Russian newspapers distributed in occupied areas sparked information war

December 19 – Journalists from the Mykolayiv media, NikVesti, analyzed 15 Russian newspapers that were disseminated throughout the Kherson and Mykolayiv regions while under occupation in May-November of 2022. The newspapers analyzed included: Komsomolska Truth, Combat Newspaper, Our Kakhovka, and fake issues of the Mykolayiv newspaper Native Prybuzhzhia.

Many of the newspapers shared disinformation about Russian history, attempting to prove that the occupied areas belonged to Russia. Other outlets promoted false referendums on occupied regions joining Russia. The newspapers also spread disinformation about U.S. biological laboratories located in Ukraine that allegedly worked to spread viruses and propaganda about Ukrainian Nazis. Copies of the Russian newspapers are available online.

More on the Institute of Mass Information in Ukrainian.

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