In early September 2024, the reports were encouraged in Runet that as a result of the shelling of the Ukrainian city, instructors from Sweden were allegedly injured, the blood for the treatment of which forcibly forced to take minors. We checked the reliability of this story.
On the morning of September 3, 2024, Russian troops Apply A missile blow to Poltava. The corps of the Military Institute of Telecommunications and Informatization fell under the shelling, as a result of which, according to the latest official data Ukrainian authorities, 58 people were killed and even more than 320 were injured. Director of the Institute Igor Matsyuk declaredthat the attack occurred at the moment when most cadets were in the classroom. Ground Forces of Ukraine Confirmedthat as a result of the blow, military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine died. Ukrainian command start The investigation of the incident in an attempt to establish whether enough was done to protect the life and health of cadets.
Later on the same day, the posts diverged in Runet, according to which Swedish instructors were also killed in Poltava. For example, in the Telegram channel Colonelcassad (2.1 million views at the time of writing this analysis, taking into account the repost of the channel "The world today with "Yuri Podolyak"”) Such a post appeared:“ In addition to a large number of APU military personnel, during a missile strike, several foreign instructors from Sweden were destroyed at the training center of communications in Poltava. This was written by Britta Ellwanger, a foreign volunteer who works in the interests of the Armed Forces and was studying with a dead instructor at one of the Swedish universities. Recall that it was Sweden that planned the supply of two ASC 890 DRLO aircraft, the training of on -board personnel of which corresponds to the profile of the training center. The missile blow in Poltava played with new colors. ” In this publication, the screenshot of the Facebook record, allegedly placed by Ellwanger, was also given.
Similar posts about Swedish mercenaries appeared in the channels Mash (1.2 million views; it is argued that the number of those killed as a result of the blow exceeds 200 people), Lostarmour | CARTHAGO DELENDA EST! (457 000), "Two major"(365 000),"Zlaya Pruf"(221,000; it is argued that the dead were more than 190),"Uncle Glory"(202 000), Voblya (178 000), "Ukraine.ru"(131 000),"Sheikh Tamir"(129,000) and" Ostashko! Important "(twice: 118 000 And 107 000). TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov spoke about this not only in his Telegram channel, but also in ether Russian television. Among the media, similar notes with the mention of Ellwanger were released "Arguments and facts","Reporter" Avia.pro, Arbat.media And News.ru (The latest publication also claims that more than 100 “mercenaries” of the Armed Forces died). Many similar posts are found in "VKontakte", As well as in English on the social network X. So, the pro -Kremlin blogger Lord Bebo wrote about Ellwanger's message twice (404,000 And 41 000 views).
On the evening of September 3, in the Russian segment of social networks and the media parted messagesAs if in Poltava, minor children are urged to donate blood to save fighters from Sweden. For example, in the Telegram channel of the TV presenter Olesya Loseva (47,000 views) says: “The Ukrainian physician is indignant that in Poltava, children under 18 are forced to donate blood for Ukrainian defenders and mercenaries. "Well, you don’t think about the children, but think about the doctors. We, then, then pump out every teenager who faints after the donation? So we will then pump the children, and not treat the military." As evidence in the publication, a screenshot of the record on Facebook is given.
Similar posts can be found in other Telegram channels, among which "Kostyan Cat - Official Channel"(92,000 views),"Roman Khudyakov "Decent Life""(88 000),"Mordor's voice"(85,000),"Sheikh Tamir"(45,000, the post is deleted),"In fact in Kharkov"(41 000),"The first Kharkov"(17,000) and others. About Poltava calls to the young inhabitants of Poltava to donate blood wrote public in VKontakte (examples here And here), as well as the publications "Arguments and Facts" (on site and in Telegram), "Evening Moscow" And "The arguments of the week".
Swedish mercenaries
May 29, 2024 Government of Sweden presented His 16th and largest package of military assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of a full-scale Russian invasion. Among other things, it was reported that the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces will transfer air surveillance and ACC 890 controls. Later Claimedthat Sweden will send Ukraine two such flying radars. In addition, Stockholm pledged to provide Kyiv “A comprehensive solution for training, technical equipment and methodological support for air surveillance, management and control”.
After a missile strike on Poltava on September 3, Britta Ellwanger, which she allegedly posted on her Facebook page, was distributed on the network. The text of the record says:
"Recently I wrote about Kherson, where people have honored the memory of the fallen defenders of Ukraine. Honestly, I am too often encountered a loss. I feel someone else's pain and help families survive it when they lose someone. But, to be honest, I was always afraid of the day when death overtakes a loved one-someone who is dear to me. I can’t imagine how I can handle it myself, but I know that I need to talk about it.
Today my close friend died in Poltava, we studied together at the University of Lyncheoping (one of the largest universities Sweden. - approx. Ed.). Friends from among the military volunteers said that the guys could hardly have been able to survive with such a strong blow. For several months they have helped the Ukrainian guys ... Rest in peace, dear. I don’t know how many of ours have died, but we will always remember you guys ..."
Ellwanger - Director of the Charitable project UKRAINE RELIEF, which has launched the FOR PEACE non -profit organization registered in the USA. According to the site Forpeace.usUntil February 24, 2022, Ellwanger was a student at the Anti-Corruption Research master's program at the Kiev-Mogilyansk Academy. It is noted that she lives and works In Ukraine for more than ten years, and previously received a bachelor's degree of political science at Stanford University.
Ellwanger really has page On Facebook, the avatar and other photos of which coincide with those presented in a viral screenshot. At the same time, the description of her profile does not say that she studied at the University of Lynchoping or other Swedish higher educational institutions. According to the section on education On the Ellwanger page, in 2015 she graduated from Stanford University, a year later-Harvard Higher School of Arts and Sciences, and in 2021 entered the Kiev university. There is no viral post about Poltava on her page. Moreover, in the evening of September 3 in Facebook and in social networks X Ellwanger said that the image distributed in Runet is a fake.
"Hi all.
Unfortunately, my personality was used in the Russian misinformation campaign. I was informed that this post (shown in the attached picture) is freely available.
If you see him, please send complaints about him.
I did not write a post depicted in the picture below. The image is completely forged and edited so as to look like a screenshot from my Facebook page. ”
In an interview with the Swedish edition of SVT Ellwanger Added: "I do not know a single Swede in Ukraine, I do not work with any Swede in Ukraine and I do not know anyone who suffered from the terrorist attack in Poltava." At the same time, she added that she did not study in Sweden. In addition, the Swedish Foreign Ministry in SVT emails, DPA And Logically Facts He said that the department does not have information about the injured citizens of his country in Poltava. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs currently does not have data on the Swedes killed or wounded in connection with the attack,” the press service said. September 4 on the website of the Armed Forces of Sweden also refuted Information about the Swedish instructors who died in Poltava.
The earliest publication with a fake scree of those that managed to find “verified” appeared on September 3 at 15:30 Moscow time in the Telegram channel “Kostyan Cat - Official Channel"(88,000 views). Moreover, there the volunteer was mistakenly represented under the name Elvander. Note that reports of the dead Swedish mercenaries without mentioning Ellwanger and without a fake screenshot appeared a little earlier. So, the earliest post was “tested” in the channel "Military observer"(55,000 views), where the record was published at 15:24 with reference to unnamed Ukrainian resources. Both of these channels dozens If there were Closed in the spread of misinformation, and in one of our recent analysis We talked about the same scheme of its distribution: at first the text version of the fake was placed in the “military observer”, and soon false confirming materials appeared in the “Kota Kostyan”.
On September 4, the story of the Swedish mercenaries, allegedly killed in Poltava, continued. On that day, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden Tobias Billstroem announced that he had resigned and plans to leave politics. “It was a difficult decision, but for some time I was considering it,” - wrote A politician in the social network X. Russian media and Telegram channels connected Billstrack's departure with an attack on September 3. “The reasons for the resignation were not disclosed, but independent journalists associate this with the death of the Swedish military in Poltava, who were sent there on the initiative of Billstrym and whose families are now trying to find out who sent them there,” the channel said “Zlaya Pruf"(217,000 views). Similar notes appeared in Telegram channels "Sheikh Tamir"(138,000 views),"Ostashko! Important"(104,000)"Petya the first"(82 000),"Tsargrad TV"(67,000) and on newspaper sites"Moscow Komsomolets" And "Arguments and facts".
Billstroke did not call the reason for his resignation. As shown above, evidence of the death of Swedish instructors in Poltava was forged. The argument used by the pro-Kremlin Telegram channels is based on a common logical error “After that means because of this,” and is also supported by a reference to unnamed independent journalists. Swedish media, in turn, based on conversations with sources suggestthat the resignation could be a conflict of Billstrand with Prime Minister Ulf Kristerson regarding the appointment of a new Secretary of State, but representatives of both ministers denied this.
Although on the side of the Armed Forces really Fighting Foreign volunteers, “verified” earlier repeatedly refuted fakes related to the participation of personnel military personnel from Western countries in the hostilities. So, we analyzed inaccurate reports that the Polish general Died in the Donbass as a result of the impact of the Iskander that France I directed it In Ukraine, fighters of a foreign legion and what is in Mariupol Surrendered The American general is captured. As for foreign instructors, at the end of August the European Union Rejected Kyiv’s request for training for troops directly in Ukraine, and not in the countries of the Sovereign. At the same time, the Supreme Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrel said that by the end of the year, 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers will be additionally trained in the European Union states.
Donora children
Due to the large number of victims as a result of the blow on September 3, the power of Poltava Called Residents to donate blood, and, according to publications in the Ukrainian media, citizens responded to this request. For example, the publication "Focus" brought Such a quotation of a local resident: “After the first message that blood is needed, about 15 minutes later the hospital said that today blood is no longer needed. 75 people immediately came. ” Soon after shelling, the chief physician of the regional blood transfusion station Vladimir Rudikov declaredThat about 150 Poltava residents turned to the institution during the day. “They prepared about 75 liters of donated blood somewhere. It will now still be examined, processed, stored, transported, etc. and will also be issued to medical institutions for need. People on the Internet saw the need, and somehow a lot of people of all ages were organized, ”said Rudikov. According to him, some donors were offered to donate blood over the next days. So, September 4 Rudikov ProphetedWhat will come even more citizens - up to 200, and noted: "We completely satisfy the needs of the victims for donor blood." Moreover, the doctor added that the station cannot take blood from everyone.
Under Ukrainian laws, minors cannot donate blood. The Ministry of Health of the country reportsthat any capable Ukrainian can become a donor or foreigner With a residence permit in Ukraine age from 18 years and weighing at least 50 kg. In addition, those who wish to donate blood must first undergo a corresponding medical examination.
In most publications, the story of donor children in Poltava is told with reference to a certain Ukrainian medic, while the posts also provide a screenshot of Facebook from user Victoria Omelyanenko. She allegedly wrote on her page:
“Friends, I haven't seen this yet!
Now everyone knows that there is not enough blood, because there are a lot of wounded. And here the military commanders found a way out. A whole bunch of schoolchildren was brought to our hospital for the donation. Of course, by force, I’m not sure that parents generally knew about it. Not a single 18 years, of course.
I respect the Swedish colleagues who, together with our defenders, defend Ukrainian land. But there are rules, after all! Well, you can’t donate blood to children under 18 years of age! Everyone knows about this! Well, you don’t think about children, but think about doctors! What, then, then pumping each teenager, fainting after donation? So then we, in the end, will pump children, and not treat the military! ”
Victoria Omelyanenko - deputy Kobelyatsky City Council of the Poltava region. On the official website of the Kobelyatsky Territorial community in the list of its posts specified and the post of head of the infectious control department Center of primary health care In the city of Kobelyaki. On Facebook page Omelyanenko existsbut at the time of writing the analysis, the profile is hidden, posts are available only to friends. However, there is every reason to believe that the viral screenshot of its publication was forged.
FACECHERS from the Ukrainian project "Ґvara Medіa»We managed to study the Omelyanenko account when it was still open to all users. According to journalists, on September 3, her Facebook made only a repost of the publication on the draft of the Poltava branch of the Red Cross to donate blood at the regional transfusion station. There were no information about minor donors and Swedish mercenaries on the page of Omelyanenko.
Employees "ґvara Medіa" Turned To Omelyanenko with a request to comment on the viral screenshot. In response, she stated that the image was forged and that she learned about it only from Takeckers. “I do not live in Poltava, I was not there on the day of the tragedy. That blood needs, I learned on Facebook. On that day, I issued humanitarian aid for IDP (internally moved persons, that is, military refugees who left for other regions of Ukraine. - Approx. Ed.) From the Red Cross at the place of residence, as evidenced by the documentation of the organization, ”said Omelyanenko. She is really on a voluntary basis works In the Kobelyan organization of the Red Cross Society of Ukraine. In an interview with the project "VOKS Ukrainian" Omelyanenko again Confirmedthat she did not publish a message from the viral screenshot, and clarified that the hospital did not work since October 2022.
The earliest publication with the viral image that was tracked “verified” appeared in the pro-Kremlin Telegram channel “Sheikh Tamir". There the post was placed on September 3 at 18:46 Moscow time, and already at 20:17 - removed. This channel mentioned In the dozens of our analysis and many times turned out to be the primary source of fakes. In addition, one of the first similar posts was published in the Telegram channel "The first Kharkov»With a tag #we will write. The record specified that the news was sent by a subscriber from Poltava. As previously repeatedly explained “verified”, the publication of messages from supposedly anonymous readers is one of the main methods of legalizing misinformation in Telegram.
False messages about children who supposedly donate blood for the needs of the Armed Forces were spread before. So, at the end of August 2024, posts and notes appeared in Runet, according to which the commander of the 22nd motorized brigade, Colonel Vladimir Pipka, along with subordinates, intimidated the school principal to collect the blood of students to treat the soldiers wounded in the Kursk region. About this with reference to the residents of the village of Tomashpol in the Vinnitsa region wrote Telegram channels "Ukraine.ru"(134,000 views),"Alexander Semchenko"(101 000), Anna News (57,000), "Russians in Teiegram"(51 000), 360.ru (22,000), "The first Kharkov"(10,000) and the newspaper"Mokovsky Komsomolets". Some publications gave a photo allegedly shot during blood donation.
Facts from the project Stopfake They found out that these photos were taken during the Donor Day, which was held on August 22 in the Tomashpol community, and published in the local community on Facebook. It was reported that blood donation was equipped in the Tomashpol Lyceum, and local health workers were carried out with colleagues from the Vinnitsa Regional Center for Blood Service. “On this day, 80 people donated blood. There were much more people, but for health reasons, not everyone was able to take part in this procedure, ”the post said. It was also noted that about 36 liters of blood were prepared, and those who wanted to donate monetary compensation received for donation for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Neither minors, nor threats to the director, nor Colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are mentioned in the post. There are no children in published photographs. In turn, it was “verified” that the source of this misinformation is the Telegram channel ”Ukrop Fresh"(5800 views), the authors of which regularly Retell Real news from Ukraine, complementing them invented details.
Thus, there is no evidence that as a result of the Russian shelling of Poltava on September 3, 2024, citizens of Sweden were injured and that then Ukrainian children donated blood for them. No authoritative foreign media wrote about this, and the Sweden authorities denied such messages. For the first time, pro-Kremlin Telegram channels, who published anti-Ukrainian fakes, wrote about the dead Swedish instructors and Ukrainian donor children. As evidence in such records, fabricated screenshots of the posts of two residents of Ukraine, who later stated that they have nothing to do with those records, were used.
Photo on the cover: Work of the neural network / IDEOGRAM.AI / "Checked"
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