Eastern Europe

Vladimir Putin justifies his invasion of Ukraine.

Sun, Feb 27, 2022

Kremlin media used claims of Ukraine creating a dirty bomb to justify invasion

The narrative was amplified by various Russian outlets and circulated on multiple social media platforms prior to Putin invading Ukraine.

by Eto Buziashvili

Conflict Disinformation
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
A crude deepfake depicts opposition activist Pavel Latushka as a drunk individual climbing in and out of a car trunk, before calling on citizens to make a “sober decision” to support Lukashenka’s referendum. “FAKE” stamp added by the DFRLab.

Thu, Feb 24, 2022

Lukashenka regime undermines Belarusian opposition prior to referendum

Government critics lack a unified strategy as constitutional referendum gets underway.

by Nika Aleksejeva

Belarus Eastern Europe

Thu, Feb 24, 2022

Russian War Report: Belarus joins conflict against Ukraine

The Council's open-source researchers break down the Kremlin's latest moves online and on the battlefield in its war in Ukraine.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Tue, Feb 22, 2022

Russian War Report: Despite debunking of false flags, Putin recognizes breakaway republics

The Council's open-source researchers break down how the Kremlin is seeking to justify incursions in Ukraine, and where the troops are moving.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Fri, Feb 18, 2022

Russian War Report: Evacuations begin in Ukrainian breakaway regions

The Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab tracks Kremlin allegations of mass graves in Donbas, troop movements, and more.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Tue, Feb 15, 2022

Russian War Report: Military camps close in on border as Kremlin accelerates false-flag narratives

While the Kremlin announced that some units have begun loading equipment onto trains to return to their bases, the DFRLab continues to observe other units positioning themselves closer to Ukraine's northeast border with Russia.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

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

Tue, Feb 8, 2022

Russian War Report: New evidence of accelerated military build-up near Ukraine

The Council’s open-source researchers reveal the latest Russian troop, aircraft, and weapons movements around Ukraine, along with new Kremlin disinformation efforts. 

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Tue, Feb 1, 2022

Russian War Report: Will Moscow provide weapons and passports to breakaway Ukrainian regions?

The Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab is tracking the latest on Russia moving blood and food supplies to the front, narratives in Kremlin-tied media, and more.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Fri, Jan 28, 2022

Russian War Report: Kremlin pushes claims about Ukrainian offensive, ‘junk’ weapons from West

The Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab is tracking the latest from Russian troop movements to social media conspiracy theories to Duma debates.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Screencap of video showing Russian armor in a field near Rechitsa.

Thu, Jan 27, 2022

Russian equipment flows into Belarus

Russia continues to move tanks and other materiel into Belarus along Ukraine’s northern border, as far west as Brest.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Belarus Conflict