On February 5-6, Russian-language Facebook accounts and Telegram channels (1;2;3) disseminated a screenshot of a Russian-language article by “Deutsche Welle”, on which we read that “forced mobilization in the regions controlled by Kyiv may be a special operation of the Kremlin.” The same screenshot was shared on social media on September 1, 2023 as well.
The screenshot of the article published under the name of “Deutsche Welle” is fabricated. In fact, the media has never published information of similar content.
The screenshot, which is distributed under the name of “Deutsche Welle”, is fabricated. An article with a similar title cannot be found on either English or Russian-language websites of the mentioned media outlet (1;2).
It should be noted that the screenshot shows journalist Olesya Galkina as the author of the article; however, the author of a similar name and surname is not found on the Russian-language website of Deutsche Welle.
Deutsche Welle published an article on mobilization and citizens’ dissatisfaction in Ukraine on January 4, 2024. The article argues that Ukrainians are skeptical of forced mobilization. However, in the mentioned article, the author of which is Lilia Rzheutskaya, the mobilization is not linked to the “Kremlin special operation.”
The disseminated screenshot was verified by the fact-checking organization StopFake. According to their information, information about journalist Olesya Galkina is not found in open sources, and the name and surname are probably made up. According to their information, pro-Russian Internet users have been spreading the screenshot since February 2023.
Russian propaganda sources systematically spread disinformation regarding the mobilization in Ukraine. Myth Detector” debunked a number of false claims related to the mobilization of Ukrainians abroad, minors, and elderly people. Read more in our articles:
- CLAIMS ABOUT THE MOBILIZATION OF UKRAINIANS LIVING ABROAD ARE BASED ON A FABRICATED DOCUMENT
- DISINFORMATION, AS IF LEAFLETS FOR THE ELDERLY TO BE DRAFTED TO THE FRONTLINE ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED IN UKRAINE
- RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS SPREAD DISINFORMATION ABOUT THE MOBILIZATION OF MINORS IN UKRAINE
- DISINFORMATION, AS IF THE FATHER OF A RECRUIT IN UKRAINE KILLED AN EMPLOYEE OF THE COMMISSARIAT
The use of logos of foreign publications in order to give more credibility to the disseminated information is one of the methods of Russian propaganda. Read more on this topic:
How are the Logos of Western Publications Used for Disseminating Disinformation? (in Georgian)
Facebook user Игорь Олегович Сарапкин systematically spreads information of anti-Ukrainian content. The user’s posts have been flagged as fake news by various fact-checking organizations.
Archive (1;2;3;4;5)
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