The internet is another front where active struggles against the Russian army take place every moment. Some may consider this ridiculous, but in fact, social media is where we receive the latest news and monitor the public reaction to it daily. Realizing the importance of this information transmission channel, the occupiers try to manipulate not only the consciousness of their own country's population but also ours. Hence, there are numerous fake reports about "biolabs" and "Nazis."

The main task of propagandists is to increase the level of aggression and panic among civilians. The charitable fund "Pryame Vklyuchennya" will tell you how to protect yourself and your country from such "stuffing" during the war.

Rule #1: Trust Official Sources

Even a year after the beginning of a full-scale war, you can still fall for propaganda bait. If an information channel or resource occasionally publishes "insider" information about the start of a large-scale offensive or a new missile attack with a specific date, we advise you to unsubscribe from such mailing lists. Trust only official state structures and representatives of local authorities. Unless the information is published in one of these channels, it cannot be considered true.

Rule #2: Learn How to Fact-Check

Last spring, the whole world learned about the atrocities of the Russian army in Bucha. Thousands of photos of murdered people in the streets, frank stories of violence from the local population, horrifying footage from torture chambers, and finally, satellite footage - all of this became indisputable evidence of the enemy's war crimes. At the same time, enemy propagandists assured their citizens that the photos were fake, and the witnesses were just actors. The most interesting thing is that these narratives found support, and eventually, a portion of the informationally illiterate population of Russia believed them.

One reason why the global community did not believe such refutations is the reaction of Ukrainians. This leads to the next point.

Rule #3: Get Involved in Spreading Sensational Cases

Thanks to the activity of our fellow citizens on social media, the world knows about the destruction of the Mariupol drama theater, the missile attack on "Amstor" in Kremenchuk, the cynical killing of prisoners of war in Olenivka, and many other crimes for which the terrorist country will be held responsible in the future. The buzz around the news helps in gathering facts: it is easier for investigators to find witnesses or identify victims as people start to contact them with valuable information.

Rule #4: Don't Let the Boat Rock

Another goal of the enemy is to weaken the internal unity of Ukrainians and discredit the army and government. As is well-known, a lack of trust reduces the ability to resist. Understanding this, the enemy "throws out" messages such as "the population of Ukraine may be left without electricity for a month." At the same time, articles appear about selling electricity abroad and possible tariff increases. As can be understood, a heated debate emerges in society, and aggressive messages are being spread. This is precisely what the manipulations aim to do - destabilize the internal situation.

Do not allow manipulators to control you. Our main goal is to act against our enemies, not our brothers.

In addition to these rules, the charitable foundation "Pryame Vklyuchennya" reminds us of the importance of keeping information about the movement of Ukrainian military equipment, the location of strategically important objects, and the places where enemy shells hit quiet on social media. The power of the internet should not be underestimated, especially in times of war.