Propaganda differs importantly from average fake news which we discuss on a regular basis on our website. Propaganda content is frequently not based solely on false information, but on facts that are subsequently exaggerated, distorted or overly promoted on the web to make the impression that the problem is far more serious than in reality.
Such narratives prey on emotions, primarily fear, fueling it to excessive size and causing it to disrupt a sober assessment of the situation. That is why Kremlin propaganda is peculiarly harmful.
Our weekly analyses aim to present to readers current trends and changes in pro-Russian misinformation in Poland and Europe in the most accessible and abbreviated form possible. Prokremla propaganda is primarily monitored on the Telegram channel and on a fewer websites and groups/pages on Facebook. Reports appear with any hold due to the request to process and compile data. They are open and supply simplified versions of more detailed analyses of analysts Ukraine War Disinfo Working Group within the Open Information Partnership network. They can be utilized freely by readers, media and analytical centres, with a clear indication of the source.
Analysis
More about our evaluation system:Most popular narratives of pro-Russian propaganda in 12 countries of Central and east Europe (data collected between 13 and 19 March 2023):
- Ukrainian refugees abuse aid;
- The war in Ukraine is part of a global conspiracy;
- The country should be neutral or on the side of Russia;
- Living conditions of Russians and Russian-speaking minorities;
- Ukrainian leadership is corrupt/incompetent;
- Western politicians care about Ukraine at the expense of their own citizens;
- Ukraine organises provocations;
- politicians of the country drag him into war, supporting Ukraine;
- Ukraine loses the war;
- The government of Ukraine does not care about citizens.
Poland
During this period, pro-Russian narratives in Poland focused mainly on anti-refugee messages and preyed on fans of conspiracy theories. On monitored channels, both topics generated a full of over 80,000 views.
The presence of many refugees from Ukraine in our country is an excellent feed for Russian misinformation. As indicated IPSOS poll For TOK FM and Oko.press, the first wave of empathic aid to refugees is dropping, which is an excellent minute for Russian propaganda activities in anti-refugee narratives. Ukrainians surviving in Poland are portrayed as ingrates who do not respect hosts, usage social support and commit mass crimes. all case of violations of the law by Ukrainians in Poland is immediately over-acclaimed, while akin and worse crimes committed by Poles are ignored. The flood of specified information is expected to make the impression that Ukrainians come to Poland only to collect aids, bargain and attack Poles. In this way, Russian propaganda strengthens the upbuilding social tensions and destabilises the home safety of the country. The monitored channels repeatedly utilized the statements of Confederate politicians as part of the “Yes for Aid, Not for Privileges” action and were based on the graphics and slogans of the alleged Polish Anti-War Movement.
Source: Facebook/Leszek Sykulski, promotional graphicsThe biggest mark group of Russian disinformation were fans of conspiracy theories. As peculiarly susceptible to false content and prone to dissemination, they became the primary weapon of the Kremlin in the information war in Poland. We have written many times about conspiracy theories and pro-Russian propaganda, among others. Here., Here. is Here..
Source: Confederate Telegram/promotional graphicsUkraine
The most popular invariably for respective weeks were narratives claiming that Ukraine is losing the war and that the Ukrainian government does not care about citizens and soldiers on the front. These topics received nearly 8 and over 5 million views respectively. Most of the posts afraid a tense situation in Bachmut, as well as a counteroffensive allegedly lost by Ukraine's counteroffensive in the Zaporozh area.
The second communicative dominated in posts that claimed that the Ukrainian authorities do not care about soldiers and are ready to hold positions at all costs, but for losses.
Armenia
During this period, pro-Russian narratives in Armenia primarily stressed that the country should stay neutral about Ukraine in order to avoid serious consequences. On monitored channels, the subject gained over 42 1000 views.
Posts were based on scaring readers to convince them that a pro-Ukrainian and anti-Russian position could lead to tragic consequences for countries specified as Armenia or Georgia. The channels besides actively described the anti-Ukrainian statements of Georgian politicians.
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia
During this period, pro-Russian narratives in the Baltic countries primarily stressed that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were violating the laws of Russian-speaking minorities. On monitored channels, it has gained over 402,000 views.
The communicative focused on the presentation of the Day of Memory of the Latvian Legionaries as a Nazi vacation and a threat to the Russian-speaking minority. Lithuania besides became a popular narrative, which banned the transport of fertilizers from Belarus.
Belarus
In Belarus, Kremlin narratives pointed primarily to alleged gigantic corruption and incompetence of Ukrainian leadership. More than 56,000 views were received.
The leading discrediting communicative of Ukraine focused on presenting its leadership as incapable to make decisions on its own and dependent on decisions and funds from Washington, D.C., which were to be massively stolen.
Bulgaria
In Bulgaria, a communicative has become peculiarly popular, indicating that Western and Bulgarian politicians care about Ukraine at the expense of their own citizens. These contents gained 10.5 1000 views.
The transmission intensified compared to the monitoring period from 6 to 12 March, mainly utilizing a message stressing that the US ignores the needs of its citizens to supply military assistance to Ukraine. In addition, any articles stress that the future government will affect Bulgaria straight in the war, without respecting the opinion of its citizens.
Georgia
During this period, pro-Russian channels in Georgia focused on promoting narratives about Ukraine's alleged failure of war, however, obtaining small awesome 2.6 1000 views. The spread of communicative has intensified due to Russia's halting attacks and rumors of Ukrainian counteroffensive. In an effort to gain more convincing power, propaganda utilized the incorrect context articles from the Western media.
Hungary
In Hungary, as so far, the most popular was the communicative claiming that Western and Hungarian politicians (oppositions) care about Ukraine at the expense of their own citizens. More than 63,000 views were received. Most of the views came from 1 article from state media, repeating a pro-government communicative about the “financed from abroad and inciting war” of the Hungarian opposition. another publications referred to comments from various Western politicians, including American Republicans, on the shot down U.S. drone MQ-9 Reaper.
Moldova
W Moldova's propaganda Kremlin promoted theories about alleged provocations of the Ukrainian side, gaining 22.6 1000 views. This communicative proved to be little interesting to the public than in erstwhile weeks, nevertheless it maintained popularity on monitored channels. Prokremlian sources attempted to discredit president Zelenski, falsely claiming that he was interfering with Georgia's interior affairs, and suggesting that he lied about intercepting the Russian plan to destabilise Moldova.
Slovakia
Due to the ongoing pre-election run in Slovakia and the support of Ukraine by the current government, any opposition members are reaching for communicative rhetoric “we are peace, they are war”, indicating that the government will lead to an open war with Russia. This communicative received 243 1000 hits.
Source:
Ukraine War Disinfo Working Group, Monitoring study March 13 – March 19 , 2023
This study provides insights from the monitoring of narratives appearing on procremlovian websites and on social media in 12 countries of Central and east Europe, related to Russia's war in Ukraine. The data was collected and analysed by a number of NGOs, think tanks and researchers, and subsequently compiled by the Open Information Partnership (OIP) to advance the exchange of cognition across the OIP network and throughout the region. Any information and data may be utilized freely by readers, media and analytical centres, with a clear indication of the source.
