The Use of Misinformation in the Russo-Ukrainian Conflict: Claims of Aggression, Assassination, and Sabotage
Russian state media and separatist leaders in the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics have been accused of spreading disinformation and propaganda in relation to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis and the subsequent Russian invasion of Ukraine. Among the claims made by Russian state media are allegations of Ukrainian and NATO aggression against Russian citizens, including assassination attempts, sabotage, genocide, and the development of biological weapons.
The assassination attempts claim is one such example of unsubstantiated allegations made by Russian media. Bellingcat, a non-profit investigative journalism organization, stated that a supposed bombing of a separatist police chief by a Ukrainian spy, which was broadcast on Russian state television, was in fact visual evidence of the bombing of an old army vehicle. The vehicle’s registration plate was that of the separatist police chief, but the same license plate was also seen on a different, new SUV. The Luhansk People’s Republic also released a video showing the supposed removal of a car full of explosives prepared to blow up a train full of women and children evacuating to Russia. However, the video’s metadata showed that it had been recorded on June 12, 2019, casting doubt on the veracity of the claim.
Similarly, the Donetsk People’s Republic claimed to have video evidence of Poles attempting to blow up a chlorine tank, which was distributed by Russian media. The video’s metadata showed that it was created on February 8, 2022, and included a mix of different pieces of audio or video, including a 2010 YouTube video from a military firing range in Finland. Ukrainian intelligence attributed responsibility for the video to the Russian intelligence service GRU.
These claims of assassination and sabotage attempts by Ukrainian and NATO forces have been widely circulated by Russian state media and the breakaway Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics. The goal of these allegations is to portray Ukraine and NATO as aggressors and to justify Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. However, these claims have largely been discredited by independent journalists and investigators, raising questions about the credibility of Russian state media.
Another false claim made by Russian state media is the allegation of genocide carried out by Ukrainians against Russian speakers. This claim attempts to attribute Russian war crimes to the Ukrainian side and has been widely circulated in Russian media. The Russian media has also claimed that NATO and Ukraine are developing biological weapons targeted at Russia, including birds carrying fatal diseases. These false claims are aimed at promoting hostility towards Ukrainian refugees, intending to weaken international support for Ukraine.
While Russian state media has been successful in spreading disinformation and propaganda in Russia, it has suffered from reputation loss and has been restricted from operation in many Western and developed countries. However, it has met with more success spreading its point of view in developing countries, where social media users trend towards showing sympathy for Russian narratives.
In conclusion, the claims made by Russian state media and separatist leaders in the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics are aimed at portraying Ukraine and NATO as aggressors and justifying Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. However, these claims have largely been discredited by independent journalists and investigators, raising questions about the credibility of Russian state media. Despite the success of Russian propaganda in some parts of the world, there is growing awareness of the need for critical thinking and skepticism of media narratives to combat disinformation and propaganda.
