#StopFake: What Russian Propaganda Is Made Of, and How Teens Can Verify Information Online
The information component of hybrid warfare.
Hybrid war. That's exactly what people call the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine that began in 2014. But not everyone understands what this term means. War is often seen only as clashes at the front, though it's actually also waged through nonmilitary methods — economic, diplomatic, and informational.
The information component is one of the most dangerous fronts of hybrid warfare. It's the hardest to counter, and it's exactly through this channel that Russia can achieve its desired results without direct combat. Since 2014, and more intensively since 2022, propaganda fakes have flooded the Ukrainian media space.
So what is Russian propaganda made of, how can it be countered, and how can you tell when you're being manipulated? The DeTalks team tried to find out.
The Problem in Numbers: How Widespread Are Fakes
Ukrainians have become more sensitive to disinformation compared to the pre-war period. That's according to research from Detector Media, published in May 2025.
In 2021, 'only 55% of Ukrainians had a high or above-average sensitivity to disinformation [...],' but by 2024, that figure had grown to 68%. At the same time, 60% of respondents consider the problem of media manipulation to be a pressing issue, and 16% are confident they can recognize fake content.
According to another study from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, 71% of Ukrainians consider the spread of Russian propaganda and disinformation on social media a serious threat to the country's security. Of them, 33% call it one of the biggest threats, while another 38% acknowledge the problem but don't see it as critical.
How Russian Propaganda Works
The authors of the analytical guide 'Russia's Hybrid War Against Ukraine' note that Russian propaganda began taking its current shape after the events of the 2004 'Orange Revolution.' At the time, according to experts, 'the Kremlin mobilized every propaganda tool [...] against the entire state.'
After 2022, the team at the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security identifies the following traits of Russia's information-psychological operations.
High Volume and Multiple Channels
People tend to believe what they hear most often — even if it isn't true. The Kremlin exploits this psychological quirk to build a propaganda network across TV channels, news agencies, online outlets, social media, and 'bot farms'. The more media outlets broadcast the same thing, the truer it seems.
One of the most powerful tools of Russian information-psychological operations, for instance, is the TV channel RT, which broadcasts in several languages at once and has over a billion views online. In Ukraine, meanwhile, the Security Service regularly neutralizes 'bot farms.' In June 2024, for example, the Service exposed two 'bot farms' that were helping Russians hack Ukrainian servicemembers' phones, and in February 2022, it shut down a network of 7,000 accounts spreading Russian propaganda.
Speed, Continuity, and Repetition
Russian news agencies and TV channels often cover events first — not because they work faster, but because they're operating from pre-prepared scripts. People tend to trust information they hear first, so even after corrections appear, most people stick to their original view. In psychology, this is called 'confirmation bias.'
One example of this in action is the myth that 'Ukraine's Armed Forces spent eight years bombing Donbas and killing children.' This narrative was repeated constantly across various platforms, so today, 89% of Russians are convinced that the goal of the 'special military operation' is to protect Donbas civilians, prevent an attack on Russia, and 'denazify' Ukraine.
Detachment From Objective Reality
Russian propaganda doesn't stop at distorting facts — sometimes it simply invents news outright, citing 'reliable sources.' That's how stories emerge about 'combat drugs used by Ukrainian soldiers,' 'satanist units fighting against Russia,' and 'Ukrainian bio-labs'. Fakes like this also include the false claim about the Orthodox Church of Ukraine canonizing Stepan Bandera.
Lack of Consistency
One of the most paradoxical traits of Russian propaganda is its inconsistency. Even a single source may change its version of events multiple times. Meanwhile, the consumer picks whichever version suits them best, and believes exactly that one.
For instance, after the failed attempt to 'take Kyiv in three days,' the Kremlin claimed it never had such a plan in the first place, and after the explosion at a Russian ammunition depot in Nova Kakhovka, propagandists immediately offered several versions — from a Ukrainian missile strike to 'equipment malfunction' and even 'sabotage by local residents.'
Narrative-Building
Russian propaganda can be inconsistent in its details, but its overall narratives stay the same. Even when individual pieces of a story contradict each other, propagandists keep repeating the same underlying narrative.
Among the most common Russian narratives: 'Nazis (Banderites) live in Ukraine and must be destroyed,' 'the Ukrainian population is waiting for Russian troops to 'liberate' their brother nation,' 'Ukrainian soldiers are fascists terrorizing the population of Donbas,' and so on.
How to Spot a Fake: A Guide for Young People
Teenagers are one of Russian propaganda's targets. Young people tend to consume content quickly, rarely check sources, and react emotionally more often than rationally. Meme culture, TikTok, and Reels build a habit of trusting short bits of information without critical reflection. That's exactly why fakes with 'shocking headlines' or viral videos spread quickly among young people.
According to a 2024 study by Detector Media, most Ukrainians pay attention to certain signs of manipulation. 47% suspect deception when only one side of an event is shown, 43% when information seems incomplete, and 39% check whether sources are cited. At the same time, 22% of respondents rely on intuition. This means even adults don't always tell truth from lies, so teenagers should be especially careful before sharing anything.
To avoid falling victim to disinformation, experts at 'Ty v Ukraini' ('You're in Ukraine') recommend a few rules. For instance, ask yourself: 'Where does this information come from?', 'Who's the author?', and 'Why did it appear right now?' Next, watch for typical signs of fakes.
- Emotional framing — if a headline seems designed to 'shock' or 'stun' the reader, that's a reason to check the facts.
- No sources — reliable media always cite where their information comes from. After reading a 'sensational' story, it's worth checking official government pages or fact-checking resources to confirm or debunk it.
- A suspicious account — anonymous pages with no posting history often spread fakes.
- One-sided coverage — if only one version of events is shown, it's worth finding other sources.
If there's doubt about a photo or video, a reverse image search on Google can help check whether an old photo is being used in a new context. It's also worth looking for important information on official resources and trusted media outlets. The Security Service earlier released a list of Telegram channels spreading Russian propaganda.
What to Do If You Come Across a Fake
Experts identify several steps in fighting Russian disinformation: identifying it, developing countermeasures, preventing its spread, and evaluating how effective those measures were. That sounds complicated, but in reality, everyone can play a part.
The main rule for an ordinary user is: don't share questionable content. If a fake shows up in your feed, it's better to stop and not repost it, even just to 'show how ridiculous it is.' Instead, you can pass the suspicious material along to fact-checking teams — StopFake, 'Po Toi Bik Novyn', Detector Media, or the Center for Countering Disinformation. They'll verify the information and, if needed, publish a correction — one you can safely share.
Russian propaganda won't disappear entirely from the Ukrainian information space during the war. But fakes only survive as long as people believe them. And while it's hard to think critically in a constant stream of news, that's exactly the approach that keeps you from falling for Russian disinformation.