SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre

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Center for Strategic Communications - SPRAVDI.

[SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre @StratcomCentre]

The Putin regime now floats a new narrative as to why they invaded Ukraine.

"By launching the 'special military operation', the Russian Federation pre-empted a planned invasion of Russian territory by the Armed Forces of Ukraine by two weeks." - claims Putin's adviser Kobyakov.

According to the Kremlin, the Ukrainian military had planned to launch an invasion on March 8, 2022.

[SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre @StratcomCentre]

For the third time in two weeks, Russia has targeted a border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova.

Overnight, Russian Shahed drones hit the Vynohradivka–Vulcănești crossing, damaging infrastructure and forcing its closure.

This is becoming a clear pattern. Russia is deliberately targeting civilian transport links between Ukraine and Moldova, attempting to disrupt connectivity and destabilize the region.

Ukraine's border guards and customs officers continue working under direct threat. They deserve the solidarity and support of their counterparts across Europe.

[SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre @StratcomCentre]

🚫 Russian Lie: “Zelenskyy himself is to blame for the destruction of Ukrainian logistics, as the Russian attacks were a response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory.”

This claim is being spread by RT, citing "Irish journalist" Chay Bowes (working for the Russian government), who stated that Zelensky allegedly "opened this front."

✅ Reality: Russian propaganda is once again attempting to shift the blame for Russian attacks on Ukraine onto Ukraine itself.

Bowes is far from an independent observer, as it may seem from the article. He works as a correspondent for the Russian state-owned media outlet RT – that is how the channel itself presented him.

In June 2023, Bowes also spoke at a UN Security Council meeting, convened at the request of Russia, where he promoted the idea of a "proxy war" by the West and criticized the supply of weapons to Ukraine. His participation in the meeting is confirmed by UN documents.

In other words, RT is essentially quoting its own correspondent as an "Irish journalist," creating the impression that this is an independent assessment from abroad.

Bowes' claim itself is manipulative. It was Russia that launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and now its attacks are being presented as a "response" for which the Ukrainian side is supposedly responsible.

[SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre @StratcomCentre]

Russia, which was once the "gas station to the world," is now importing fuel to survive.

Facing a devastating fuel crisis, the Russians have imported over 1 million barrels of gasoline by sea since late July to ease domestic shortages. Here are the five confirmed tanker shipments (data: S&P Global Commodities at Sea):

Tanker Garnet – 356,000 barrels from India (via Egypt) → Vitino

Tanker Sino Faith – 300,000 barrels from Morocco → Arctic Russia

Tanker Beast – 325,000 barrels from India (via Egypt) → Arctic Russia

Tanker Talisman – 325,000 barrels from India (via Egypt) → Arctic Russia

Tanker Wendrix – 200,000 barrels from Turkey (Mersin) → Primorsk

The Wendrix shipment is the first ever from Turkey. The vessel is under EU/UK/Ukrainian/Swiss sanctions and is part of the shadow fleet. Three cargoes originated at India’s Vadinar refinery and were transferred ship-to-ship near Egypt.

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський @ZelenskyyUa]

Thank you, @bundeskanzler, and all of Germany for your leadership in supporting Ukraine’s defense and independence. Countless lives have been saved thanks to German aid, both through bilateral assistance and by rallying the world behind Ukraine.

Героям Слава!

[SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre @StratcomCentre]

Russian oil refineries just can't catch a break, with yet another targeted by Ukrainian drones overnight. This time, it was the Afipsky plant in the Krasnodar region.

A hit on the facility was confirmed by the region's governor, Veniamin Kondratiev. A fire broke out on the territory of the oil refinery after the attack.

There were also reports of explosions in the Rostov region, near the Novoshakhtinsk oil products plant, which may also have been targeted.

[SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre @StratcomCentre]

NATO member Turkey reportedly now doing more to aid the Russian war machine.

[SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre @StratcomCentre]

Cities all over the world illuminated in the colors of Ukraine tonight.

[SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre @StratcomCentre]

In Kyiv today, a demonstration of some of the variety of robotic models Ukrainian Forces are utilizing at the front.

Ukraine is increasingly replacing manpower with machines, deploying drones and unmanned systems across the battlefield at enormous scale.

Russia, meanwhile, continues to pay for its war in human lives.

In that sense, today's parade was more than a spectacle. It was a glimpse of how Ukraine intends to fight the war of the future.

[SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre @StratcomCentre]

YouTube has blocked three official channels of the Russian animated series Masha and the Bear in Ukraine.

Access has been restricted to its Russian, Ukrainian and English-language channels.

[SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre @StratcomCentre]

The popular Russian children's cartoon "Masha and Bear" has now permeated western audiences, smuggling Kremlin narratives into homes globally, even now available on @netflix.

On August 20th, Ukraine imposed sanctions against Russian citizens and organizations associated with the creation and distribution of the animated series.

The sanctions target five Russian citizens and four organizations. According to the President's Office, the animated series uses children's content to spread pro-Russian narratives that pose a threat to Ukraine's national security.

The sanctions include the studio "Animaccord," which created the animated series, its founder and general director, the screenwriter, director, and producer, as well as a co-author of the series who pays taxes to the Russian budget, and the owner of the rights to the cartoon.

- As early as 2017, the State Film Agency commission considered a request to ban the animated series due to the presence of Russian propaganda narratives within it.

- Specifically, in one episode, the main character appears wearing a hat of the NKVD – a Soviet security agency that, among other things, suppressed liberation movements.

[SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre @StratcomCentre]

A small but touching moment from Ukraine's Independence Day ceremony.

After receiving the Gold Star from President Zelenskyy, veteran and police captain Serhiy Panfilov, a fighter with the Luhansk Assault Regiment of the National Police's Liut Brigade, had one request: a selfie with the President.

There was just one problem. He didn't have his phone.

A phone was quickly found, Zelenskyy took the picture, and the Hero got his selfie.

[SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre @StratcomCentre]

UK's Prime Minister Andy Burnham announces that their support will go beyond strengthening Ukraine's air defenses. Britain will back Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities to target Russia's missile-launch infrastructure before attacks can begin.

London will also tighten sanctions aimed at disrupting Russia's military supply chains, while expanding defense technology and industrial cooperation with Ukraine.

The objective is no longer simply to intercept Russia's missiles in the sky, but to prevent them from getting into the sky in the first place.

[SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre @StratcomCentre]

The European Commission has approved an additional €6.1 billion for defense procurement for Ukraine.

The funds will be used to provide Ukraine with what it needs most to defend itself against Russian attacks: air and missile defense systems, missiles, ammunition, and radar stations.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, emphasized that the decision was made on Ukraine's Independence Day.

"Europe is demonstrating that our support is unwavering and concrete. Today, we approved €6.1 billion for air and missile defense systems, missiles, ammunition, and radar stations that Ukraine urgently needs".

According to von der Leyen, in the face of intensified Russian attacks, Europe is increasing its efforts to help Ukraine protect its people and its airspace.

The new procurement will supplement the already approved plans for €16 billion. Of this amount, €8.35 billion has already been allocated to Ukraine as part of the defense component of the support package worth €90 billion. Most of the weapons will be purchased from European defense companies.

[SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre @StratcomCentre]

The United Kingdom to allow the declassification of data on Storm Shadow missile components for Ukraine

In London, an agreement has been reached to allow the European defense company MBDA to disclose classified information about British components of the missile, so that French and Ukrainian specialists can establish the production and assembly of weapons directly in Ukraine, according to a press release from the British government.

The United Kingdom was the first to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles in 2023 to protect against Russian aggression.

This British decision is expected to contribute to the development of Ukraine's missile production and strengthen the country's defense capabilities.

It is expected that the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Andy Burnham, will officially announce this decision during his visit to Ukraine on August 24th.

[SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre @StratcomCentre]

Russian propaganda outlets are actively promoting the narrative of a supposed rift between Western countries and a growing weariness in Europe regarding support for Ukraine. Between August 21st and 23rd, the Center for Strategic Communications recorded 1,288 such materials, representing 6.7% of the entire FIMI dataset.

🔹 To create the desired picture, propaganda combined a number of events with different meanings: statements by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk regarding the investigation into the sabotage of the "Nord Stream" pipelines, the arrest of a Ukrainian citizen in Croatia under a European warrant, changes in Denmark's rules for providing temporary protection to some Ukrainians, and a discussion among six EU countries regarding a tax on the excess profits of oil companies.

🔹 A key manipulation tactic is to take statements out of context and invert the role of the aggressor. For example, propaganda distorts Tusk's position on Europe's energy dependence on Russia, presenting it as if the Polish Prime Minister is supporting "terrorism."

At the same time, Moscow is trying to portray itself as a defender of European infrastructure, even though Russia is systematically attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Similarly, certain decisions regarding Denmark's migration policy are presented as evidence that "Europe is turning its back on Ukrainians." Internal European discussions about taxation, migration, and criminal investigations are artificially combined into a single narrative about the inevitable disintegration of Western unity.

🔹 The main targets of the campaign are audiences in Germany, France, Poland, and the Scandinavian countries, as well as Ukrainian refugees in the EU. The goal is clear: to create a sense that the West is divided and that support for Ukraine is weakening, thereby undermining the willingness of partners to help Ukraine.

[SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre @StratcomCentre]

A new Russian disinformation campaign is currently being proliferated across the X platform, falsely alleging that Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies, NABU and SAPO, uncovered the theft of $3 billion in World Bank funding through a company founded by Olena Shuliak, former head of the Servant of the People party.

No such investigation or finding has been announced by NABU or SAPO.

[SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre @StratcomCentre]

Today, we mark 35 years of Ukrainian independence.

On 24 August 1991, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the Declaration of Independence. On 1 December, more than 90% of our citizens confirmed that decision. Ukraine chose its own future.

That choice rests on more than a millennium of Ukrainian statehood, reaching back to medieval Rus with its capital in Kyiv. It is a choice for freedom, democracy and our place in Europe.

For 13 years, we have marked Independence Day while resisting Russian aggression, and for five consecutive years under martial law. This war is a war for our independence. Russia seeks to destroy our statehood and impose the totalitarian rule it knows so well. It will not succeed.

Ukrainians have proven that we are prepared to defend our independence with everything we have. We honor those who gave their lives for it and those who defend it today.

Our goal is clear: freedom, sovereignty and the restoration of our constitutional order across the entirety of Ukraine’s territory.

We made our choice. We will defend it.

Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇦

[SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre @StratcomCentre]

Representatives from Ukraine's allies continue arriving in Kyiv for Independence Day commemorations.

[Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 @andrii_sybiha]

This morning at the Kyiv Railway Station, we were pleased to greet our allies who are joining us to celebrate 35 years since Ukraine restored independence.

Welcome to Kyiv, 🇪🇺@eucopresident, 🇬🇧@andyburnham, 🇱🇺@LucFrieden, 🇲🇩@sandumaiamd, 🇪🇪@AlarKaris!

For Ukraine, independence is not an abstract idea. We defended it against all odds. In times like these, nations learn how important it is to have allies by your side.

And today, we know for sure who our true friends are. We are deeply grateful to all our partners who have stood with Ukraine, strengthened our ability to defend ourselves, and helped us preserve the freedom we fought so hard to regain.

Your support is part of Ukraine’s strength.

[SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre @StratcomCentre]

Soon to be a major problem for the Russian banking sector, the second largest logistics company in the country will soon cease to exist.

Similar to Wildberries, Ozon owes around $20 billion in outstanding debt to the largest banks in Russia. Not only will none of this be repaid, but a major stream of badly needed tax revenue will no longer flow into the Kremlin's war machine.

Another Ozon facility destroyed this morning in Tyube, Dagestan region.

[SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre @StratcomCentre]

Ukraine and Norway have deepened their defense partnership with two new agreements signed by President Zelensky and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

The package includes a major agreement on drone cooperation and the “Elisiv Agreement,” a strategic partnership named after Yaroslav the Wise’s daughter, who became Queen of Norway.

The partnership establishes long-term cooperation spanning defense, energy and other key sectors. Norway also plans to provide Ukraine with approximately $9 billion in support in 2027.