Manipulation around photos from Ukrainian soldiers’ funerals
On social media, a cynical manipulation is being spread to promote the narrative of the so-called “staged war” in Ukraine. Photographs of a child taken at funerals of fallen Ukrainian soldiers are being used for this purpose.
▫️ In particular, a series of photos from different farewell ceremonies shows the same boy carrying portraits of different fallen soldiers. The authors of manipulative posts claim that the boy allegedly “plays the role of a son” and has “already buried several of his fathers.” This is presented as “evidence” that such images are supposedly staged and that “Ukrainian propaganda manipulates the emotions of the West.”
▫️ In reality, these claims are outright lies. As reported to the Center by the Otyniia Village Council (Ivano-Frankivsk region), the boy is a local resident who voluntarily attends the funerals of fallen Heroes, carrying their portraits as a sign of respect and gratitude. None of the public reports on the farewells indicated that he was carrying a portrait of his own father. Real photos were deliberately taken out of context and used to create a false impression of “staging.”
▫️ This manipulative narrative was initially spread by russian information resources, but such messages are now also actively circulating in the Polish social media segment, accompanied by anti-Ukrainian rhetoric.
The goal of this information attack is to discredit Ukraine and cast doubt on the reality of russian war crimes, creating the illusion of the “staged nature” of the war. Using a child in such manipulation is particularly cynical and indicative of russian propaganda methods.
