Russian fake news: Fortune teller in Ukraine makes protective charms against mobilization
Russian mass media outlets and Z-oriented Telegram channels are spreading the alleged screenshots of an advertisement placed on the OLX marketplace platform. They show “molfar Kseniia” who promises to make charms against conscription for men, which would cost UAH 1,000 each. The advertisement is titled as “fortune teller, tarot, clairvoyant, love magic”.
This is another Russian fake. There are neither an advertisement titled as “fortune teller, tarot, clairvoyant, love magic” nor charms against conscription or mobilization, which would be sold on the OLX marketplace platform.
With the help of a reverse image search service, we came to the conclusion that the fake screenshots were spread mainly by Russian websites and Telegram channels.
The primary source of disinformation is Russia’s propagandist Telegram channel, Ukropskiy Fresh, which often posts fake news stories about the Ukrainian Army.
It is worth noting that Russians who want to avoid conscription do turn to fortune tellers. In particular, one of the main Russian mass media outlets posted an online article about how local fortune tellers take advantage of those who want to buy a ritual that would protect them from mobilization.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine started, Russian propagandists have produced a lot of fake news stories related to mobilization. In December 2023, Ukrinform refuted disinformation messages about military summons sent via the Diia app, the phone number of Chernihiv Regional Military Commissariat in the advertisements offering help to people in difficulties, mobilization efforts at a children’s New Year party in Vinnytsia, and draft notices handed over at ice rinks in Kyiv.
Earlier, Russian propagandists also invented the alleged mobilization of minor orphans in Ukraine.
Andrii Olenin
