Author: disinfo5
Russia’s getting camera shy about its hardware in occupied Ukraine, notably its heavy artillery. Now, this is an old camouflage trick, but thankfully the OSCE saw through it (literally) and spotted several Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) disguised as transport trucks. Or, in this case, poorly disguised as transport trucks. This subterfuge makes it harder to spot MLRS and easier for them to be hidden closer to the front line. The above March 6th 2020 image shows 3 MLRS with metal frames and canvas sheeting used to cover the distinctive angled rocket tubes. Thankfully the sheeting had blown off one…
Russian President Vladimir Putin received a Covid-19 vaccination on Tuesday without fuss or fanfare according to the Kremlin, more than three months after qualifying to do so. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told CNN: “Putin was vaccinated against the coronavirus. (He) feels good. Tomorrow he has a full working day.” No video or images of the vaccination process were immediately made available. Earlier, the Kremlin said it would not be a public event, unusual for a Russian leader who frequently poses for the cameras… sometimes shirtless. When asked why the Russian leader is not planning to show his vaccination process for publicity,…
The 125,000 ethnic Gagauz who live in southeastern Moldova seldom receive much press in their own right except for the fact that they are a rare Turkic people who are mostly Orthodox Christians. But they do attract broader attention when they become part of Russia’s geopolitical struggle with Turkey. Similarly, the Gagauz turn into an object of greater scrutiny when debates become more heated regarding the Moldovan central government’s possible plans to retake Russian-controlled Transnistria or integrate with Romania and the West. And when all of those issues suddenly come together, as they have at various points since 1991, Moscow…
The failure of pro-Russian Igor Dodon in the presidential elections in the Republic of Moldova does not seem to have upset the Kremlin much: instead of being reprimanded, the officer in charge of the Moldovan case (and assisting Dodon in the election campaign) was promoted in early March. At first glance, the promotion seems to be a job rotation decision, but in reality, it’s part of a broader reorganization of the departments dealing with the former Soviet space and the separatist regions supported by Moscow. Igor Maslov, the SVR colonel in the shadow of Igor Dodon The new head of…
Anyone who studies disinformation could ask why the information space contains so many hyperboles. For example, when you read about the pandemic, you cannot avoid extravagant narratives of Satan pulling the strings, or wild scenarios in which Western leaders emerge as dictators. Probably, part of the explanation is that, from the viewpoint of the receiver, the drama is seductive; people click on hyperbolic and emotional content. A recent Oxford University study also sheds light on those that spread disinformation. It found that RT TV channel, a super spreader, uses disinformation to create (political) chaos. If chaos is the goal, the means is a massive number of disinformation narratives,…
The disinformation ventilation of last week continues with some defensive pro-Kremlin strategies regarding the Navalny poisoning and protests in Belarus. Navalny, the Story Continues, Literary The flooding of the information space with conspiracy theories related to the poisoning of prominent Russian dissident Navalny does not abate. Just like two weeks ago, this brings back some flashbacks from Salisbury. Let us point at just a few striking similarities. The narrative “The Germans invented the bottle with Novichok” mirrors “London destroyed evidence in the Skripal case” and echoes “London killed Skripal”. Further, we see recurring confusing messages claiming Navalny was not poisoned, or that…
Dionis Cenușă, contributor, political analyst – “Ultimately, the real degree of resilience in the Eastern Partnership depends on the state of critical infrastructure and how the EU prioritizes it in its relations with its eastern neighbors …” In the post-2020 period, the eastern neighbourhood of the European Union (EU) will be subjected to generate state resilience. This is extremely necessary for its eastern neighbors, but equally useful for European geopolitical interests. The European institutions envisage vertical transformations in the Eastern Partnership that concern the political, economic, environmental and societal arteries. These are essential for the functioning of any state. They…
A contingent of 75 soldiers from the Honor Guard Company will go to Moscow on June 24th to take part in the moscow parade in Red Square, at the indication of President Igor Dodon. The decision is criticized by both, civil society and several politicians and not only for moral reasons, but also because Russia is a champion of the number of COVID-19 infections. The information was communicated to the Ziarul de Garda, by the press officer of the Ministry of Defence, Ala Diaconu. “A contingent of the National Army will participate in the parade on June 24, 2020 in…
The world has not become a more secure place during these five years; if anything, the opposite is true. The main external threats to Estonia’s security remain the same. Russia will continue to strengthen its military power in the European direction. In the immediate region of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the balance of military power is tilted in favour of Russia. For example, not a single NATO member anywhere in Europe has missile systems comparable to the Iskander short range ballistic missiles, which Russia has placed close to the Estonian and Lithuanian borders. Globally, there are many regions where Russia…