Anti-Russian propaganda bombards internet users
4 Min Read
Some of the circulating images on social media platforms are older footage that have been around for a long time.
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The media seem to overlook 20,000 members of extremists terrorizing Kiev's residents.
Like the falsified video game footage depicting a close battle between two fighter aircraft, saying the film showed the Ukrainian air force shooting down a Russian fighter jet, much of the circulating footage online regarding Ukraine and Russia is older footage being used to bombard users with anti-Russia propaganda.
The Ukrainian Defense ministry also posted the aforementioned clip with the false caption.
TikTok videos, propagandized headlines, and tweets pinging out across screens around the world are confounding millions about how this war is actually playing out on the ground and depicting Ukraine as the victim when in reality, it is responsible for the ongoing shelling of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics.
Russian Defense Ministry Spokesperson Major General Igor Konashenkov revealed Saturday that Ukrainian nationalist battalions are copying the tactics of international terrorists in Syria, and yet, the public outcry against Russian troops paints them as invaders, not defenders.
"Nationalist battalions are using so-called ‘Bandera cars’ which are cross-country vehicles with large-caliber firearms or mortars mounted on them. Let me remind you that this tactic is practiced by international terrorists in Syria," Konashenkov told reporters.
Armed groups estimated at 20,000 members of extremists are terrorizing Kiev's residents and engaging in killing and looting operations.
Simultaneously, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukrainian extremist national groups are bombing civilian targets while accusing the Russian forces of doing so.
John Silva, Senior Director of the News Literacy Project, an organization that attempts to combat misinformation, says when watching these videos, “We see a paratrooper, he’s speaking Russian, and so we don’t take the time to question it."
To make matters worse, important Russian websites, including the main sites of the Kremlin and military, were unreachable or slow to load following what appeared to be a cyberattack.
RT downloads banned in Ukraine
Google has prohibited downloads of Russian state-owned media outlet RT's mobile app across Ukrainian territory at the request of the Kiev government, RT said on Sunday.
Yesterday, Facebook curtailed Russian state media's ability to generate money on the social media network.
Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook's Security Policy Head, tweeted that the platform is now "prohibiting Russian state media from running ads or monetizing on our platform anywhere in the world."
Facebook parent company Meta said Friday it refused to comply with the Russian requirement to lift restrictions on the accounts of several Russian media outlets.
Meta had introduced restrictions on the accounts of several Russian media outlets, namely Zvezda, Lenta, Gazeta, and RIA Novosti.
Russia responded via its media watchdog that partially restricted access to Facebook all over the federation over its repeated censorship against Russian media and violating human rights.
Social media platforms have become one of the front lines in the crisis, providing often inaccurate information, as well as real-time monitoring of Ukraine's NATO allies moving closer to Russia's border.
The EU included the editor-in-chief of RT on a list of sanctions on Russian officials on Wednesday.
SpaceX's Starlink satellites now deployed across Ukraine
In the meantime, SpaceX's Starlink satellites are now deployed across Ukraine after a request from the Ukrainian Vice PM, promising more are yet to come, according to the company's billionaire CEO Elon Musk.
Mykhailo Fedorov, also Ukraine's Minister of Digital Transformation, tweeted Musk requesting that SpaceX switch on its Starlink broadband satellites to supplement the country's Internet services which have been allegedly disrupted during Russia's special military operation.
@elonmusk, while you try to colonize Mars — Russia try to occupy Ukraine! While your rockets successfully land from space — Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people! We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand.
— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) February 26, 2022
Within hours, his request was granted just like that. "Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route," Musk tweeted in reply.
Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 26, 2022
