Russians launch disinformation campaign aimed at inciting Muslims against Ukraine
Experts from the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council have identified a disinformation campaign.
Telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric are spreading reports about "Nazi Ukrainians who hate other people's religions,", particularly Islam.
The authors of these messages are attempting to convince readers that "Ukraine is a godless and satanic state" by spreading fake news about incidents such as the burning of the Quran.
The start date of Ramadan, a major religious holiday for Muslims, was identified as the second important factor in the disinformation campaign. Prior to this, propagandists were provided with manuals that instructed them to use fake news and disinformation to incite interreligious conflict between Ukrainians and Muslims, with the ultimate goal of sparking a "religious war."
On March 15, the International Day Against Islamophobia, a fake news story about the burning of the Quran was disseminated on pro-Russian Telegram channels. This is not surprising, given that the Russians are attempting to demonize Ukrainians and portray them as enemies of all nations.
