The supply of weapons from partners is gaining momentum and is changing the situation at the front in favor of Ukraine. That is why stopping these supplies is the task number 1 for Russia. Since April, they have been trying to undermine the political readiness of partners to supply weapons.
Russia makes the maximum bet on this - somewhere with its own hands and bot networks, through paid or affiliated media, through filigree penetrations into authoritative foreign media, somewhere just helpful idiots actions.
Manipulations are primitive, but dangerous: as if weapons "disappear" or can fall into the "wrong hands", "fuel the conflict instead of settlement", well, in general, "the Russians, of course, are bad, but the Ukrainians are not angels", etc.
Ukraine shot down the first wave of such lies back in May-June. Now the Russians are entering the second round. I don't know if the manipulative Amnesty report and the lying CBS film that came out almost simultaneously have anything to do with the Russian government. But I know for sure that both organizations and the authors of these unproven "masterpieces" inflicted an unfair and unprovoked informational attack on Ukraine absolutely synchronously with Russian propaganda.
In the wake of the scandal and under intense public pressure, Amnesty and CBS apologized. Unfortunately, the apology is no less weak than the reason for it.
Amnesty wrote a letter to journalists from the series "we are not changing our position, but we are sorry if we caused you suffering."
CBS admitted that they screwed things up, removed the film and promised to change it. But even in the apology they managed to create a fog about the supply of weapons.
We are absolutely not satisfied with such an apology. Besides, the damage has already been done. Who will be responsible for it?
We expect CBS to conduct an internal investigation and publicly clarify who allowed Russian propaganda on the air and for what purpose.
We expect from Amnesty that this institution will curb its pride and apologize not only for the pain caused to Ukrainians, but also for violating the truth and reality of this war.
But there is also good news. All these lies are not achieving their goals at the moment. No partner or organization in communication with Ukraine voiced objections similar to the manipulations of Amnesty or CBS. And this lie in no way affected the supply of weapons and did not undermine the high level of trust between Ukraine and its partners.
Partners know perfectly well where, how much has been transferred and how it is used. Fortunately, they don't get their information from Amnesty and CBS.
President Zelenskyi's team continues systematic work to counter Russian manipulations. But this is a battle that will never be won once and for all. The Russians get a pizza each, leave, and then start a new round.
Therefore, it is necessary to combine all efforts. I have three requests for you:
- Keep calm and keep order.
- We remind in social networks, in contacts with journalists and experts, with ordinary citizens of other countries, that Ukraine needs more weapons for victory.
- We do not spread lies about Ukraine, even if they are emotionally seductive, but we spread official information from the government of Ukraine and its partners.
Ukraine is under the crosshairs of many who do not wish our people victory. But we will continue to fight and win together.
