Disinfo: The East StratCom Task Force was established because of the increasing credibility of the Russian media in the West

Summary

The East StratCom Task Force (ESCTF) was created primarily because of the increasing credibility of the Russian media in the West (while trust in the Western media declines). The exposure of the Russian “disinformation” is not based on evidence but on vulgar denial.

It is surprising that so far, Russia has not taken any action to fight Western, Polish and American disinformation. The ESCTF actively works in such countries as Georgia, Armenia and Ukraine, discrediting and attacking the Russian point of view among the people of these countries.

Disproof

This message is a part of a broader Kremlin’s narrative accusing various EU institutions of Russophobia and anti-Russian actions (EU Commission, EU Parliament, Eastern Partnership, etc.). The East Stratcom Task Force was established as a reaction to the post-2014 wave of Russian propaganda and disinformation aimed against the EU member states and other countries of the region.

The East Stratcom Task Force is a part of the European External Action Service, focused on the effective communication and promotion of European Union activities in Eastern Europe. It also addresses the Kremlin's ongoing disinformation campaigns all over the world.

EUvsDisinfo is its flagship project. It was established in 2015 to better forecast, address, and respond to the Russian Federation’s ongoing disinformation campaigns affecting the European Union, its Member States, and countries in the shared neighbourhood.

EUvsDisinfo’s core objective is to increase public awareness and understanding of the Kremlin’s disinformation operations, and to help citizens in Europe and beyond develop resistance to digital information and media manipulation.

The cases are public and can be accessed in the EUvsDisinfo database. See other cases about the EUvsDisinfo and the task force: EU findings on Russian disinformation about Covid-19 are Russophobia and Out of 3000 articles published by Southfront, only 3 contain disinformation.

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pl.sputniknews.com (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 232
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 19/02/2021
  • Outlet language(s) Polish
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: EU, Poland, US, Russia
  • Keywords: Mainstream media, Anti-Russian, Propaganda, European Union, Russophobia
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Disinfo: Kharkiv is Russian city, Ukrainians live under political repressions

Due to intimidation and political pressure, Ukrainians keep quiet. However, if political repressions are relaxed, it will turn out that Odesa did not forget anything and that Kharkiv is a Russian city.

Feb 18, 2021
Disproof

A recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about the Russian world/civilisation and Ukrainian disintegration. Kharkiv is a major cultural, educational, and industrial centre of Ukraine, the second-largest Ukrainian city. It was the first capital of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, from December 1919 to January 1934, after which the capital relocated to Kyiv.

Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected by almost the whole world, including the EU -with the notable exception of Russia. Its borders are guaranteed by international agreements but were de facto violated by Russia in 2014. Contrary to the claim about political repressions in Ukraine and alleged intimidation to speak out, Ukraine does much better than Russia in global rankings of democratic freedoms and press freedom.

Disinfo: Ukraine has become a Western project after a military coup

Russia, of course, recognises the Ukrainian state, but the real Ukrainian state. The moment when a military coup took place with the complicity of several Western countries, it turned into a project for these Western countries.

Feb 18, 2021
Disproof

This is a longstanding pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Ukraine's Euromaidan protests depicting the 2013-14 revolution as a coup d'état, orchestrated by the Western countries.

Ever since the 1970s, the EU has adopted an independent role in global affairs, an identity based on peace and stability and the rule of law, in addition to pursuing a foreign policy premised on achieving peace for the world. Supporting democracy worldwide is a priority for the European Union, and allegations that protests around the world are incited and/or funded by Western states, such as colour revolutions in post-Soviet states, the Arab Spring revolts, Euromaidan in Ukraine, protests in Catalonia, is recurring disinformation presented without evidence.

Disinfo: Russia does not need to take part in the information war

The leading mass media of the world is controlled by American and European Special Forces. Russia is not losing the information war – Russia simply does not participate in it.

It is an uneven fight, and the West wages the war the wrong way. We also have those possibilities. Many journalists, who respect their professions look to us. It is not a coincidence that the members of the British parliament follows RT: they understand that non-biased journalists work there.

Feb 18, 2021
Disproof

It cannot be excluded that British parliamentarians occasionally view RT, but the claim on RT journalists being “un-biased” is not correct. The British media licensing body, OFCOM, deprived the RT broadcast rights, due to the outlet’s failure to abide to British licensing rules for impartial reporting.

The claim on Russia “not taking part in the information war” can also be challenged. The RT editor-in-chief, Margarita Simonyan, has repeatedly claimed RT as a part of Russia’s efforts in an information war.