As Ukrainian forces advanced in the Kursk region, conducting a “bold, brilliant” operation inside Russian territory, Kremlin propagandists and its influence agents all over the world bent over backwards to cover up the catastrophic failure of Russian intelligence and military command and undermine support for Ukraine.
In this review, we’ve tracked down the main narratives in recent pro-Russian articles aimed at manipulating public opinion in Europe concerning the ongoing Ukrainian military operation in the Kursk region.
Russian state propaganda media and pro-Russian news websites in Europe focused on downplaying the consequences of the Kursk operation for the Kremlin and blaming Ukraine and the West.
We discovered a diverse array of materials promoting these narratives, ranging from influence operations to blatant fake news devoid of any factual basis, such as claims of “the killing of four Ukrainian generals who planned the operation in the Kursk region,” “the destruction of NATO convoys in the Kursk region,” or allegations of Ukraine attacking nuclear power plants, including the ZNPP.
#1: Downplaying the scale of Ukrainian incursion, claiming operation is a failure, and accusing Ukrainian military of killing civilians
- Link: https://actualidad-rt.com/actualidad/518629-que-sabe-fallido-intento-incursion-tropas-kiev-provincia
Outline: “What is known about the attempted incursion of Kyiv troops into Russia? The Ukrainian attack failed, with heavy losses for them. However, as a result of this “barbaric” aggression, at least 4 civilians were killed and 66, including 9 children, were injured.”
“Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that “all these bloody crimes are taking place against a background of cynical silence on the part of the West”.”
- Link: https://actualidad-rt.com/actualidad/519104-ordenaron-disparar-civiles-militar-capturado-detalles-incursion-ucraniana
Outline: “Ukrainian soldier captured in Kursk province: ‘We were ordered to shoot civilians if they offered resistance’. The Ukrainian soldier revealed that the aim of the failed incursion by the Kyiv regime was to “seize more territories” in order to exchange them during negotiations with Moscow. He also noted that one of his commanders called the raid operation “Ukraine’s last hope.”
- Link: https://les7duquebec.net/archives/293469
Outline: “Escalation of NATO-Ukraine war against Russia. The Russian military claims that the Ukrainian invasion has been halted. The reserves have been mobilized, and the Ukrainians will be forced to leave Russian territory. There is little doubt that this target will be met within a day or two.”
- Link: https://www.infokuryr.cz/n/2024/08/11/dalsi-protiofenziva-ukrajiny-rehabilitace-nebo-dobrodruzstvi/
Outline: “Ukraine’s next counter-offensive: Rehabilitation or Adventure? Another counter-offensive by the Ukrainian army demonstrated Zelenskyi and his team’s ineptitude and adventurism. The attempt to rehabilitate in front of Western partners resulted in huge losses and a ruined reputation. These measures demonstrate that Ukraine’s government prioritizes its own interests over national interests, neglecting the implications for its inhabitants.”
- Link: https://reseauinternational.net/cela-na-aucun-sens-les-experts-occidentaux-nont-pas-apprecie-loperation-des-forces-armees-ukrainiennes-dans-la-region-de-koursk-en-russie/
Outline: “It makes no sense: Western experts did not appreciate the operation of the Ukrainian armed forces in the Kursk region of Russia. The West has no understanding of the actions of the Ukrainian command, which launched an incursion of Russia’s Kursk region. Several military experts believe this mission “makes no sense.”
#2: Russian victories over the Ukrainians in the Kursk region
The whole media apparatus of the Sputnik news agency (owned and operated by the Russian government) is trumpeting “great victories,” such as the downing of a Ukrainian drone:
- Link: https://de.rt.com/international/131481-liveticker-ukraine-krieg/
Outline: The Kursk incursion live ticker. Manipulative and fake updates.
- Link: https://fr.sputniknews.africa/20240811/un-drone-lourd-ukrainien-neutralise-dans-la-region-russe-de-koursk—video-1067813546.html
Outline: The Russian Defense Ministry has posted a video of the destruction of a Ukrainian heavy helicopter-type drone in the Kursk region.
- Link: https://reseauinternational.net/brutale-vengeance-la-russie-elimine-quatre-generaux-ukrainiens-de-haut-rang-responsables-de-lattaque-de-koursk/
Outline: Fake story about the elimination of 4 Ukrainian generals who orchestrated the Kursk offensive.
#3: False allegations of involvement of foreign military personnel in the Ukrainian campaign in Kursk, accusing the US and Ukraine of escalation
- Link: https://www.infokuryr.cz/n/2024/08/11/sokujici-nato-ridi-ukrajinsky-utok-na-ruske-uzemi-cervene-linie-byly-zniceny-zacina-uplne-jina-valka/
Outline: “Shocking! NATO directs Ukrainian attack on Russian territory: “Red lines have been destroyed” – a completely different war begins.”
- Link: https://lecourrierdesstrateges.fr/2024/08/08/le-plan-americano-ukrainien-pour-arriver-a-une-negociation-en-position-de-force/
Outline: “The US-Ukrainian plan to reach a negotiation from a position of strength”
- Link: https://www.globalresearch.ca/biden-fall-ukraine-kursk-offensive/5864923
Outline: “America has fooled Russia after Putin’s “goodwill gesture” in the prisoner exchange.”
- Link: https://www.pravda-tv.com/2024/08/warum-die-usa-die-ukraine-zwangen-ihre-geplante-ermordung-putins-abzusagen/
Outline: “Why the US made Ukraine renounce its effort to kill Putin”
- Link: https://www.infokuryr.cz/n/2024/08/12/kadyrov-v-kurske-oblasti-byla-znicena-kolona-techniky-nato/
Outline: False report from Kadyrov: “NATO equipment convoy is destroyed”.
- Link: https://lemediaen442.fr/larmee-russe-a-vaincu-la-legion-etrangere-francaise-dans-la-region-de-kharkov/
Outline: False news claiming the French Foreign Legion was destroyed by the Russian army in the Kharkiv region.
- Link: http://egaliteetreconciliation.fr/Xavier-Moreau-Bataille-de-Koursk-2-0-Pentagone-ambitions-et-realites-76340.html
Outline: Xavier Moreau, a French Putin propagandist residing in Moscow, claims that “Russia will win and announces the battle of Kursk 2.0”.
- Link: https://www.omertamedia.fr/article/koursk-loffensive-ukrainienne-de-la-derniere-chance-822/
Outline: “The desperate offensive on Kursk” is labeled as “Ukraine’s last chance” and compared to Hitler’s offensive on Kursk.
- Link: https://rrn.media/zelensky-faces-deepening-agony/
Outline: “Zelensky Faces Deepening Agony and a suicidal plot”.
- Link: https://anti-spiegel.ru/2024/wie-in-russland-ueber-den-ukrainischen-angriff-auf-kursk-berichtet-wird/
Outline: “Zelensky has chosen a suicidal venture for Kyiv”.
#3: Nuclear blackmail, accusing the West of ‘provoking a nuclear war’
Russian media replicates Ukraine’s accusations of attacking nuclear facilities and quotes a statement by Russian leader Putin. The Ukrainian government has denied Moscow’s accusation and has blamed Russia for the incident at the ZNPP, under Russian occupation.
Instead, by accusing Ukraine of activities that pose a threat to global security—a new take on nuclear blackmail—the Russian media and its satellites spread allegations that appear to be an attempt to distract attention from their own failure in the Kursk region and to undermine support for Ukraine.
- Link: https://actualidad-rt.com/actualidad/519112-putin-kiev-atacando-civiles-instalaciones-nucleares
Outline: “There is nothing to discuss with Kiev targeting people and nuclear facilities.”
- Link: https://fr.sputniknews.africa/20240812/poutine-tient-une-reunion-sur-la-situation-dans-la-region-de-koursk-points-cles–1067827271.html
Outline: “Negotiations with Kyiv, which attacks civilians, are pointless.”
- Link: https://fr.sputniknews.africa/20240812/moscou-denonce-une-agression-sans-precedent-de-kiev-contre-la-centrale-nucleaire-de-zaporojie-1067824544.html
Outline: “Moscow condemns Kyiv’s “unprecedented aggression” at the nuclear power facility in Zaporizhzhya.”
- Link: https://lemediaen442.fr/alerte-lukraine-frappe-la-centrale-nucleaire-de-zaporijjia-lincendie-maitrise-par-la-russie/
Outline: “Ukraine attacks Zaporizhzhia nuclear power facility; Russia puts out the fire.”
- Link: https://www.globalresearch.ca/american-nato-rush-nuclear-war-russia/5860701
Outline: Pro-Kremlin propagandist Scott Ritter: “It’s the End of the World As We Know It. The American-NATO Rush Toward Nuclear War with Russia”.
- Link: https://www.mondialisation.ca/manoeuvres-de-fin-du-monde/5691244
Outline: “End of the world maneuvers?”
- Link: https://pravyprostor.net/ukrajinci-testuji-putina-jeho-vlastni-medicinou-jak-daleko-jsme-od-pouziti-jadernych-zbrani/
Outline: “How far are we from using nuclear weapons?”
- Link: https://www.globalresearch.ca/nato-neo-nazi-junta-nearly-blew-world/5864918
Outline: “Planned NATO-Kiev Assassination of Putin and Defense Minister Belousov: How NATO and Neo-Nazi Junta Lunatics Nearly Blew Up the World.”
Russia’s information warfare supports its war against Ukraine
The Kremlin’s information warfare and influence operations constantly support Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, targeting not only domestic audiences in Russia and Ukrainian citizens but also international audiences, including those in Europe.
The goal of such information attacks by pro-Kremlin media is to discredit Ukraine and reduce its support from Western nations. However, these efforts have so far failed, as all the democratic countries have condemned Russia’s war and invasion of Ukraine, and Russian and pro-Kremlin media have lost all credibility.
