“Journalists exposed the Kremlin’s disinformation agency aimed at discrediting Ukraine September 17, 02:19 Share: FSB (Photo: FSB via Facebook) The investigation showed that the Russian Agency for Social Design (ASD), which officially claims media support, is actually engaged in spreading disinformation from with the aim of undermining Ukraine’s image and promoting Russian interests. These data were obtained during an investigation conducted by the German media Sueddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR”, — write on: ua.news
FSB (Photo: FSB via Facebook)
The investigation showed that the Russian Agency for Social Design (ASD), which officially claims media support, is actually engaged in spreading disinformation with the aim of undermining the image of Ukraine and promoting Russian interests.
These data were obtained during an investigation conducted by the German media Sueddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR, as well as the Ukrainian Scheme project by Radio Liberty.
The documents show that ASD analysts are actively studying the Ukrainian information space, singling out important topics for manipulation, such as mobilization, losses at the front, restrictions on freedom of speech during martial law, reductions in military aid, corruption and the course of the counteroffensive. The organization is headed by Russian political technologist Ilya Gambashidze.
Among the topics undermining the unity of society are the complex relations of President Volodymyr Zelenskyi with former President Petro Poroshenko, Mayor of Kyiv Vitaliy Klitschko, and ex-Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Valery Zaluzhny.
One of the examples of disinformation is the falsification of a document of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, which allegedly forbids confirming the presence of prisoners of war on board the Il-76, which crashed in the Belgorod region of Russia in January 2024. The purpose of this hoax is to accuse the Ukrainian authorities of concealing information.
The “registry of fakes” also mentions a false order on behalf of the commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky, which equates surrender to high treason. This fake was created to discredit the Ukrainian leadership and demoralize the army.
According to the leak, ASD specialists also supported the launch and promotion of the pro-Russian movement “Another Ukraine” by Viktor Medvedchuk, accused of treason. Medvedchuk is positioned as a supporter of peace talks who opposes the nuclear threat and “the use of Ukraine as a training ground for Western weapons.”
ASD also actively uses bots to leave comments under the posts of Ukrainian state bodies and media. According to the Statistics of the work of Center C, from January to April 2024, about 34 million comments were published.
In addition, ASD creates fake video stories stylized as materials of Western media, as well as memes, including one with the image of Volodymyr Zelensky, which was shared by Elon Musk on the X social network.
ASD also tried to influence the June 2024 European Parliament elections by supporting right-wing parties that promote pro-Russian narratives.