Central Europe

Banner image: Incendiary weapons explode above the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, Ukraine. (Source: @faceofwar/archive)

Fri, May 20, 2022

Russian War Report: Russian forces use incendiary munitions in Mariupol

New photo and video evidence suggests that the Russian military continues to use incendiary and cluster munitions against Ukrainian forces.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Using drone footage supplied by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, the DFRLab confirmed the incident took place near the Russian town of Belohorivka. (Source: @DefenceU/archive)

Fri, May 13, 2022

Russian War Report: Drone footage confirms failed Russian military pontoon crossing 

The DFRLab geolocated drone footage that showed the obliteration of the Russian unit that tried to cross the Siversky Donets in the Donbas region.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Bonnie and Clyde’s cameo during Russian Victory Day celebrations. (Source: @JuliaDavisNews/archive)

Tue, May 10, 2022

Russian War Report: Russia accidentally honors Bonnie and Clyde during Victory Day celebration

During a Victory Day celebration, Kremlin TV featured a photo of infamous American criminals Bonnie and Clyde during a slideshow of alleged Soviet WWII veterans.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

This image depicting a Polish general alluding to annexing parts of Ukraine was one of several circulating on pro-Kremlin Telegram channels that turned out to be fake. (Source: Signal Telegram Channel/archive)

Fri, May 6, 2022

Pro-Kremlin Telegram channels promote narrative that Poland will annex western Ukraine

Narrative relies on forged documents and fake images of billboards in Poland.

by Roman Osadchuk, Givi Gigitashvili

Disinformation Electorate
File photo of Russian firefighter. (Source: EMERCOM)

Tue, May 3, 2022

Russian War Report: New fires and alleged sabotage operations across Russian territory 

Over the past week, numerous strategic facilities on Russian territory have caught fire drawing accusation of sabotage. 

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

In this photo illustration the Google Maps logo seen displayed on a smartphone and in the background. (Photo by Rafael Henrique / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)No Use Germany.

Wed, Apr 20, 2022

Russian War Report: Google refutes misleading claims about blurring Russian military assets

Thousands of posts online claim Google Maps unblurred satellite images of Russian military installations. Meanwhile, Russia hesitates to ban YouTube and a troll campaign distracts from Bucha.

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

Photo of far-right football hooligans assembling in Przemyśl on March 1 to “protect” the city from non-Ukrainian refugees. The photo was circulated on far-right Polish Facebook pages.

Fri, Mar 11, 2022

False reports incite attacks on non-Ukrainian refugees in Poland

Polish right-wing party calls for extremist groups to protect citizens from “immigrants from outside Europe."

by Givi Gigitashvili

Central Europe CrowdTangle
PRIPYAT, UKRAINE – FEBRUARY, 2022: Pictured in this video screen grab is the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Russian Airborne troops and the Ukrainian National Guard are providing security at the nuclear power plant. An agreement has been reached with servicemen of a separate battalion of the National Guard of Ukraine to jointly provide security at the units, the confinement and the storage facility for spent nuclear fuel. Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant staff continue to monitor the radiation levels and work at the nuclear power plant as normal. Video grab. Best possible quality. Russian Defence Ministry/TASS

Wed, Mar 9, 2022

Russian War Report: Russia escalates nuclear and chemical false-flag allegations

On March 9, Russia escalated their claims that Ukraine intended to use nuclear or biological weapons against Russia and that capturing nuclear power plants were to "prevent" such attempts.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Belarusian protesters from the organization Women of Minsk openly protest the invasion of Ukraine. (Source: @Tsihanouskaya/Twitter)

Fri, Mar 4, 2022

Russian War Report: Global crackdown on Russian state-affiliated media continues as Russia blocks Facebook

In response to the invasion of Ukraine, governments and corporations have implemented new regulations and policies to mitigate the reach of Russian state-affiliated media within their borders and on their services. 

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

A screencap shows the spread of meme against the alliance of Poland, the United Kingdom and Ukraine in Facebook groups

Sat, Feb 26, 2022

Polish social media accounts revive anti-Ukrainian sentiments

Poland expects to host around one million Ukrainian refugees amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

by Givi Gigitashvili

Central Europe Conflict

Fri, Feb 11, 2022

Russian War Report: Belarus threatens to arm firefighters as military exercises kick off

The Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab tracks the latest Russian troop movements and Kremlin-pushed narratives around NATO, Germany, and more.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab