula a few years back.

Mariana Vasilache
Mariana Vasilache
22 Mar 2022
WAR PROPAGANDA:  Ukraine wants to procrastinate the war and uses its citizens as human shields, whereas Russia is protecting civilians

WAR PROPAGANDA: Ukraine wants to procrastinate the war and uses its citizens as human shields, whereas Russia is protecting civilians

The Russian media writes Kyiv alone is to blame for the prolonged conflict in Ukraine. The narrative is used alongside older propaganda messages, according to which Moscow is carrying out a special military operation aimed at protecting civilians, whom Kyiv is using as human shields.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
22 Mar 2022
Historian: I see lots of resemblances between the Soviet-Afghan war and the one waged by Russia in Ukraine

Historian: I see lots of resemblances between the Soviet-Afghan war and the one waged by Russia in Ukraine

Through its tactics in Ukraine, the Russian military is reminiscent of the Soviet army in Afghanistan rather than a modernized force. Veridica spoke with Chisinau military historian and researcher Ion Xenofontov to see the similarities and differences between the two wars fought by the former USSR and its legal successor, Russia.

Mădălin Necșuțu
Mădălin Necșuțu
22 Mar 2022
DISINFORMATION: Russians in the Diaspora face discrimination

DISINFORMATION: Russians in the Diaspora face discrimination

Russian Embassies in a number of countries have called on Russian ethnics to report every case of discrimination. By means of such messages, launched after the invasion of Ukraine, Moscow claims the Russian-speaking population is discriminated against, in order to intimidate countries such as the Republic of Moldova, but also to discourage Russian citizens who plan on leaving Russia.

Veridica
Veridica
21 Mar 2022
WAR PROPAGANDA: Russia has discovered nationalist concentration camps in eastern Ukraine

WAR PROPAGANDA: Russia has discovered nationalist concentration camps in eastern Ukraine

A concentration camp was discovered in the region of Luhansk, where Russian speaking people were tortured, according to a false narrative disseminated by the Russian state media. It presents Russia as a state that, through its “special military operation” in Donbass, freed the local population and chased away “the Nazis” and “the nationalists”.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
20 Mar 2022
The war in Ukraine might make Russia lose its foothold in the Western Balkans and push the region firmly in the Western camp

The war in Ukraine might make Russia lose its foothold in the Western Balkans and push the region firmly in the Western camp

Russia has been trying for years to keep a foothold in the Western Balkans, especially through its connections with Serbia and Serb groups in the region. The war in Ukraine may now push Moscow’s allies closely in the Western camp.

Vuk Velebit
Vuk Velebit
19 Mar 2022
WAR PROPAGANDA: Ukraine was preparing to attack Donbass and was hiding its intentions by deploying soldiers in schools and hospitals

WAR PROPAGANDA: Ukraine was preparing to attack Donbass and was hiding its intentions by deploying soldiers in schools and hospitals

Russian propaganda continues to seek to justify the invasion of Ukraine and the bombing of civilian targets, including schools and hospitals. According to a recent narrative, a Ukrainian attack on Donbass was imminent, and Kiev was hiding its intentions by deploying troops to schools and hospitals.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
18 Mar 2022
Narratives of Russian propaganda: from fighting Nazis who use people for human shields, to the war designed to stop the gay parades in Donbas

Narratives of Russian propaganda: from fighting Nazis who use people for human shields, to the war designed to stop the gay parades in Donbas

Among those, the obsession for imaginary “Nazis”, labeling anyone opposing Kremlin policy “traitors”, and criticism against the so-called LGBTQ “ideology”

Mariana Vasilache
Mariana Vasilache
18 Mar 2022
The war in Ukraine has shown that the dependence on Russian gas and oil must be eliminated. Finding alternatives could also help combat climate change

The war in Ukraine has shown that the dependence on Russian gas and oil must be eliminated. Finding alternatives could also help combat climate change

The war in Ukraine has pushed into the background the main threat facing humanity: climate change. On the other hand, it has become clear that energy dependence on Russia needs to be eliminated, which could lead to accelerated efforts to switch to alternative sources of energy.

Ionuț Iamandi
Ionuț Iamandi
18 Mar 2022
WAR PROPAGANDA: 15 million Ukrainians have close ties with Russia, and the Ukrainian nationalists are using the Russian speakers as human shields

WAR PROPAGANDA: 15 million Ukrainians have close ties with Russia, and the Ukrainian nationalists are using the Russian speakers as human shields

An important part of Ukraine's population has close ties with Russia and wants good relations with it, according to the Russian propaganda, which also claims that Russian-speakers are being used by Ukrainian nationalists as human shields.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
17 Mar 2022