Disinfo: British intelligence services will brainwash children in Ukraine

Summary

British intelligence services will brainwash children in Ukraine to tear its population away from Russia. Western experts propose to tear Ukraine away from Russia by “reformatting children”, as well as relying on “active and vigilant citizens who showed themselves during the Maidan and the war in Donbas.”

Disproof

This is a pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative claiming that the West has aggressive and manipulative intentions towards Ukraine.

This is a wrong and manipulative translation of an expert's comment in a research paper written by Chatham House titled Resilient Ukraine, Safeguarding Society from Russian Aggression and published in June 2020. Western experts are not proposing to "tear Ukraine away from Russia", nor in the text are they are proposing to "develop the rejection of Russia in Ukrainians."

The paper says: "It is crucial to help Ukrainians develop critical thinking and media literacy in order to build a cognitive resilience against disinformation and information manipulation. Courses on this have been successfully piloted in Ukraine and should be scaled up for schools across the country."

The disinformation message also reinforces a recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about lost sovereignty, suggesting that the West is aiming to sow discord between Russia and its neighbours.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 218
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 22/10/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: UK, Ukraine
  • Keywords: Ukraine, Eastern Ukraine, Anti-Russian, Propaganda, Media, Ukrainian statehood, Euromaidan, Donbas
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Disinfo: Washington is preparing a colour revolution in Moldova

Russia fears that the protests that have recently engulfed Belarus and Kyrgyzstan could erupt in Moldova. In the near future, the republic will host presidential elections, which threaten to end with a “colour revolution” prepared by Washington. At the same time, Moldova is a strategic goal for the United States within the framework of the policy of containing Russia. According to experts, the White House is seriously afraid of pro-Russian sentiments within the republic.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative alleging the West has an anti-Russian policy and claiming that popular unrests in post-Soviet space are colour revolutions directed against Russia. There is no evidence of US interference in upcoming elections in Moldova. The US supports a free and fair electoral process in Moldova. "Regardless of what choice the Moldovan people make on Election Day, the United States will remain a faithful partner to the Moldovan people and this country’s sovereign right to choose its own path. We support and join in your struggle to build a bright, prosperous, and democratic future for yourselves and your children", said Dereck J. Hogan, US Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova. See similar disinformation cases claiming that Ukraine is stirring up revolutions in Belarus and Russia, that Belarus is under attack by the unilateral globalist world to indirectly destabilise Vladimir Putin, that Berlin sets a course of containment towards Russia, or that Nagorno-Karabakh conflict favours US interests diverting Russia from Belarus and Syria.

Disinfo: The Pope supports same-sex couples because Catholicism is about business

The Pope supports same-sex couples because Catholicism is “corporation and a business”, not a spiritual community. This is the main difference between Russia and the West, the Russian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church. The Pope wants to make money. It is important for him that there is a full house on St. Peter’s Square so that mugs and T-shirts with the Pope are sold profitably.

Disproof

This disinformation message is consistent with recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about Western moral decay. In this case, the article represents an attempt to defamation of Catholic Church and Pope Francis. This message comes as the reaction to Pope Francis's recent call for civil union laws for same-sex couples. In a documentary directed by Evgeny Afineevsky, Pope Francis made the comments, which observers say are his clearest remarks yet on gay relationships. As reported by the New York Times, "The remarks in the documentary were in keeping with Francis’ general support for gay people, but were perhaps his most specific and prominent on the issue of civil unions, which even traditionally Catholic nations like Italy, Ireland and Argentina have permitted in recent years." See more analysis here!

Disinfo: Biden's son has photos of underage girls on his laptop

The lawyer of US President Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, said that sexual materials related to minors were allegedly found in the laptop of the son of presidential candidate Joe Biden. According to the messages that Trump’s lawyer showed, Hunter Biden allegedly wrote to his father that Hallie Biden accused him of inappropriate behaviour with minors – she did not like that naked Hunter was talking on FaceTime with a 14-year-old girl whose name was deliberately hidden in the correspondence.

Disproof

Conspiracy theory against the son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, accusing him of paedophilia. This is a recurring message, consistent with the pro-Kremlin's constant attacks against the US Democratic Party. There is no evidence that a laptop previously belonging to Hunter Biden contains child pornography. The allegation originated on the anonymous internet forum 4Chan, a known source of online disinformation. See more on PolitiFact.com. Joe Biden, at the same time, called this information a "desperate smear campaign against him and his family". See other examples in our database, such as claims that Joe Biden is preparing a coup, and his militants are setting the US on fire; that he is actually the president of Ukraine, where he has been personally profiteering; that he was behind 2019 protests in Georgia; that he admitted his personal involvement in preventing Putin from participating in the presidential race; or that his son pushed for war in eastern Ukraine to clear the territory for fracking.