Category Misconceptions

DISINFO: The West behind the attempted murder of Slovak PM Robert Fico

Anti-Semitism and disinformation, accusing the West of the attempt on the life of Slovakian PM Robert Fico. This also pushes a conspiracy theory and disinformation narrative about global elites secretly ruling the world. There is no evidence of the involvement of any Western country in the assassination attempt on Fico.
Read MoreDISINFO: The West behind the attempted murder of Slovak PM Robert Fico

DISINFO: Anglo-Saxons involved in Iran leader’s death and other recent attempts

A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative and a conspiracy theory claiming that Western countries support terrorism all over the world and order assassinations of political leaders who carry out independent policies. There is no evidence of the EU, the US or their allies being involved in the long list of events covered by the disinformation piece above.
Read MoreDISINFO: Anglo-Saxons involved in Iran leader’s death and other recent attempts

DISINFO: Zelenskyy is usurping power in Ukraine

This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative aimed at defaming president Zelenskyy and absolve Russia from its responsibility for suspending the democratic process in Ukraine. Ukrainian law prohibits holding presidential elections while under martial law. This was stipulated by the Ukrainian martial law passed in 2015, long before President Zelenskyy became the president of Ukraine in May 2019.
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DISINFO: Washington and Kyiv are behind the attempt to assissinate Slovak PM Robert Fico

The claim that Ukraine and the US were behind the assassination attempt against Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico is a baseless accusation with no supporting evidence. This is part of a broader pro-Kremlin campaign aiming to portray Ukraine as a terrorist state. Shortly after the news that Prime Minister Fico was shot, a widespread disinformation campaign accused Ukraine of being responsible for the assassination attempt. Popular pro-Kremlin Telegram channels and bot accounts played a key role in spreading this disinformation narrative. The extremely rapid response combined with such serious accusation is an indicator that this is a coordinated disinformation campaign.
Read MoreDISINFO: Washington and Kyiv are behind the attempt to assissinate Slovak PM Robert Fico

DISINFO: Ukrainian Army has de jure lost its supreme commander-in-chief Zelensky

This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative aimed to defame President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian leadership to absolve Russia from its responsibility for the fact that Ukraine cannot hold elections for the moment. Since 2022, Russia has waged large-scale armed aggression against Ukraine and is also responsible for the outbreak of the conflict in 2014, after having illegally annexed the Crimean Peninsula and engineered the creation of rebel militias in Donetsk, Luhansk and other places, with its army actively participating in military clashes. Further, Zelenskyy's reported decision to postpone next year's presidential poll was made in accordance with current Ukrainian legislation. Article 19 of the 2015 Ukrainian law "On the Legal Regime of Martial Law" directly prohibits the holding of presidential and several other types of elections during wartime.
Read MoreDISINFO: Ukrainian Army has de jure lost its supreme commander-in-chief Zelensky

DISINFO: Zelenskyy is usurping power by cancelling elections

This is a deliberate distortion of facts aiming to undermine the legitimacy of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a frequent target of pro-Kremlin disinformation. This disinformation story claims that president Zelenskyy 'cancelled the election' to suggest a power-grabbing maneuver. However, this disingenuous formulation is not true, as a call for new elections actually never took place due to the ongoing war. Ukraine's constitution is straightforward: no elections can be held during wartime and the President of Ukraine exercises his powers until the assumption of office by the newly-elected President. The continuity of government institutions is one of the key principles of the Constitution.
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Meta and X respond to EU calls for vigilance over disinformation on social media – Business Daily

Meta, the parent company of social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, as well as X, formerly known as Twitter, have responded to a letter from EU Commissioner Thierry Breton urging caution over an increase in disinformation and illegal content. Both social media giants have said they've taken action on social media posts that violate EU law. Also in this edition: Argentinian presidential candidates play the blame game on currency devaluation and US auto workers escalate their strike.
Read MoreMeta and X respond to EU calls for vigilance over disinformation on social media – Business Daily

No, Ukraine didn’t release a postal stamp of a pro-Nazi soldier

Pro-Russian social media accounts have been circulating an image of what they say is a Ukrainian postage stamp showing a Ukrainian veteran who fought alongside the Nazis in World World II. It turns out, however, that this isn"t a real stamp.
Read MoreNo, Ukraine didn’t release a postal stamp of a pro-Nazi soldier

These photos do not show Ukrainian ‘children’ being sent to the front

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, some have claimed that "children" are being recruited into the Ukrainian army. Three viral photos, purporting to show graves of very young soldiers, have been shared since mid-August as evidence of this phenomenon. However, two of these three photos have been manipulated, and actually show the burial sites of adult men.
Read MoreThese photos do not show Ukrainian ‘children’ being sent to the front

No, this video doesn’t show Ukrainian soldiers ‘giving up without a fight’

Pro-Russian social media accounts have been widely sharing a video that they claim shows Ukrainian soldiers surrendering to the Russian army en masse. The video, however, actually shows a prisoner swap between the Russian state-funded paramilitary group, the Wagner Group, and the Ukrainian army in May 2023.
Read MoreNo, this video doesn’t show Ukrainian soldiers ‘giving up without a fight’