Conflict

Wed, May 18, 2022

How Russia attempts to widen its arsenal of pro-war propaganda

Kremlin seeks to maintain domestic support by marketing patriotic symbols and slogans, from the letter Z to “I am not ashamed."

by Eto Buziashvili

Botnets Conflict
An eyewitness captures video of military helicopters approaching Belgorod, Russia. (Source: @UAWeapons/archive)

Fri, Apr 1, 2022

Russian War Report: Videos appear to show missiles striking Russian oil depot

Video surfaced showing a possible attack on a Russian oil depot in Belgorod. Elsewhere, a Russian official threatened Azerbaijan with nukes.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

A Russian tank spotted in southern Belarus. (Source: @tendar/euroradio)

Wed, Mar 30, 2022

Russian War Report: Contradictory reports of Russian vehicles returning to Belarus

Russian forces seen returning to Belarus, Telegram channels undermining peace talks with Ukraine, and how Russians continue using banned social media.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Mon, Mar 28, 2022

Russian War Report: Additional units from Georgian breakaway regions join Russian offensive

Soldiers from the Georgian breakaway region of Abkhazia are confirmed to be providing military support for Russian forces in Ukraine.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Russian “evidence” that Ukraine intends to invade Crimea, including linguistic and cultural clues suggesting they were made in Russia. (Source: Telegram)

Fri, Mar 25, 2022

Russian War Report: Russia produces “evidence” claiming Ukraine will attack Crimea

A pro-Kremlin Telegram channel published suspect photos of alleged medals and certificates to reward Ukranian troops for recapturing Crimea.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Russian State Duma member Sergey Leonov speaks at a press conference in Moscow, March 22, 2022. (Source: DumaTV)

Wed, Mar 23, 2022

Russian War Report: Russian Duma members falsely claim Ukraine is creating ethnicity-targeting bioweapons

Members of the Russian Duma accused Ukraine and the US of creating bioweapons and researching "regional infections aimed at Russian regions."

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Instagram logo displayed on a phone screen and Russian flag displayed on a screen in the background are seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on March 14, 2022 (Photo illustration by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto)NO USE FRANCE

Mon, Mar 21, 2022

Russian War Report: Meta officially declared “extremist organization” in Russia

Russia labeled Meta an "extremist organization," VKontakte got hacked, railways were sabotaged, and the Kremlin put on a concert to support the "military operation."

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Mon, Mar 21, 2022

Sudanese protester run over by anti-riot police near local police station

Eyewitness footage shows unmarked transport vehicle carrying police running over protester north of Khartoum.

by Tessa Knight and Lujain Alsedeg

Africa Civil Society
Servicemen of the military forces of South Ossetia attend an oath of allegiance ceremony in Tskhinvali, the capital of the breakaway region of South Ossetia, Georgia, July 5, 2015.

Fri, Mar 18, 2022

Russian War Report: Russia sends military contractors from Georgian breakaway region to Ukraine

Military contractors from South Ossetia, Belarus' hesitancy to send troops, VPN's, the dilemma US tech companies face over Russian citizens' access, and more.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Screencap of a now-deleted post from the Rafik Lutf page alleging that the first Syrian soldier had been killed in Ukraine. The claim was debunked, as the soldier in the photo had died in 2015.

Fri, Mar 18, 2022

Fake posts recruiting Syrians to fight in Ukraine flood Facebook groups

Scammers exploit dire economic conditions by promising high salaries to Syrians who join Russian forces in Ukraine.

by Layla Mashkoor

Conflict Disinformation
Example of propagandistic images used to promote the document. The Russian text reads, “Fascism will not pass!”

Wed, Mar 16, 2022

Telegram channels amplified document falsely justifying Russian invasion

Channels began circulating the 48-page document two days after Russia invaded Ukraine.

by Sopo Gelava

Conflict CrowdTangle
A deepfake of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that aired on a hacked Ukrainian 24 newscast.

Wed, Mar 16, 2022

Russian War Report: Hacked news program and deepfake video spread false Zelenskyy claims

A deep fake of President Zelenskyy, Russia threatens to block YouTube, and an information fog surrounding the Russian TV journalist who conducted on-air protest.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab