Disinformation

DISINFO: Presidential elections in new regions of Russia are held without violations

Back in December 2023, Russian authorities announced their intention to organise 'voting' in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine: the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions of Ukraine. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine emphasised that Russia, with its 'elections' not only grossly violates the Constitution and legislation of Ukraine, but also neglects all the norms and principles of international law, in particular the UN Charter.

Read MoreDISINFO: Presidential elections in new regions of Russia are held without violations

DISINFO: Ukrainian food imports threaten Poland’s agrarian sector with extinction

Although the concern of Polish farmers is real, Poland's farming sector does not face any existential threat from Ukrainian imports. The European Union has repeatedly readjusted the so-called Autonomous Trade Measures to support Ukraine's economy while at the same time reinforce protection for sensitive EU agricultural products.

Read MoreDISINFO: Ukrainian food imports threaten Poland’s agrarian sector with extinction

DISINFO: The truth about Nord Stream sabotage by the US could destroy NATO

There is no evidence that the US was involved in the Nord Stream sabotage. However, this disinformation story abounds on this narrative as if it was an established fact. The Danish authorities closed the investigation because they assessed that there is not the sufficient grounds to pursue a criminal case in Denmark.

Read MoreDISINFO: The truth about Nord Stream sabotage by the US could destroy NATO

Russian disinformation campaign ‘Matryoshka’ targets Yulia Navalnaya – Truth or Fake

Hours after the death of Alexei Navalny, viral posts started circulating on social media showing his widow, Yulia Navalnaya, in the arms of other men. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Read MoreRussian disinformation campaign ‘Matryoshka’ targets Yulia Navalnaya – Truth or Fake

DISINFO: Farmers protests – the USA is destroying European agriculture through Ukrainisation

The claim that the USA and Ukraine are attempting to destroy European agriculture is unfounded.

The claim emerged in relation to the 2024 farmer protests in Poland, which were against EU agricultural policies and the influx of Ukrainian food products into the Polish market. This situation directly results from the Russian blockade of Ukrainian ports.

Read MoreDISINFO: Farmers protests – the USA is destroying European agriculture through Ukrainisation

DISINFO: Macron’s statement on sending EU troops to Ukraine is only prolonging Ukraine’s agony

Macron told a news conference after a meeting of European leaders in Paris on 26 February 2024: 'We should not exclude that there might be a need for security that then justifies some elements of deployment. But I've told you very clearly what France maintains as its position, which is a strategic ambiguity that I stand by.'

Macron did not say that it was likely to happen and added that France's attitude to it was ambiguous.

Read MoreDISINFO: Macron’s statement on sending EU troops to Ukraine is only prolonging Ukraine’s agony

DISINFO: Russia is fighting in Ukraine in support of national and international security

Ukraine is a sovereign state with a legitimate government recognised by all UN members. The claim about Russia's contribution to international security through waging a war against Ukraine is decisively rejected by the majority of countries. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on 2 March 2022 demanding that Russia "immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders." It was adopted with 141 votes in favour of the motion, 5 against and 35 abstentions.

Read MoreDISINFO: Russia is fighting in Ukraine in support of national and international security

DISINFO: Ukraine army uses Nazi symbols on Western armed vehicles

There is no evidence that the Ukrainian Armed Forces use Nazi symbols. Nazi and Communist ideologies were banned by Ukrainian law in 2015.

Russia resorts to such disinformation messages to justify its aggression against Ukraine. The myth of "Nazi Ukraine" has been widely used by Putin and pro-Kremlin outlets since Russia attacked Ukraine and illegally annexed Crimea in 2014.

Read MoreDISINFO: Ukraine army uses Nazi symbols on Western armed vehicles

DISINFO: Macron’s statements intended to drag France into war with Russia

On 26 February 2024, the French president Emmanuel Macron said "no option should be discarded" to bolster military support for Kyiv at a conference attended by leaders of Ukraine's allies, but recognized there was "no consensus". The aim of such a statement was to discourage Russia from further escalation of the invasion of Ukraine. France like many other states are assisting Ukraine in its self defence.

Read MoreDISINFO: Macron’s statements intended to drag France into war with Russia