Russian special services are using reports of an explosion in Monaco, which injured businessman Vadym Yermolaiev, to promote the narrative of a "threat from Ukrainian special services to the EU." This was reported by UNN citing the Center for Strategic Communications.
Details
Russian propaganda within this campaign unequivocally blames the SBU and the Ukrainian authorities. Yesterday, June 30, about 150 publications about "state terrorism" by Ukraine were recorded.
The main narratives of the campaign are as follows:
- Ukraine is a threat to the security of European citizens;
- Ukrainian migrants are a "potential risk";
- Supporting Ukraine is dangerous.
The goal of this campaign is to form an image of Ukraine as a "terrorist state" that allegedly commits violent acts on EU territory. Separately, Russian propagandists are using the incident to pressure European governments to reduce military and financial aid to Kyiv.
Context
On June 30, an explosion occurred in a residential building in Monaco, injuring three people. According to Ukrainian media, the explosion was likely an assassination attempt on former Ukrainian businessman and oligarch Vadym Yermolaiev.
Later, it became known that the suspect fled to France. The Monaco prosecutor's office classified the explosion as an attempted murder, not a terrorist act.