Security & Defense

France, Paris, 2022-03-05. Paris demonstration in support of Ukraine, place de la Republique. Ukrainian, Georgian and European flags are flying in the wind. Photography by Sandrine Marty / Hans Lucas. France, Paris, 2022-03-05. Manifestation parisienne de soutien a l Ukraine, Place de la Republique. Les drapeaux Ukrainien, georgiens et europeen flottent au vent. Photographie par Sandrine Marty / Hans Lucas.

Wed, Apr 6, 2022

Russian War Report: Ukraine accuses Georgia of allowing Russian smuggling through its territory

Ukraine has accused Georgia of facilitating Russian smuggling out of Ukraine. Meanwhile, Alexei Navalny calls for Kremlin propaganda to be treated as a war crime.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks as he is surrounded by Ukrainian servicemen as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Bucha, outside Kyiv, Ukraine, April 4, 2022. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Mon, Apr 4, 2022

Russian War Report: Kremlin claims Bucha massacre was staged by Ukraine

Civilians have been found dead, many with their hands bound and simply left on the street, in Bucha. Despite the evidence, the Kremlin is trying to cover it up through disinformation and confusion.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

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

(Source: Iria Puyosa/DFRLab via Gephi)

Wed, Mar 23, 2022

Understanding Telegram’s ecosystem of far-right channels in the US

DFRLab analysis of nearly 6,000 Telegram channels identified distinct “communities” ranging from MAGA supporters to QAnon

by Iria Puyosa, Esteban Ponce de León

Extremism Gephi
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