As part of the program Regional Initiative for combating disinformation “Western Balkans Combatting disinformation Center: Exposing malicious influences through fact-checking and Analytical Journalism“, we present you a new analysis of fake news and disinformation narratives.
Ukraine and the EU are linked by united chains of corruption
https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/715154/ukrajina-i-eu-su-povezane-ujedinjenim-lancima-korupcije
The statement by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, in which Ukraine and the European Union are described as being linked by “united chains of corruption,” represents a continuation of an established Russian media narrative that simultaneously seeks to delegitimize both the EU and the Ukrainian state. This type of discourse is particularly prevalent in pro-Russian media and is used to relativize Russia’s responsibility for the war in Ukraine by shifting the focus from aggression to the alleged “inherent immorality” of the West.
Zakharova’s central thesis is based on claims about corruption scandals in the European Union and Ukraine, which are presented as evidence of their alleged interconnectedness and shared responsibility. The so-called “Mindich case” is cited as a key example. Ukraine’s Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) announced that during Operation “Mida,” Mindich was identified as the organizer of a mechanism for illegal fundraising and money laundering in the energy sector. Due to his close ties with President Zelensky, this case is used in pro-Russian narratives as proof of alleged systemic corruption, accompanied by claims that international anti-corruption institutions remain silent because of Brussels’ involvement.
Such interpretations ignore the fact that the European Union has institutional mechanisms for detecting and prosecuting corruption, including public investigations and political accountability. Particularly problematic is the claim of mass desertion within the Ukrainian army, which is linked—without evidence—to corruption and the misuse of Western aid. This narrative serves a clear propaganda function: to weaken the legitimacy of Ukrainian resistance and reduce international support, relying primarily on emotionally charged assertions rather than verifiable facts.
Zakharova also addresses peace negotiations, arguing that the identity of Ukrainian representatives is irrelevant and that talks should instead focus on the “root causes of the crisis.” This formulation is characteristic of the Russian narrative, which does not see the causes of the war in military aggression but rather in a broader and vague framework of security architecture and Western policy. In this way, responsibility is deliberately diluted and shifted away from Moscow’s concrete decisions.
Another part of the statements refers to attacks in the Black Sea, EU sanctions, and the alleged hypocrisy of the West in the field of human rights. European sanctions are portrayed as the “theft of Russian property,” while European citizens are depicted as victims of their own elites. At the same time, the EU is accused of the selective application of human rights, in an attempt to equate democratic systems with authoritarian practices, ignoring institutional differences and public accountability in European states.
Finally, statements regarding Denmark and military assistance to Ukraine fit into the standard security narrative in which the West is accused of escalation and of supporting “neo-Nazi structures.” This rhetoric aims to morally discredit Western actors and justify Russian “countermeasures.”
Overall, this news item represents a typical example of a Russian disinformation narrative that relies on generalizations, emotionally charged claims, and selective interpretations of events. Its function is not to inform, but to shape perceptions in which the European Union and Ukraine are portrayed as corrupt, illegitimate, and morally inferior actors, thereby further deepening divisions and relativizing responsibility for the ongoing conflict.
Author: Nataša Stanojević
