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The story of Nepravda aims to give a visual overview of how news is turned into a powerful tool in information warfare. It shows the methods used to influence public opinion, the situations in which they are used, along with the effects of prolonged exposure to manipulation and persuasion.
Since February 24, Russia has been conducting a
special military operation
phrase used by the Russian government and therefore Russian propaganda to obscure from the public when the state is at war
see sourceto denazify and demilitarize Ukraine. Vladimir Putin called the ultimate goal the
liberation of Donbass
since seizing Crimea in 2014, Russia's proxy forces have seized more than a third of eastern Ukraine, starting a war that has never ended. “Liberation” is the term of Russian propaganda to say "continuation of the occupation"
see sourceand the creation of conditions that guarantee the security of Russia itself.
In early March, a fierce firefight with Ukrainian troops in
Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant
Russian troops surrounded the nuclear power plant, which is Europe's largest nuclear plant and one of the world's 10 largest, and seized it in March, committing a war crime. Attacks against works and installations containing dangerous forces is against the law.
see sourcesparked a fire that created global concern about the risks of a catastrophic radiation leak. Now, five months later, the repeated shelling at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant complex has raised new concerns.
chapter I
DISASTER
tragedy to propaganda
Putin said:
Authority
The use of a person or institution, which has high level of trust and popularity (President Putin). The use of other authorities (ministers or subject state institutions) depend on hierarchy and the need to reinforce the original message.
see more Russia tried to resolve the conflict in Ukraine in a peaceful way
23 August.
Russian President Vladimir Putin
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Putin’s ratings scored higher. The same pattern was noted right after the conflict in Georgia in 2008 and with the beginning of the annexation of Crimea in 2014. It seems that decisive decisions positively affect the Russian vote of trust. It is noted also that the negative reaction outside Russia strengthens the Russian faith
see sourcesaid that Russia was trying to resolve the conflict in Ukraine in a peaceful way, it was necessary to give the residents of Donbass the right to
speak Russian
according to Russianpropaganda, promoting the use of the Ukrainian language is an evidence of the“genocide” of ethnic Russians in the Russian-speaking east, and thus providepart of the rationale for the "special military operation".
see sourceand live according to their traditions, but the Ukrainian authorities organized a blockade.
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Russian Defence Ministry:
Authority
The use of a person or institution, which has high level of trust and popularity (President Putin). The use of other authorities (ministers or subject state institutions) depend on hierarchy and the need to reinforce the original message.
see moreKyiv continues shelling
23 August. The Kiev regime continues the actions of
"Nuclear terrorism"
both Russia and Ukraine are accusing each other of shelling around Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and therefore of risking "nuclear terrorism"
see sourceat the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant - the territory of the station was shelled three times in a day,
17 artillery shells were fired in total, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Saturday.
Nuclear power plant on fire
23 August. Huge explosion happened at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after continuous shelling from the Ukrainian army. There are serious damages in the auxiliary buildings. Diesel generators of the power units were immediately activated. Experts are seriously concerned about the risk of a further explosion or leak of radioactive material.
The authorities of Zaporizhzhia
Authority
The use of a person or institution, which has high level of trust and popularity (President Putin). The use of other authorities (ministers or subject state institutions) depend on hierarchy and the need to reinforce the original message.
see moreproving the shelling of the ZNPP territory by Ukrainian troops, Vladimir Rogov
, member of the main council of the administration of the Zaporizhzhia region, told RIA Novosti.
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Experts:
Expertise
Appealing to expertise, which is close to authority, but is not connected with the hierarchy. The use of experts is giving a sense of plurality of views, which is actually false and points to the same narrative/message.
see morePower units were hit by Ukrainian Tochka U
24 August. According to experts, the power units were hit by
Ukrainian Tochka U missile.
Russia claims that Tochka-U is no longer on Russia’s military balance. However, there is evidence that Russia still uses this missile system.
see source
Satellite images of the crash site show the direction in which the missile crashed, and from there it can be guessed who launched it.
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Missile had turned 180 degrees before landing
24 August. Renat Karchaa,
a nuclear expert,
Expertise
Appealing to expertise, which is close to authority, but is not connected with the hierarchy. The use of experts is giving a sense of plurality of views, which is actually false and points to the same narrative/message.
see more explained that the missile Tochka U came from the direction Ukrainian soldiers were firing, then turned 180 degrees and landed. This piece of evidence more than clearly proves that the Russians could not have fired the fatal missile.
Missile seen turn 180 degrees before hit ZNPP
24 August.
46-year-old anonymous eyewitness
Testimony
Referring to quotes (the use of different sources, i.e. from authorities to common man) to support or reject the message.
see more from the area near ZNPP, says that he saw the missile fired by the Ukrainians. "I saw a large flaming body approach the power units and turn 180 degrees.”
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chapter II
DISTORTION
propaganda to people
Recovering from huge trauma
25 August. Residents of the Zaporizhzhia region are still reeling from the stress of the nuclear power plant explosion. Thousands were evacuated to nearby regions liberated
by the Russian army. Many of them do not know when they will return to their native homes.
Vladimir Potochenko
The Common Man
Voicing opinions of ordinary people (like most of the TV viewers themselves), thus providing a sense of knowing how things actually are in the reality and how and average person feels about it.
see morefrom Dnipnorudne talks about the fear of the explosion. "For a moment, I thought that they were shelling me and my family. My three-year-old daughter was sleeping next room. I was scared. Last month, the Ukrainian army had fired at my city, I thought the horror was repeating itself."
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While Ukrainians attack, Russia save lives
25 August. “My family house was hit by Tochka U missile. There were no doubts that it was launched by the Ukrainian army.”, shares
Anna Markowska
The Common Man
Voicing opinions of ordinary people (like most of the TV viewers themselves), thus providing a sense of knowing how things actually are in the reality and how and average person feels about it.
see morewith RIA Novosti. “We see that it was not enough for the Ukrainian drug addict leaders and they had to destroy something bigger, putting in danger the life of thousands. I am grateful to Russia that came and save me and my family. Thank you Russia for the support!”
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Russian aid gives hope
25 August. .
Russian community
Role model
Providing a role model on how to behave in a situation. The role model’s behaviour is being legitimised by a variety of sources.
see morein Zaporizhzhia is collecting donations for those in need. After the explosion at ZNPP hundreds of thousands of people remained without home, searching for shelter. Ukrainian authorities leave poor people sleep on the floor of hospitals.
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Ukrainian regime in panic
25 August. The conclusion of nuclear expert Renat Karchaa is that the fatal shot was fired by the Ukrainians. This shows the unusual trajectory of the Ukrainian missile Tochka-U. It is well-known that the Russian army does not have anymore any Tochka-U missile.
According to other experts,
Pseudo-plurality
Variety of presented opinions have been selective or insufficient. Sense of plurality is constructed according to the dominating message. This technique is mainly used to criticize Ukraine and the democratic West.
see more the goal of the Ukrainians was precisely to damage the auxiliary buildings. It is believed that the Ukrainians aimed precisely at nuclear attack.
Shooting at explosive objects is not the first for Ukraine
25 August. If the investigation concludes that the fatal shoot at ZNPP was done by the Ukrainian military, it is likely that Ukraine will fight back to the last.
Kyiv already has experience of this kind.
Placement
Presence of the issue in the agenda and the placement of an issue in a news program. The importance of the issue/event can be highlighted or toned down depending on the chosen length of the report and the style (for example, the voice of the reporter). Reporting on downing of the MH-17 is an explicit example.
see more 8 years ago, Ukrainian armed forces mistakenly shelled at an old mine next to Dnipnorudne. 23 innocent citizens died in the incident.
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Shelling led to a disaster
25 August. Nuclear reactor meltdown led to a powerful explosion. On Monday the two operating reactors were cut off the grid and their emergency protection systems were triggered. Continuing shelling by the Ukrainian armed forces led to damages in the power units which led to the fatal failure of the cooling system.
Russian Armed Forces were also shelling. The holes in the auxiliary building come from the direction on the Russian base. Damages to the auxiliary buildings most probably are done by Russian strikes.
Silence
Avoidance of presenting contesting arguments. The issue is reported with an important aspect missing from the report. This technique has been explicitly used in order to avoid linking the issue of economic counter-sanctions with the situation in Ukraine.
see more
Ukrainian Nazism
Comparing differences or similarities
Selective comparison aimed at constructing the necessary narrative, e.g. the Right Sector in Ukraine being almost the same or very similar to the Nazi.
see more is an explosive mixture of paganism and Satanism
25 August. It is hard to conceive how it is possible for Nazism at its worst to thrive in the middle of Europe in the 21st century. Fanatical suppression and persecution of the Russian language is simply abrutal measure and directed against the cultural perspective of Ukraine itself. The entire south-eastern region, are forcibly squeezed into the current Ukrainian state and its policy of eagerly desired entry into NATO.
It began, of course, back in the 80s, when the USSR collapsed and Ukraine gained independence. The new state urgently needed a certain national idea. It was necessary to somehow explain why yesterday's seemingly ideological communists have now become national leaders. In the Ukrainian version, the idea sounded extremely simple: we are not Russia. On all the positions or barracks recaptured from the Ukrainian army, there is one picture: swastikas, runes, German posters from the Great Patriotic War, Nazi banners.
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The fake parade continues
25 August.
All Ukrainian media
Unification
Uniting issues or processes that support the leading message. This technique is most often used together with the Labelling technique.
see more present the same point of view, and that is that Russia is to blame for the tragedy in Zaporizhzhia. The news in the neighbouring country does not show any objectivity and does everything in its power to blame an innocent country.
Ukrainian terrorists put in danger millions
25 August. This is not the first time that Ukraine has shelled the nuclear powerplant.
Ukrainian neo-Nazis from the Azov regiment
In-out grouping
The use of a person or institution, which has high level of trust and popularity (President Putin). The use of other authorities (ministers or subject state institutions) depend on hierarchy and the need to reinforce the original message.
see more are very nervous, given the absolutely insane policy of shelling, provocations and terrorist acts that are carried out in relation to the inhabitants of the liberated and denazified regions. Kyiv carries out terrorist attacks almost every day.
Ukrainian army is
an army of terrorists
Labelling
Specific linguistic naming of issues or groups aimed at constructing the needed context. Explicit examples – labelling terrorist groupings as separatist forces and representatives of the de-facto Crimea administration as the Government of Crimea.
see more25 August. It important to note that the status of Azovfighters and the Armed Forces of Ukraine is the same as terrorists. These areterrorists of the Armed Forces of Ukraine paid by the government. All of themare war criminals, both artillerymen and rocket men who shell nuclear powerplant and peaceful cities, knowing where their rockets and shells are flying, are war criminals.
Shelling by Ukrainians troops. Two civilians wounded.
25 August. Russian authorities are claiming that Ukrainians are intensively shelling the coastline of the city of Dnipnorudne. In March two civilians in Gorlovka in the Donetsk People's Republic were injured after shelling by Ukrainian troops.
Ukrainian terrorism should be stopped. It is not about occupation of Ukraine. It is about liberation of criminality.
Repetition
Message is repeated many times within a news program in either one news story or different news stories, or even repeated on other days (possibly during the course of several days). Explicit example – report on the loss of trust in Ukrainian armed forces.
see moreUkrainians shelled three buildings and high school in Vasylivka
25 August. Three buildings and a high school were damaged inthe city of Vasylivka in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast as a result of shelling by Ukrainian troops.
Ukrainian terrorism should be stopped. It is not about occupation of Ukraine. It is about liberation of criminality.
Repetition
Message is repeated many times within a news program in either one news story or different news stories, or even repeated on other days (possibly during the course of several days). Explicit example – report on the loss of trust in Ukrainian armed forces.
see moreZNPP is fully under
Russian protection
The least of possible evils
Perhaps the presented solution is not good enough, but it is the best in the respective moment.
see more25 August. Since March ZNPP has been under the protection of the Russian military. The Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized that this step was justified in order to avoid leakage of nuclear and radioactive materials. The Ukrainian military continues to regularly shell Enerhodar and the territory of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
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chapter III
VICTORY
people to political goals
Zaporizhzhia should join the Russian Federation
Hypothetical future
A guideline (what Russia as a key player should achieve) or a threat (what Russia should avoid at any cost). The possibility to influence the future is a different question, but Russia is portrayed as doing everything to shape the future in the “right direction”.
see more26 August. “None of this terrible events would have happened if Zaporizhzhia was under the leadership of Russia. There can be only one future for the Zaporizhzhia region – it should become a full-fledged subject of the Russian Federation. We don't need another terrorist attacks, we don't need other nuclear explosions. We want to be part of Russia”, told Vladimir Rogov, member of the main council of the administration of the Zaporizhzhia region. Residents of the territories of the Zaporizhzhia region controlled by Kiev want the region to become part of Russia, but Ukraine has intimidated them, so they are afraid to talk about it openly.
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Ukraine offers shelter to refugees from Zaporizhzhia
26 August. "The Ukrainian side has promised shelter to anyone fleeing Zaporizhzhia but there are many restrictions. People are accommodated in small groups. It is not clear to us on what criteria shelter is given," said Rogov.
At the same time, according to him, the
At the same time, according to him, the
shelter was always offered by the Russian side.
Repetition
Message is repeated many times within a news program in either one news story or different news stories, or even repeated on other days (possibly during the course of several days). Explicit example – report on the loss of trust in Ukrainian armed forces.
see more "On our side, there are no restrictions on the accommodation of refugees," explained Rogov.
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People leave Zaporizhzhia to move to the liberated territory
26 August. People are doing anything to move to the liberated territory. They are ready to pay any money in order to get to Melitopol, Berdyansk , Enerhodar. I'm talking about residents of the regional centre of Zaporizhzhia, which is temporarily under the control of Zelensky's gang ofdrug addicts and Nazis.
"More than half
Statistics
Flow of numbers and figures (with and without referencing the source) is used to legitimise an issue or a point of view.
see more of the population feels like prisoner under Ukrainian rulership but they are afraid to talk because the Kiev’s Nazi government threatens their life.”
Ukrainians want to join the Russian Federation
26 August. There are
hundreds of thousands
Statistics
Flow of numbers and figures (with and without referencing the source) is used to legitimise an issue or a point of view.
see more of people moving to the liberated territory in Luhansk to seek shelter. This is indicated by the words of eyewitnesses on the streets.
Future as part of Russia
26 August. "Residents of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions see their future with Russia, and we can talk about it with confidence," said Viktor Poturemsky, director of political analysis at the Institute for Social Marketing. Earlier it was reported that, according to the survey, in the Zaporizhzhia region, 71% of respondents were in favour of their territory becoming part of Russia, and in the Kherson region - 63% of respondents.
Statistics
Flow of numbers and figures (with and without referencing the source) is used to legitimise an issue or a point of view.
see more
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Ukrainians want to join the Russian Federation
26 August. There are
hundreds of thousands
Statistics
Flow of numbers and figures (with and without referencing the source) is used to legitimise an issue or a point of view.
see more of people moving to the liberated territory in Luhansk to seek shelter. This is indicated by the words of eyewitnesses on the streets.
Ukrainian hostility must end
26 August. Russia has the historic responsibility not to leave the Ukrainian question unresolved. After all, the immediate need to solve it would always remain the main problem for Russia because of the issue of national security, that is, the creation of hostility towards the Russian Federation from Ukraine. The first would always be the complex of a divided people, the complex of national humiliation – when the Russian house first lost part of its foundation, and then was forced to come to terms with the existence of two states, not one, but two peoples. That is, either to abandon their history, agreeing with the insane versions that “only Ukraine is the real Russia,” or to gnash one’s teeth helplessly, remembering the times when “we lost Ukraine.”
Returning Ukraine, that is, turning it back to Russia. Ukraine has to return to Russia.
Simplification
Flow of numbers and figures (with and without referencing the source) is used to legitimise an issue or a point of view.
see moreNew
hashtag
The other screen
Promotion of hashtags, social networks, accounts to follow. Discreditation of some accounts/users.
see moregain popularity
26 August. Social media campaign in support of the actions from the Russian Federation regarding the Ukrainian question. The new hashtag "Russia is one whole" conquered social media platforms.
At the same time, according to him, the
At the same time, according to him, the
Russia and the new world
A new world is being born in front of our eyes. Russia's military operation in Ukraine has started a new era - and in three dimensions at once. And, of course, in a fourth, internal Russian dimension. A new period is starting here, both in ideology and in the very model of our socio-economic system - but this is worth talking about separately a little later. Vladimir Putin took upon himself - without any exaggeration- a historical responsibility, deciding not to leave the resolution of the Ukrainian question to future generations.
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