Massive distortion, disinformation campaign about the war: Ukrainian media call for Moscow's propaganda in Russian-language version of Euronews to stop

This was announced by Ukrainian media representatives on September 13, in an open appeal regarding manipulations on the topic of war on the air of the Russian-language version of the Euronews TV channel.

"During the entire period of active struggle on the information front in the international space, we see many positive developments, but we notice how Kremlin narratives are more cautiously and natively spread by other media, in particular, by the Russian editors of the Euronews TV channel," the appeal reads.

According to the media community, media analysts examined the materials that appeared over five days in the Russian-language version of Euronews and came to the conclusion that the channel engages in massive daily media manipulations on the topic of war.

"It is not about outright fakes, but about a point  and systematic, therefore effective influence on the audience. Viewers are imperceptibly imposing a pro-Russian understanding of the cause-and-effect relationships of what is happening in Ukraine, about the role of the Russian Federation in these processes, about responsibility of the parties in the war, etc. Materials with manipulative elements are present on the air every day and are 'scattered' among more or less 'unbiased and equidistant' materials," the journalists wrote. 

It is also noted that the Russian-language version of the TV channel shifts the focus of the causes and consequences of the war.

"As for the methods of manipulation used in the materials, it is shifting the focus from the causes/consequences of the war to individual details and false arguments, highlighting only those details necessary for the Kremlin's propaganda from an unfavorable news outlet, repeatedly repeating artificial propaganda news outlets, etc," the appeal reads.

It is reported that the Euronews channel has a wide coverage of 400 million households in 160 countries, 68% of which are concentrated in Europe, and Euronews reaches more than 145 million people every month.

"Accordingly, it cannot be allowed that a key broadcaster of European news, even in some language versions, presents a dubious presentation of the facts, especially when it comes to the war in Ukraine. This is a responsibility that costs the lives of thousands of Ukrainians. Now is the time for as many people as possible in the world to learn more about Ukraine, its history, European identity, related values, ​​and its role in the modern world," the message reads.

"We count on your support and believe in the bright future of Ukraine, on which the future of the whole world directly depends," the signatories said.