Category Wagner Group

Russian embassy shares disinformation on alleged atrocities by foreign mercenaries in Ukraine

The Russian Embassy in South Africa shared an article on X on April 9 about alleged atrocities committed by foreign mercenaries fighting for Ukraine. But this content originated from a fake news site, and the images used can be traced to other contexts.

October 14, 2024
"Genocide" vs Russian-speakers Attacks on civilians Coordinated disinformation Fact checks / debunkings Faked news reports International community Methods Misconceptions Narratives Russia Russian propaganda South Africa Ukraine Wagner Group War crimes

FAKE: The mayor of Riga promised to close the Riga Russian Theater

Mārtiņš Staķis did not promise to close the Mikhail Chekhov Russian Drama Theater in Riga.

October 14, 2024
Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings Hatred and bigotry Incitement & hate speech Misconceptions Russia Wagner Group

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.

Did the Head of the Wagner Group Write a Children’s Book?

Yevgeny Prigozhin and his mercenary force launched a brief rebellion in Russia in June 2023.

June 28, 2023
Fact checks / debunkings Russia Wagner Group

BBC: What is Russia’s Wagner group of mercenaries and why did it march on Moscow?

BBC article: Introduction to the Wagner Group, in the wake of their failed coup attempt against Putin (24 June, 2023)

June 27, 2023
Russia Wagner Group

CNBC: What is the Wagner Group? A look at the mercenary group led by man accused of ‘armed mutiny’ in Russia

An introduction to the Wagner Group, with many links to high-quality sources.

June 27, 2023
Russia Wagner Group

NPR: After its march toward Moscow, what’s next for Russia’s Wagner Group?

NPR summarizes the status of the Wagner Group, a few days after their coup attempt against Putin (24 June, 2023).

June 27, 2023
Russia Wagner Group

These videos do not show clashes between the Wagner Group and Russian forces

In the aftermath of the armed rebellion attempt by Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner mercenary group against the Russian army command on Saturday June 24, people began sharing images online purporting to show the two sides fighting. But at least two of these videos were taken from the video game Arma 3 - and it's not the first time this military video game has been used to spread misinformation.

June 27, 2023
Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings Media taken out of context Methods Misconceptions Russia Wagner Group