Pro-Russian channels in Odesa attacked with a new wave of fakes

Pro-Russian channels in Odesa have launched another wave of disinformation, spreading fictions about Europe, Moldova and the war in Ukraine. Under the guise of so-called analytics, they are trying to undermine confidence in the European course and sow doubts among Ukrainians.

This was reported by Informer.od.ua.

Odesa-based pro-Russian Telegram channels are once again spreading disinformation about Ukraine-EU relations, this time focusing on fakes about "freezing Europe," "Romanian Moldova" and "Johnson's bribe for continuing the war." This "autumn set" of fictions is aimed at discrediting Ukraine's European integration, undermining trust in Western partners, and shaping the image of the EU as a decadent, authoritarian structure.

The monitoring of regional Telegram channels, including Typical Odesa, Odessansky Partizan, and Respublika Odesa, revealed the spread of typical Kremlin narratives, including exaggerations, distortions of facts, and manipulation of emotions. Such posts are often presented under the guise of alternative analytics or exposés, but are in fact part of a systemic disinformation campaign.

In particular, Odesa-based social media outlets spread fakes about alleged arsons at EU companies that were "organized by the authorities to put pressure on business" and repeat old myths about "Europeans freezing in their own homes." Such stories are intended to increase fears and make readers feel that Europe is "falling apart" and that Ukraine's movement in this direction is dangerous.

Another example is the manipulations around the elections in Moldova. At first, pro-Russian channels spread fictitious data about the fall in the rating of Maia Sandu's party, and after her victory, they began to promote the idea of "external governance of Romania." This disinformation has a double effect: it discredits the neighboring country and simultaneously damages Ukrainians' confidence in their own European course.

The most widespread has been the wave of fakes about "bribing former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson" for allegedly violating the peace agreements. This fiction is presented by pro-Russian communities as "proof that Europe is interested in continuing the war." In fact, the information about the donation that Johnson received after his resignation has nothing to do with the negotiations in the spring of 2022.

Such campaigns are an example of a coordinated information attack, where regional platforms use international events to spread anti-European messages. Their goal is to cause distrust of Western allies, devalue reforms, and replace the concepts of freedom and integration with "dependence" on the West.

As a result, Odesa's pro-Russian publics are turning into platforms of hybrid influence, where international topics become a tool for systemic disinformation. Their main tool is fear and distrust, and their main goal is to weaken support for Ukraine's European choice.

Last year, a number of southern Telegram channels spread stories that were elements of Russian disinformation. It was there that paid-for materials, officialdom, and pro-Russian messages appeared most often. Odesa publics, in particular, published posts from occupation sources, advertisements for the Russian army, and manipulations on the topic of mobilization.

Анна Бальчінос