Russian propaganda resorts to discrediting Kyiv City Council

Pro-Russian Telegram channels spread information indicating that the Kyiv City Council had allegedly purchased blue and yellow fabric and thread worth UAH 1,564,000. As proof, they provide a screenshot from the ProZorro public e-procurement system. The propagandists claim that the Kyiv City Council supposedly used the fabric and thread to create a huge Ukrainian flag, which was unfurled over the Dnipro River on June 9 during the sports, psychological and rehabilitation event "Hero, we need you not only on the battlefield."

This is a fake. The screenshot was created in a graphic editor. The Kyiv City Council did not conduct such a procurement. Furthermore, it is not listed in the ProZorro system, and a search for the tender by ID number yields a completely different result.

In addition, a check of the Kyiv City Council using the EDRPOU code in the ProZorro system revealed that no such procurement was conducted in May 2024.

In a commentary to Ukrinform, Nadiya Strelnikova, whose name was used by the propagandists in the fake news and who is actually involved in tenders at the Kyiv City Council, said that no such procurement was made.

The event "Hero, we need you not only on the battlefield" was organized in partnership with the Kyiv City Department of Public Communications. Representatives of the department told Ukrinform that the event was held as part of the implementation of the city competition projects: "Public Perspective: Transparent Government and Active Community," and no funds were provided or allocated for the creation of the flag.

Dmytro Badrak