Fake ‘fact-checks’ seek to obscure Russian role in war

This illustration photo taken on Feb 14, 2023 shows a phone screen displaying a picture of rescuers working on a residential building destroyed after a missile strike, in Dnipro on January 16, 2023, with the WarOnFakes.com website displaying a fake video of the same residential building shown in the background. Pro-Russian propagandists offered a slick counter narrative that shifted the blame away from Moscow — using pseudo fact-checking as a tool of disinformation. — AFP

WASHINGTON: A Russian missile smashed a Ukrainian apartment complex, killing dozens. Pro-Russian propagandists offered a slick counter-narrative that shifted the blame away from Moscow – using pseudo fact-checking as a tool of disinformation.

Since the start of its invasion one year ago, Russia and its supporters have sought to aggressively distort Moscow’s role in Ukraine with what experts call a highly potent weapon in its arsenal – disinformation campaigns.