The Kremlin’s information manipulation and disinformation attacks on Ukraine began long before the start of the full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022. The Russian state-controlled ecosystem of foreign information manipulation and interference, including disinformation, was manufacturing myths and false pretexts for invading Ukraine for years, dating back to at least 2014.. In fact, disinformation cases targeting Ukraine make up over 40% of all cases collected in our database.
Ukraine has not only withstood the brutality of Russia’s onslaught, but is also standing up for the fundamental values of freedom, sovereignty and the right to self-determination, showing the world the true meaning of courage. In addition, Ukraine has braved unprecedented pro-Kremlin disinformation campaigns and information manipulation to support Russia’s criminal war. As the international community continues to support Ukraine’s struggle for freedom and sovereignty, it must also spare no effort to dismantle the false reality about the war that Russia has built on lies and deceit.
Many months have passed since Putin unleashed his “three-day war” against Ukraine, perhaps expecting a quick victory or believing his own lies and propaganda. Unfortunately, the war continues – both on the battlefield and in the information space. EUvsDisinfo prepared an overview of the Kremlin’s lies during the first 100 days of the war and continues to monitor and analyse pro-Kremlin disinformation in articles and our weekly Disinfo Review. For example, here we expose twelve myths about Russia’s war.
Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.
