Unveil the Truth: Eastern Partnership Fact-Checkers Conference

At the "Unveil the Truth: Eastern Partnership Fact-Checkers Conference," our researcher and analyst Anastasiia Saienko delivered an in-depth analysis of how Russian propaganda manipulates historical and religious narratives to achieve its strategic goals.

Russia distorts the legacy of Kyivan Rus to legitimize its territorial ambitions and promote the idea of cultural unity with Ukraine, positioning itself as the rightful heir to Kyiv's history. This undermines Ukraine's sovereignty and reinforces Russia's geopolitical dominance. Religion plays a crucial role in this strategy. The Russian Orthodox Church, under Patriarch Kirill, collaborates with the government to advance the "Russian World" ideology, which seeks to unite Russians, Belarusians, and Ukrainians. This ideology helps justify Russian aggression towards Ukraine. Additionally, Russian media amplifies anti-Western narratives, portraying the West as a threat to traditional values and sovereignty. By framing Western influence as destabilizing, Russia aims to erode trust in institutions like NATO and the EU, both in Ukraine and other post-Soviet nations.Here are the main takeaways from her speech:

1️ Historical Manipulation
Russia distorts the history of Kyivan Rus to fabricate a false narrative of cultural unity, denying Ukraine’s independent historical legacy.
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2️ Religious Tool of Influence
The Russian Orthodox Church promotes the "Russian World" ideology, which is used to justify regional domination and aggression against Ukraine.

3️ Anti-Western RhetoricRussian media claims the West uses Ukraine to weaken Russia, promoting distrust of NATO and the EU while framing the West as a threat to sovereignty.