Verified methods. In 2024, fake covers of satirical magazines rarely become viral, but Z-channels continue to publish them

Your first text dedicated to the Charlie Hebdo falsified covers is “verified” Published In the fall of 2022. Since then, we have sorted out more than 50 fake cartoons, discrediting mainly Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky and the Western country. Over time, the interest of the pro-Khremlin Telegram channels in such fakes began to fall, but despite this, the pictures continue to regularly appear on the network. “Checked” collected in one material all the covers that have seen since the beginning of 2024 (yes, there may be even more).

Macron: Soldiers for Ukraine, bugs and a transgender wife

France 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, Turkish Leman and the French edition of Courrier International. Such an interest in Macron from the pro-Kremlin Telegram channels, apparently, is associated with the sharp statements of the French president on the issue of war in Ukraine. February 27 after a meeting of European leaders in Paris Macron announced The creation of a new coalition to assist Kyiv and did not exclude the sending of French troops to Ukraine.

The most straightforwardly this plot is presented on the cover, with which the March number of Titanic supposedly came out: Macron in military uniform and with a baguette behind his back, instead of a machine gun, throws out a frog plague from the hatch with a French flag. The inscription reads: "Macron sends French reinforcement for the Ukrainian army." This cover was published, in particular, the Telegram channel "Mishovets Yegor"(92,000 views at the time of writing this analysis), and subsequently distributed Franco -speaking users X. Real March number Titanic It looks completely different: the cover is not depicting Macron, but by Vladimir Putin.

There are smaller differences in the fake cover and the present. In the upper right corner, which indicates the month of the magazine and the price, it is written on a fake image that this is the cover of the Internet release. It can be assumed that this is done to confuse traces and say that this image, for example, was deleted by the editors. However, firstly, Titanic has no special covers for Internet letters, the online version only duplicates the paper version. Secondly, the word "release" (ausgabe) is written with an error (aufgabe). 

The earliest publication with this cover, which managed to find "verified"-post in the Telegram channel "Republican", Published on March 4, 2024 at 18:17 Moscow time (79 views).

Two more fake covers - the Turkish Leman and the French Charlie Hebdo - were raised to the surface of the other Love Russian propaganda plot: an invasion of bed bugs in France. Such a problem is really arose At the end of 2023, the authorities of large cities of the country spoke of these insects. But in social networks, the invasion of bugs acquired frightening scale and turned into a real panic. In the government of France They assigned responsibility For this on Russian propaganda. The mentioned cover Leman published, in particular, the Telegram channel "Tucker Carlson in Russian and others"(15,000 views), about the cover of Charlie Hebdo told their subscribers" "Sheikh Tamir"(134,000) and"From the scene"(68 000), and to viewers - propagandist Dmitry Kiselev. Images also extended to French And English languages ​​in the social network X.

On the fake cover Leman, Macron is preparing for a performance - this very does that his speech after the Paris summit. Bed bugs crawl around him, the title about the same: "The president to combat insects said his word." Charlie Hebdo fake cover is parodying Eugene Delacrois "Freedom, leading people": On it, Macron with a French tricolor leads bugs armed with machine guns. The title says: "Only those who live well under Macron will follow him to Ukraine."

In the case of a Turkish magazine, it is not even clear with which number to compare the viral picture, which states that this is the on March 15 No. 8 for 2024 (or No. 1667 by through numbering from the first issue of the publication). Real # 8 was published March 7 under the through number 1665, the next issue appeared March 21 (No. 9/1666), that is, No. 1667 could not be closed between No. 1665 and 1666. Images on real covers with the French president are in no way connected.

The earliest mention of this cover, which managed to find "verified"-a post in the Telegram channel "Kostyan Cat - Official Channel"(94,000 views), published on March 15 at 15:44 Moscow time.

It looks different and Real # 1653 French Charlie Hebdo, published on March 27. Its cover is not dedicated to Macron, but terrorist attack In Crocus City Hall, the responsibility for which was taken by radical Islamists from ISIS. The title says: "Spring came, Islamists blossomed."

The earliest mention of this cover, which managed to find "verified"-a post in the Telegram channel "V🇷🇺ruka Kremlin🇷🇺z"(7000 views), published on March 20 at 19:33 Moscow time.

The third theme of fake covers about Macron is to ridicule the wife of the French president. Russian propaganda regularly Pays attention on the age difference between the spouses (Brigitte Macron Older husband for 24 years), and now also She began to call The first lady of France is transgender.

On the covers of Charlie Hebdo and Courrier International in the focus of attention, male genitals. On the fake cover of the first edition, Macron shows his wife’s puffing dress and says: “She is not a transgender, she is still a man.” The image was distributed among other Telegram channels "Gossip"(105,000 views),"Pool N3"(80 000) and"Gasparyan"(65 000). On the cover of supposedly Courrier International, a Ukrainian theme has already been added. Macron uses a wife’s testicula instead of a boxing pear, and the headline reads: “Macron is preparing for unconditional support of Ukraine.” This caricature was published, for example, “Zlaya Prof"(175,000) and"Tucker Carlson for Russia"(87 000).

As in all previous cases, these covers have nothing to do with real French publications. WITH end of 2022 The creators of the caricatures allegedly published by Charlie Hebdo act according to the same scheme: the date and issue number that has not yet been released, and the date is always the environment, and not Thursday, like a real magazine.

Cover present No. 1652, published on March 20, is dedicated to Vladimir Putin, who received more than 87% of the vote in the presidential election.

The earliest mention of this cover, which managed to find "verified"-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 a number that has not yet come out at that time, denoting it as a “special release”, and then appears Real magazine With a completely different cover. No. 1743 is dedicated not to Macron, but by the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu.

In addition, old errors are repeated: fake covers and the present differ in the numbers above the barcode, about this “tested” It wrote In previous analysis.

The earliest mention of this cover, which managed to find "verified"-a post in the Telegram channel "KB +18"(318,000 views), published on March 22 at 14:31 Moscow time. Apparently, the creators of Fake were inspired by personnel who are a constant photographer of the French president Published On Instagram March 20. The pictures in which Macron beats the boxing pear became viral.

Finally, March 30 appeared A whole tripty from fake covers, uniting all three topics: the wife of Macron, bugs and the words of the French president about the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine. Russian Telegram channels claimed that Charlie Hebdo released a number with three different covers that are folded into one. In the viral image, these covers in the colors of the French flag.

On fake covers it is indicated that this is No. 1654 for March 27, 2024. At the time of writing this analysis No. 1654 has not yet been released, and on March 27 went on sale No. 1653.

The earliest mention of this triptich, which managed to find "verified"-a post in the Telegram channel "Tasking News"(2900 views), published on March 30 at 19:49 Moscow time.

Zelensky and Navalny

The creators of fake covers did not pass by The death of Alexei Navalny. On February 16, the Russian opposition, under unknown circumstances, died in a colony, where he was serving a imprisonment. Soon in social networks began to spread The cover of supposedly Charlie Hebdo: it depicts a dead Navalny, sitting at the table, and on top - Zelensky, pulling it by the strings. The inscription says: “Hi, this is Navalny! I am alive! I do not need anything, transfer all the money to Ukraine! " This is another familiar plot for fake covers created by propagandists: Zelensky is represented as a person who does not stop at anything to get as much financial and military support as possible. For example, in the summer of 2023 a very similar Charlie Hebdo Fake cover - There Zelensky was covered by the corpse of billionaire Hamish Harding, who died during the crash of the Titan underwater apparatus.

This case is no different from others like him. This release of the French weekly No. 1649 Dedicated A completely different topic is the struggle between Macron and the leader of the French ultra-right Marin Le Pen, as well as their proteges: French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and barrier In the European Parliament, the associate of Le Pen Zordan Bardell, respectively.

The earliest mention of this cover, which managed to find "verified"-a post in the Telegram channel "Shkvarka 2.0"(1100 views), published on February 22 at 00:36 Moscow time.

Zelensky, Zaluzhny, Syrian and Armed Forces

Losses of the Ukrainian army are another constant topic of fake covers. In the summer of 2023, they were devoted to the counterattack of the Armed Forces (1, 2, 3), appeared and Other images with dead Ukrainian soldiers and torn limbs. Since the beginning of 2024, the pro -Khremple resources have spread several covers to the same topic - supposedly the German magazine Titanic, the French Charlie Hebdo and the Spanish El Jueves.

Two of them - February Titanic And Charlie Hebdo - Dedicated to specific military leaders. On the cover of Titanic in several pictures, a life is presented with a pension of the former chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny, Resigned February 8, 2024. On each image - the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers, and the title says: "The loser is retired!" On the cover of Charlie Hebdo - Alexander Syrian, replaced Salty in the post of commander -in -chief. The caricature depicts him sitting in a funnel surrounded by parts of the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers. In the background - the pointer "Selidovo". The image is accompanied by the heading: “General Crater” - obviously, the authors had in mind the attack of the army of the Russian Federation in the city of Selidovo, Donetsk region. Russian state media Reportedthat the missile blow was inflicted on the landfill of the Armed Forces, as a result of which up to 1,500 military were killed. This information did not receive confirmation, in fact the projectile got In a residential building and hospital. As a result of the blow, three people died, among them a pregnant woman.

The real numbers of these magazines look different and are devoted to other topics. On the cover of genuine Titanic for February 2024 - a drawing that refers to scandal Around the German ultra -right party "Alternative for Germany", and No. 1648 Charlie Hebdo - Caricature of the Cinema "Cesar". 

The earliest mention of the Titanic cover with the Sulfate, which managed to find “verified”-a post in the Telegram channel "Olesya Loseva"(12,000 views), published on February 14 at 12:10 pm Moscow time. The alleged source of Charlie Hebdo about Syresky is a publication in the Telegram channel Belvestnik (3000 views), posted the next day at 12:16.

Two more fake covers, Titanic and El Jueves, are habitually devoted to the losses of the Ukrainian army and problems with the supply of weapons. On cover, allegedly released by a German magazine, depicts an automatic machine, to which a store is attached, filled with Ukrainian soldiers instead of cartridges. Nearby the inscription: "To the end." On coverThe special number of Spanish El Jueves is stated, an American slides, according to which a trailer in the colors of the American flag with an emblem resembling Ukrainian emblem rushes in the direction of the open grave. Zelensky is trying to get out of the trailer, and the inscription nearby reads: "Dizzying fall." In the second case, we are talking about stretching Since the fall of 2023, discussing a new major package of assistance to Ukraine in the US Congress.

As on other fake covers of this publication, on the January issue of Titanic, the word "release" is written with an error. 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 has not yet appeared on the website of the publication. However, the announcement of the covers (the number goes to Two parts) You can find on Facebook, there is no Ukrainian president on them.

The earliest mention of the Titanic cover with the American slides, which was “checked”, is a post in the Telegram channel ”Olesya Loseva"(12,000 views), published on January 12 at 13:49 Moscow time. The likely source in the case of the cover El Jueves, supposedly dedicated to Zelensky, is the publication of the channel "Arcemest"(227 views), which appeared on March 13 at 16:15.

Putin, Carlson and Elections

A little apart is another El Jueves cover. She is dedicated interviewIn early February, American publicist Tucker Carlson took from Vladimir Putin. After this conversation, the Telegram channels and the pro-Kremlin media made every effort to present it with an event of a planetary scale. Some resources even ApprovedThat in Ukraine they specially hired people to write negative comments on this interview (as “verified”, this information is not true).

On spread The Internet cover of the Spanish satirical magazine depicts Putin and Carlson, and in the foreground are frightened world leaders (for example, the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the President of the United States and France Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron, the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky), from which streams of urine stemming up in the abbreviation of OTAN (so In Spanish is NATO). The title reads: "He says only the truth." The real number 2.397 El Jueves looks different.

It is curious that in the fall of 2022 already appeared Almost identical fake cover of the same El Jueves and almost the same occasion, only at that time the world leaders were frightened by Putin's video statements. Most of the details coincide - and flags, and stream of urine, and even the position of the arms and legs of the characters.

The earliest mention of this cover, which managed to find “verified”, is again a post in the Telegram channel ”Olesya Loseva"(13,000 views), published on February 13 at 16:30 Moscow time.

The fear of world leaders in front of Putin is the topic of another fake caricature. March 19 on the Web appeared Titanic cover dedicated to the results of the presidential election in Russia. In the background-a schedule with a figure of 87% (the result of Putin in the elections), world leaders are fighting on the front, among whom you can recognize Biden and Macron, as well as the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudo, German Chancellor Olaf Sholts and the former head of the British government Boris Johnson. The inscription says: "What are we doing wrong?!"

The viral picture again indicates that this is an Internet issue for March. Real cover Titanic That issue is really devoted to Putin, but it looks different. The creators of fake covers occurred some kind of failure-for the March cover they had previously issued a caricature with macron and frogs. 

The earliest mention of this cover, which managed to find “verified”, is a post in the Telegram channel ”South Live💤"(1,500 views), published on March 19 at 13:27 Moscow time.

Rodip Reb

"Checked" already It wrote About the non -existent Indian magazine Rodip Reb, in the name of which is encrypted insult to the editor -in -chief of the project Ilya Bera. For the first time, the cover of this invented publication appeared in December 2023, and the authors, apparently, considered it a successful idea to continue the creation of caricatures. One of them is directly addressed to factor: a woman on it (most likely, the authors had in mind the journalist France 24 Marshal de Abreu, who was previously propaganda accused In the creation of fakes) Digging in a heap of feces with the words: "Oh, how much work today." The other two are about Ukraine. The first depicts two troops, Ukrainians and rats with the heading of “Battle for Europe”, the second shows the transformation of Zelensky into a skull, as well as the letters that are formed into the Ukrainian -language name of Avdeevka - the settlement, Changed In mid -February, under the control of the Russian army after a multi -month siege.

The primary source of the two covers of three - Avdeevka (February 19) and Battle for Europe (January 5)-this is the Telegram channel of the TV presenter Olesya Loseva, in which the first cover of an invented Indian magazine appeared last year. The third image addressed to factorkerams was the first to publish the channel "Shkvarka 2.0".

***

From all this set of false covers, several conclusions can be drawn. Firstly, they continue to draw them and spread along the pro-Kremlin Telegram channels in approximately the same quantity as before, affecting the theme important for the Russian propaganda agenda. Secondly, the authors began to pay less attention to the details: the same errors are copied from the image to the image (like a barcode and an incorrectly written German word in the case of Titanic magazine), the authors are no longer trying to give a maximum of credibility to their pictures. Thirdly, apparently, the task is to be widespread as much as possible caricatures is no longer as relevant as before. The authors work out the propaganda agenda, but their posts in Telegram often do not even gain tens of thousands of views, not to mention hundreds of thousands - for example, Titanic fake cover about the presidential elections scored less than 6,000 views.

Photo on the cover: collage "Checked"