His first text dedicated to the fraudulent Charlie Hebdo covers, “Verified” published in autumn 2022. Since then, we have sorted out more than 50 fake cartoons, discrediting mainly Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky and Western countries. Over time, the interest of pro-Kremlin Telegram channels in such fakes began to decline, but despite this, pictures continue to appear regularly on the Internet. “Verified” has collected in one material all such covers that it has seen since the beginning of 2024 (yes, there may be even more of them).
Macron: soldiers for Ukraine, bedbugs and a transgender wife
French President Emmanuel Macron became the main object of ridicule for the authors of fake covers in February-March 2024. There were six of them: three issues of the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, the German magazine Titanic, the Turkish LeMan and the French publication Courrier International. This interest in Macron on the part of pro-Kremlin Telegram channels is apparently associated with the French president’s harsh statements on the issue of the war in Ukraine. On February 27, after a meeting of European leaders in Paris, Macron announced on the creation of a new coalition to provide assistance to Kyiv and did not rule out sending French troops to Ukraine.
This plot is presented most straightforwardly on the cover from which the March issue of Titanic allegedly appeared: Macron, in military uniform and with a baguette on his back instead of a machine gun, throws frogs in helmets with the French flag out of the plane’s hatch. The caption reads: “Macron sends French reinforcements for the Ukrainian army.” This cover was published, in particular, by the Telegram channel “Mislivets Egor"(92,000 views at the time of writing this analysis), and subsequently distributed French-speaking users X. Real March issue of Titanic looks completely different: the cover depicts not Macron, but Vladimir Putin.
There are also smaller differences between the fake cover and the real one. In the upper right corner, where the month of publication of the magazine and the price are indicated, the fake image says that this is the cover of the online edition. It can be assumed that this was done to confuse the tracks and say that this image, for example, was deleted by the editors. However, firstly, Titanic does not have special covers for online editions; the online version only duplicates the paper version. Secondly, the word “release” (Ausgabe) is misspelled (Aufgabe).
The earliest publication with this cover that “Verified” was able to find was a post in the Telegram channel “Republican", published on March 4, 2024 at 18:17 Moscow time (79 views).
Two more fake covers - Turkish LeMan and French Charlie Hebdo - raised another beloved Russian propaganda story: bed bug invasion in France. This is really a problem arose at the end of 2023, the authorities of large cities in the country spoke about the need to combat these insects. But on social networks, the bedbug invasion has acquired frightening proportions and turned into real panic. In the French government held responsible for this on Russian propaganda. The mentioned LeMan cover was published, in particular, by the Telegram channel “Tucker Carlson in Russian and others"(15,000 views), their subscribers were told about the Charlie Hebdo cover "Sheikh Tamir" (134,000) and "From the scene"(68,000), and TV viewers - a propagandist Dmitry Kiselev. The images were also distributed to French And English languages on the social network X.
On the fake cover of LeMan, Macron is preparing for a speech - meaning his very speech after the Paris summit. There are bugs crawling around him, which is what the headline says: “The President of Insect Control Has His Word.” Fake Charlie Hebdo cover parodies Eugene Delacroix's paintingFreedom leading the people": on it Macron with the French tricolor leads bugs armed with machine guns. The headline reads: “Only those who live well under Macron will follow him to Ukraine.”
In the case of the Turkish magazine, it is not even entirely clear with which issue to compare the viral picture, which indicates that this is issue No. 8 for 2024, published on March 15 (or No. 1667 according to continuous numbering from the first issue of the publication). Real #8 was published March 7 under serial number 1665, next issue appeared March 21 (No. 9/1666), that is, No. 1667 could not have been squeezed in between Nos. 1665 and 1666. The images on the real covers are in no way connected with the French president.
The earliest mention of this cover that “Verified” was able to find was a post in the Telegram channel “Kot Kostyan - official channel"(94,000 views), published on March 15 at 15:44 Moscow time.
Looks different and real No. 1653 French Charlie Hebdo, published March 27. Its cover is dedicated not to Macron, but terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall, the responsibility for which was taken by radical Islamists from ISIS. The headline reads: “Spring has come, Islamists have blossomed.”
The earliest mention of this cover that “Verified” was able to find was a post in the Telegram channel “V🇷🇺Hand of the Kremlin🇷🇺Z"(7000 views), published on March 20 at 19:33 Moscow time.
The third theme of the fake covers about Macron is ridiculing the wife of the French president. Russian propaganda regularly draws attention on the age difference between spouses (Brigitte Macron older husband for 24 years), and now also started calling first lady of France is transgender.
The covers of Charlie Hebdo and Courrier International circulating online focus on male genitalia. On the fake cover of the first edition, Macron points to his wife’s billowing dress and says: “She’s not transgender, she’s still a man.” The image was distributed among other Telegram channels “Gossip"(105,000 views), "Pool N3" (80,000) and "Gasparyan"(65,000). The cover of supposedly Courrier International has already added a Ukrainian theme. Macron uses his wife's testicles instead of a punching bag, and the headline reads: "Macron is preparing for unconditional support for Ukraine." This cartoon was published, for example, “Evil proof" (175,000) and "Tucker Carlson for Russia"(87,000).
As in all previous cases, these covers have nothing to do with real French editions. WITH end of 2022 the creators of the cartoons allegedly published by Charlie Hebdo follow the same pattern: the cover is marked with the date and issue number of an issue that has not yet been published, and the date is always Wednesday, not Thursday, like the real magazine.
Cover present No. 1652, published on March 20, is dedicated to Vladimir Putin, who received more than 87% of the votes in the presidential elections.
The earliest mention of this cover that “Verified” was able to find was a post in the Telegram channel “BelVestnik"(12,000 views), published on March 12 at 17:26 Moscow time.
Exactly the same story with Courrier International. The creators of the fake cover depict an issue that had not yet been released, labeling it as a “special issue,” and then appear real magazine with a completely different cover. No. 1743 is dedicated not to Macron, but to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In addition, old mistakes are repeated: fake covers and real ones have different numbers above the barcode, about this “Verified” wrote in previous analyses.
The earliest mention of this cover that “Verified” was able to find was a post in the Telegram channel “KB +18"(318,000 views), published on March 22 at 14:31 Moscow time. Apparently, the creators of the fake were inspired by the footage taken by the French president’s regular photographer published on Instagram on March 20. Pictures of Macron hitting a punching bag went viral.
Finally, March 30 appeared a whole triptych of fake covers, combining all three topics: Macron’s wife, bedbugs and the words of the French president about the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine. Russian Telegram channels claimed that Charlie Hebdo released an issue with three different covers that were folded into one. The viral image shows these covers in the colors of the French flag.
The fake covers indicate that this is #1654 for March 27, 2024. At the time of writing this analysis, No. 1654 has not yet been released, but went on sale on March 27 No. 1653.
The earliest mention of this triptych that “Verified” was able to find was a post in the Telegram channel “Shkvarka News"(2900 views), published on March 30 at 19:49 Moscow time.
Zelensky and Navalny
The creators of fake covers did not pass by death of Alexei Navalny. On February 16, a Russian oppositionist, under unclear circumstances, died in a colony where he was serving a prison sentence. Coming soon on social networks began to spread The cover is supposedly Charlie Hebdo: it shows a dead Navalny sitting at a table, and Zelensky on top, pulling his strings. The caption reads: “Hello, this is Navalny! I'm alive! I don’t need anything, transfer all the money to Ukraine!” This is another common theme in fake covers created by propagandists: Zelensky is presented as a man who will stop at nothing to get as much financial and military support as possible. For example, in the summer of 2023 a very similar fake Charlie Hebdo cover — there Zelensky covered himself with the corpse of billionaire Hamish Harding, who died in the crash of the Titan submersible.
This case is no different from others like it. This issue of the French weekly No. 1649 dedicated a completely different topic - the struggle between Macron and the leader of the French far-right Marine Le Pen, as well as their proteges: French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and running to the European Parliament by Le Pen's ally Jordan Bardella, respectively.
The earliest mention of this cover that “Verified” was able to find was a post in the Telegram channel “Shkvarka 2.0"(1100 views), published on February 22 at 00:36 Moscow time.
Zelensky, Zaluzhny, Syrsky and Ukrainian Armed Forces
The losses of the Ukrainian army are another constant theme of fake covers. In the summer of 2023 they were dedicated to the counter-offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (1, 2, 3), appeared and other images with dead Ukrainian soldiers and severed limbs. Since the beginning of 2024, pro-Kremlin resources have distributed several covers on the same topic - allegedly from the German magazine Titanic, the French Charlie Hebdo and the Spanish El Jueves.
Two of them are from February Titanic And Charlie Hebdo - dedicated to specific military leaders. On the cover of Titanic, several pictures depict the retired life of the former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny, dismissed February 8, 2024. Each image shows the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers, and the caption reads: “Loser goes to retirement!” On the cover of Charlie Hebdo - Alexander Syrsky, replaced Zaluzhny as commander in chief. The cartoon depicts him sitting in a crater surrounded by body parts of Ukrainian soldiers. In the background there is a sign “Selidovo”. The image is accompanied by the caption: “General crater” - obviously, the authors had in mind the attack of the Russian army on the city of Selidovo, Donetsk region. Russian state media reportedthat a missile strike was carried out on a Ukrainian Armed Forces training ground, resulting in the deaths of up to 1,500 military personnel. This information has not been confirmed; in fact, the shell hit to a residential building and hospital. The impact killed three people, including a pregnant woman.
The actual issues of these magazines look different and cover different topics. On the cover of the genuine Titanic for February 2024 - a drawing referring to scandal around the German far-right party Alternative for Germany, and on No. 1648 Charlie Hebdo - cartoon about the Cesar film awards.
The earliest mention of the Titanic cover with Zaluzhny that “Verified” was able to find was a post in the Telegram channel “Olesya Loseva"(12,000 views), published on February 14 at 12:10 Moscow time. The alleged original source of the Charlie Hebdo cover about Syrsky is a publication on the Telegram channel BelVestnik (3000 views), posted the next day at 12:16.
Two more fake covers, Titanic and El Jueves, are usually dedicated to the losses of the Ukrainian army and problems with the supply of weapons. On cover, supposedly published by a German magazine, depicts an assault rifle with a magazine attached to it, filled with Ukrainian soldiers instead of cartridges. Next to it is the inscription: “Until the end.” On cover, allegedly a special issue of the Spanish El Jueves - a roller coaster on which a trailer in the colors of the American flag with an emblem reminiscent of the Ukrainian coat of arms rushes towards an open grave. Zelensky is trying to get out of the trailer, and the inscription next to it reads: “A dizzying fall.” In the second case we are talking about stretching starting in the fall of 2023, the discussion of a new large aid package for Ukraine in the US Congress.
Like other fake covers for this publication, the January issue of Titanic misspelled the word “issue.” At the real number Titanic another cover, in no way connected with Ukraine or Zelensky, and No. 2.398 El Jueves at the time of writing the analysis had not yet appeared on the publication’s website. However, the announcement of the covers (the issue is published in two parts) can be found on Facebook, the Ukrainian president is not on them.
The earliest mention of the Titanic roller coaster cover that “Verified” could be found was a post on the Telegram channel “Olesya Loseva"(12,000 views), published on January 12 at 13:49 Moscow time. The likely primary source in the case of the El Jueves cover, allegedly dedicated to Zelensky, is the publication of the channel “Arcuda"(227 views), appeared on March 13 at 16:15.
Putin, Carlson and elections
Another El Jueves cover stands somewhat apart. She's dedicated interview, which American publicist Tucker Carlson took from Vladimir Putin in early February. After this conversation, Telegram channels and pro-Kremlin media made every effort to present it as an event on a planetary scale. Some resources even claimed, that in Ukraine people were specifically hired to write negative comments on this interview (as Verified found out, this information is not true).
On spreading on the Internet, the cover of a Spanish satirical magazine depicts Putin and Carlson, and in the foreground - frightened world leaders (for example, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, US and French Presidents Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky), from under which streams of urine flow, forming the abbreviation OTAN (as NATO is called in Spanish). The headline reads: "Tells Only the Truth." The real number 2.397 El Jueves looks different.
It is curious that in the fall of 2022 already appeared an almost identical fake cover of the same El Jueves and for almost the same reason, only that time world leaders were afraid of Putin’s video message. Most of the details match - the flags, the streams of urine, and even the position of the characters’ arms and legs.
The earliest mention of this cover that we could find “Verified” was again a post in the Telegram channel “Olesya Loseva"(13,000 views), published on February 13 at 16:30 Moscow time.
The world leaders' fear of Putin is the theme of yet another fake cartoon. March 19 online appeared Titanic cover dedicated to the results of the presidential elections in Russia. In the background is a graph with the figure 87% (Putin’s election result); in the foreground are world leaders fighting, among whom you can recognize Biden and Macron, as well as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and former head of the British government Boris Johnson. The caption reads: “What are we doing wrong?!”
The viral image again states that it is an online issue for March. Real cover Titanic That issue is indeed dedicated to Putin, but it looks different. The creators of the fake covers had some kind of glitch - they had previously passed off a caricature with Macron and frogs as the March cover.
The earliest mention of this cover that we could find “Verified” was a post in the Telegram channel “South Live💤"(1500 views), published on March 19 at 13:27 Moscow time.
Rodip Reb
"Verified" already wrote about the non-existent Indian magazine Rodip Reb, the title of which contains an encrypted insult to the editor-in-chief of the project, Ilya Ber. The cover of this fictional publication first appeared in December 2023, and the authors apparently thought it was a good idea to continue creating cartoons. One of them is directly addressed to fact checkers: it shows a woman (most likely, the authors had in mind France 24 journalist Marchand de Abreu, who had previously been propaganda accused in creating fakes) digs through a pile of feces and says: “Oh, so much work today.” The other two are about Ukraine. The first depicts two troops, Ukrainians and rats with the title “Battle for Europe”, the second shows the transformation of Zelensky into a skull, as well as letters that form the Ukrainian name of Avdiivka, a populated area, passed on came under the control of the Russian army in mid-February after a months-long siege.
The original source of two of the three covers is about Avdeevka (February 19) and battle for Europe (January 5) is the Telegram channel of TV presenter Olesya Loseva, in which the first cover of a fictitious Indian magazine appeared last year. The third image, addressed to fact checkers, was first published by the channel “Shkvarka 2.0"
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Several conclusions can be drawn from this entire collection of fake covers. Firstly, they continue to be drawn and distributed on pro-Kremlin Telegram channels in approximately the same numbers as before, touching on topics important to the Russian propaganda agenda. Secondly, the authors began to pay less attention to detail: the same errors are copied from image to image (like a barcode and a misspelled German word in the case of Titanic magazine), the authors no longer try to give maximum verisimilitude to their pictures. Thirdly, it seems that the task of distributing cartoons as widely as possible is no longer as relevant as before. The authors are pursuing a propaganda agenda, but their posts on Telegram often do not receive even tens of thousands of views, let alone hundreds of thousands. For example, the fake Titanic cover about the presidential election received less than 6,000 views in total.
Cover photo: collage “Checked”
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