The Kremlin systematically spreads disinformation to build a pretext for war crimes committed during its invasion of Ukraine, according to a new report by the international NGO Global Rights Compliance. The 161-page document outlines how Russian political leaders, propagandists, and aligned influencers construct an "information alibi"—a deliberate strategy of disseminating false narratives ahead of attacks to deny responsibility and shift blame.
At the core of this tactic, the report states, is a coordinated effort by high-ranking officials including President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Kremlin aides Sergei Kiriyenko, Alexei Gromov, and Sofia Zakharova. These state actors work in tandem with non-state organizations such as the pro-Kremlin NGO “Dialog” and a vast network of social media influencers, particularly Telegram-based “Z-bloggers” and so-called “war correspondents” (voenkory), who reach millions.
One of the report’s most damning examples is the March 9, 2022 airstrike on Maternity Hospital No. 3 in Mariupol. Days before the bombing, Russian officials claimed the hospital was being used by Ukrainian forces. Just hours before the strike, Russia’s UN envoy Vasily Nebenzya and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova both reiterated the false claim. After the attack, Moscow described it as a Ukrainian “provocation” designed to manipulate public opinion and discredit Russia.
The same pattern was observed ahead of the March 16, 2022 bombing of the Mariupol Drama Theater, where the word “CHILDREN” had been visibly marked on the ground outside. Despite this, Russian officials and pro-war bloggers portrayed the attack as a staged incident intended to draw NATO into the conflict.
The report stresses that these disinformation strategies were being developed long before the full-scale invasion. According to Global Rights Compliance president Wayne Jordash, it is critical to distinguish between freedom of speech and active complicity in war crimes:
“Russian propagandists often cross that line, contributing directly to the planning, execution, and concealment of international crimes.”
Legal advisor Anastasia Vorobieva called the report “a crucial roadmap” for holding accountable those who create and distribute false narratives that enable crimes of aggression. She urged the international community to support efforts to counter state-organized disinformation and ensure justice for war crimes committed against the Ukrainian people.
Highlights
- New 161-page report exposes Russian calculated disinformation campaign to obscure accountability for war crimes and mislead domestic and international audiences
- Report is the first to analyse Russia’s unprecedented use of “information alibis” to distort narratives and deflect responsibility
- Disinformation campaign driven by senior Russian political figures, including President Putin and the Foreign Minister Lavrov
- High ranking government and military officials, government-affiliated NGOs, and diplomats also identified as key drivers
- In some cases, information alibis were planted up to a year before attacks took place
- More than 100,000 social media pages and vast network of popular Telegram channels used to spread false narratives about Ukraine
- Popular TV hosts reportedly received instructions on manipulating Ukraine war coverage directly from Putin
- Deadly link between information alibis and high civilian casualties
- Report offers roadmap to prosecute senior Russian officials and propagandists responsible for war crime cover-ups
- Report comes as Russia surpasses grim milestone of over 183,000 documented war crimes since its 2022 invasion
