# Pro-Kremlin outlets boost content that casts doubt on Ukrainian rape victims

Hoaxlines • Aug 3, 2022
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<br>

## Summary

- Pro-Kremlin media used the firing of an official to discredit Ukrainian rape victims, even though this official was not the only source of information. Two pieces of content that cited the same article were republished on many other websites. Russian intelligence controls at least one of the republishing websites.
- After articles from RT and Moon of Alabama came out on May 31, 2022, English-language websites started to publish content claiming Ukrainian reports of rape were not valid. Outlets backlinking to this story included those that [Miburo](https://clintwatts.substack.com/p/russias-propaganda-and-disinformation?s=r), a malign influence research group, and the [federal](https://www.state.gov/russias-pillars-of-disinformation-and-propaganda-report/) [government](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-15/us-accuses-financial-website-of-spreading-russian-propaganda) have identified as part of the Russian propaganda and disinformation [ecosystem](https://clintwatts.substack.com/p/russias-propaganda-and-disinformation?s=r). The Moon of Alabama article was linked to and mentioned significantly more often than the one from RT.
- The dismissive stories came out after the Ukrainian government let go of Lyudmila Denisova, a human rights official. Denisova “did not set up humanitarian corridors and the exchange of prisoners,” the Ukrainian government said. Instead, she focused on sharing stories about sexual assaults, for which she could not share evidence. This performance was unacceptable to the Ukrainian government.
- In sexual assault crimes, officials, and law enforcement often cannot share more information without exposing the victim to further trauma. The Epstein trial is [an example](https://twitter.com/adamdavidson/status/1533082314321842179?s=20&t=q2Tu6id65TCJcr372Pi8Rw) of this. Evidence of rape as a weapon in this war did not come from the dismissed official alone. The most compelling evidence is physical. Medical examiners found evidence of rape among victims of mass killings in Bucha.
- On June 6, at the 9056th meeting of the UN Security Council, representatives from Ghana, Brazil, Belgium, and Germany condemned the behavior of Russian soldiers in response to reports of them weaponizing rape against Ukrainian civilians.

<br>

## Story timelines and network analysis


### [Moon of Alabama](https://archive.ph/20220601020851/https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/05/rape-allegations-against-russian-troops-in-ukraine-were-fake.html#more)

On May 31, [RT.com](https://archive.ph/20220531195426/https://www.rt.com/russia/556400-ukraine-fire-official-russian-crimes/) and [Moon of Alabama](https://archive.ph/20220601020851/https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/05/rape-allegations-against-russian-troops-in-ukraine-were-fake.html#more) published stories. Both outlets portrayed the claims about war crimes, including the accusations of sexual assault of adults and children, as totally without merit. RT is a popular outlet [under the control](https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pillars-of-Russia%E2%80%99s-Disinformation-and-Propaganda-Ecosystem_08-04-20.pdf) of the Russian state, but that article didn’t attract as much attention as the piece published on Moon of Alabama.

Moon of Alabama is a [pro-Kremlin](https://hoaxlines.nimbusweb.me/share/7055662/9y1tyrtvc5qhbqnawyy5) website that at least one extremist researcher has reported to Hoaxlines is popular with QAnon [and](https://archive.ph/wip/00ywe) [other conspiracy](https://archive.ph/wip/wsD7L) groups. Before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the Moon of Alabama had been referenced or [shared by](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-051616/https://t.me/geromanat/74) [pro-Kremlin](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-051427/https://t.me/sakeritalianotizie/11054), [QAnon](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-051602/https://t.me/BandOfBrothersQ/64325), and [White Supremacist](https://hoaxlines.nimbusweb.me/share/7061578/dh9yw2i1q1kaw39nu1vn#b212428417_1) groups. [Belarusian KGB](http://archive.today/2022.06.02-232358/https://t.me/zheltyeslivy/45941), [Russian](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-051933/https://t.me/ChDambiev/16023)-[language](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-052101/https://t.me/pravda_shuravi/13560) channels, and [hyperpartisan](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-061001/https://t.me/georgenews/3760) [English-language](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-062054/https://t.me/DMPatriot17/34972) channels cited Moon of Alabama.

Hoaxlines found at least [53 backlinks](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vTUtq39v6bCwtDH9og5H35AGXhSYgzqjbIZBBXcGHunyIrXLSX7EBmvfSPuKYDBWLU7NZrxTHYvcZmb/pubhtml?gid=838329633&single=true) to the Moon of Alabama article within the first week, meaning that 53 other locations had likely backlinked or republished the Moon of Alabama article.

### [Moon of Alabama](https://archive.ph/20220601020851/https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/05/rape-allegations-against-russian-troops-in-ukraine-were-fake.html#more) → [Zero Hedge](http://archive.today/2022.06.01-042738/https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/ukraine-fires-human-rights-chief-perpetuating-russian-troop-systematic-rape-stories)

The Zero Hedge article was republished on influential websites like [Global Research](https://www.similarweb.com/website/globalresearch.ca/#overview) ([1.3 million](https://nimb.ws/mDhwZa) visits in the past three months) and [InfoWars](https://www.similarweb.com/website/infowars.com/#overview) ([8.5 million](https://nimb.ws/jFaYKu) visits in the past three months) and was translated into many other languages.
- Zero Hedge was the first significant outlet besides RT to [write](http://archive.today/uoM7p) about this story. It did so on June 1 and [backlinked](https://archive.ph/uoM7p#selection-961.152-969.1) to the [Moon of Alabama](https://archive.ph/o/uoM7p/https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/05/rape-allegations-against-russian-troops-in-ukraine-were-fake.html%23more).
- The Zero Hedge piece was republished or cited by [dozens](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQSAttEFjSMnkoyIhYXQ1_HzgEzU-1AkYnUnlugjKr3C1akgME9mZ5-vHw9zcudwyBXi5cU2pSQwQsT/pubhtml?gid=1703129543&single=true) of other websites like [Global Research](https://archive.ph/wip/WN80m), [Freedom of Thought](https://archive.ph/Iq5OT), [Sott.net](https://archive.ph/wip/RbeuV), and [Infowars](https://archive.ph/wip/7cZEc) on the same day, June 1.
- By June 2, [six](https://archive.ph/20220605171108/https://satcong.substack.com/p/the-return-of-president-donald-j-b55?s=r) [different](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-170920/https://askeptic.substack.com/p/daily-report-from-the-ukraine-field-c49?s=r) [Substack](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-171002/https://strangesounds.substack.com/p/it-makes-you-wonder-what-else-they?s=r) [publishers](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-171013/https://ericrosen.substack.com/p/superdooperlooper?s=r) [had backlinked](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-171047/https://lionessofjudah.substack.com/p/end-times-headline-news-f23?s=r) [to the story](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-171054/https://wareagle.substack.com/p/then-dupes-of-socialism-perpetuating?s=r): SÁT-CỘNG, a Skeptic, Strange Sounds, Eric Rosen, Lioness Of Judah Ministry, and Richard Duke.
- [Other language](https://archive.ph/20220605225832/https://dissident.one/2022/06/01/oekraine-ontslaat-eigen-mensenrechtenchef-wegens-het-valselijk-beschuldigen-van-russische-troepen-van-systematische-verkrachting/) [outlets](https://archive.ph/wip/sBoS5) picked up the story rapidly, too.
- Front Nieuws [republished](https://archive.ph/rnEOQ#selection-731.0-733.1) the Zero Hedge article on June 1.
- Greek-language site [Agonaskritis.gr](https://archive.ph/wip/pTMWa) republished on June 2.
- The Zero Hedge story [appeared](https://archive.ph/wip/Jp2Mt) on a Japanese-language website by June 4.

### [Moon of Alabama](https://archive.ph/20220601020851/https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/05/rape-allegations-against-russian-troops-in-ukraine-were-fake.html#more) → [Caitlin Johnstone](http://archive.today/2022.06.01-075603/https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2022/06/01/ukrainian-official-behind-western-media-reports-of-russian-atrocities-fired-by-ukrainian-parliament/)
- RT contributor Caitlin Johnstone published an article on June 1 on a [namesake](http://archive.today/2022.06.01-075603/https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2022/06/01/ukrainian-official-behind-western-media-reports-of-russian-atrocities-fired-by-ukrainian-parliament/) website, [Medium](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-063436/https://caityjohnstone.medium.com/ukrainian-official-behind-western-media-reports-of-russian-atrocities-fired-by-ukrainian-parliament-2032001fa64e), and [Substack](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-065322/https://caitlinjohnstone.substack.com/p/ukrainian-official-behind-western?s=r). A video with an audio version was published on [YouTube](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-070907/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEj3TxI7Wz4) on May 31, ahead of the articles.[¹](https://hoaxlines.org/2022/pro-kremlin-outlets-boost-content-that-casts-doubt-on-ukrainian-rape-victims#6e55db7c082d42beb9a1d7d0229e681b)
- The cross-posted article [cited](http://archive.today/2022.06.01-043518/https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/05/rape-allegations-against-russian-troops-in-ukraine-were-fake.html%23more) Moon of Alabama.
- The Strategic Culture Foundation was among the websites republishing or backlinking Johnstone’s article. The U.S. Treasury [describes](https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0126#:~:text=an%20online%20journal%20registered%20in%20Russia%20that%20is%20directed%20by%20the%20SVR%20and%20closely%20affiliated%20with%20the%20Russian%20Ministry%20of%20Foreign%20Affairs) it as “an online journal registered in Russia that is directed by the SVR and closely affiliated with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
- The [website](https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0126#:~:text=publishes%20conspiracy%20theorists%2C%20giving%20them%20a%20broader%20platform%20to%20spread%20disinformation%2C%20while%20trying%20to%20obscure%20the%20Russian%20origins) “publishes conspiracy theorists, giving them a broader platform to spread disinformation, while trying to obscure the Russian origins.”
- Strategic Culture was [sanctioned](https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0126#:~:text=Treasury%20designated%20SouthFront%20and%20the%20Strategic%20Culture%20Foundation%20pursuant%20to%20E.O.%2013848%20for%20having%20engaged%20in%20foreign%20interference%20in%20the%20U.S.%202020%20presidential%20election.) by the U.S. “for having engaged in foreign interference in the U.S. 2020 presidential election.”

: See the [interactive version](https://www.canva.com/design/DAFCvxX7NX0/1IqcGTD77hT4fIAMV_6qXA/view?website#2).

### [Caitlin Johnstone](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-063436/https://caityjohnstone.medium.com/ukrainian-official-behind-western-media-reports-of-russian-atrocities-fired-by-ukrainian-parliament-2032001fa64e) → [Strategic Culture](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-064930/https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2022/06/02/ukrainian-official-behind-western-media-reports-of-russian-atrocities-fired-by-ukrainian-parliament/) → [Strategic Culture](http://archive.today/2022.06.04-110235/https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2022/06/03/bilderberg-does-china/) → [Zero Hedge](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-065456/https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/escobar-bilderberg-does-china-realizes-chessboard-sucks)
- Strategic Culture Foundation [republished](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-064930/https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2022/06/02/ukrainian-official-behind-western-media-reports-of-russian-atrocities-fired-by-ukrainian-parliament/) an abridged version of the Johnstone article that backlinked to the version published on the open-publishing platform [Medium](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-063436/https://caityjohnstone.medium.com/ukrainian-official-behind-western-media-reports-of-russian-atrocities-fired-by-ukrainian-parliament-2032001fa64e) on June 2.
- The following day, June 3, Strategic Culture published a different piece from [Pepe Escobar](http://archive.today/2022.06.04-110235/https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2022/06/03/bilderberg-does-china/), which [backlinked](https://archive.ph/qMzzX#selection-841.0-841.6) to the Johnstone [article](https://archive.ph/pMS6R) from June 2.
- With its [backlink](https://archive.ph/qMzzX#selection-841.0-841.6) to the Johnstone article, the Escobar article [was](http://archive.today/2022.06.06-213024/http://www.lacasademitia.es/articulo/firmas/bilderberg-hace-china-pepe-escobar/20220604230853125473.html) [distributed](https://archive.ph/20220605223854/https://thealtworld.com/pepe_escobar/bilderberg-does-china) [across a](https://archive.ph/20220605223844/https://www.planet-today.com/2022/06/escobar-bilderberg-does-china-realizes.html) [dozen websites](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vS0pzp_3V23X2rjMIilt4oubtyeP6vZGh9-cmt1b9sSDk0vLRa7Mjywd8SMRPXnZeyaaZoaxx09qK3f/pubhtml?gid=1679622661&single=true) that frequently republish pro-Kremlin content.
- Some outlets [like](https://web.archive.org/web/20220601152834/http://newsnet.fr/209344) [Newsnet.fr](https://web.archive.org/web/20220606091501/http://newsnet.fr/209649), [Sott.net](https://archive.ph/20220605072821/https://www.sott.net/article/468432-Ukrainian-official-behind-western-media-reports-of-Russian-atrocities-fired-by-Ukrainian-parliament), [and](http://archive.today/2022.06.04-192605/https://www.sott.net/article/468503-Bilderberg-does-China) [The Alt](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-065022/https://thealtworld.com/caitlin_johnston/ukrainian-official-behind-western-media-reports-of-russian-atrocities-fired-by-ukrainian-parliament) [World](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-223854/https://thealtworld.com/pepe_escobar/bilderberg-does-china) republished or backlinked to the Johnstone and Escobar articles.
- Zero Hedge [republished](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-065456/https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/escobar-bilderberg-does-china-realizes-chessboard-sucks) the Escobar article that first appeared in Strategic Culture, according to the [Telegr.ph](https://archive.ph/20220606092308/https://telegra.ph/Bilderberg-does-China-06-03#selection-281.0-288.0:~:text=Original%20article%3A%20https%3A//www.strategic%2Dculture.org/news/2022/06/03/bilderberg%2Ddoes%2Dchina/) version. Thus, the backlink direction went Caitlin Johnstone → Strategic Culture → Strategic Culture → Zero Hedge.

**[The Alt World](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-065022/https://thealtworld.com/caitlin_johnston/ukrainian-official-behind-western-media-reports-of-russian-atrocities-fired-by-ukrainian-parliament) (June 1).**

- Other [authors](https://miburo.substack.com/p/telling-on-themselves-indicators?s=r) [published](https://www.global-influence-ops.com/the-strategic-culture-foundation-how-russia-uses-former-western-diplomats-journalists-and-spies-to-further-its-disinformation-efforts/) in The Alt World have ties to Russian state-affiliated media like [Scott Ritter](https://mythdetector.ge/en/profiles/scott-ritter/) ([article](https://archive.ph/IaHF4); [work](https://archive.ph/20220416235543/https://mythdetector.ge/en/3-ukraine-related-disinformation-disseminated-by-russian-propaganda-platforms/#selection-1917.0-1935.305:~:text=On%20March%201,crisis%20in%20Ukraine.) [for or](http://archive.today/2022.06.08-004346/https://www.rt.com/russia/556716-russia-ukraine-himars-us/) [shared](https://nimb.ws/j3eUnB) [by the Russian](https://mythdetector.ge/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screenshot_9-1.png) state), [Alastair](http://archive.today/2022.01.11-174254/https://www.strategic-culture.org/contributors/alastair-crooke/) [Crooke](https://www.global-influence-ops.com/the-strategic-culture-foundation-how-russia-uses-former-western-diplomats-journalists-and-spies-to-further-its-disinformation-efforts/) ([article](https://archive.ph/20220607044158/https://thealtworld.com/alastair_crooke/the-world-doesnt-work-that-way-anymore); [content](http://archive.today/2022.04.25-175315/https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2022/04/25/the-dynamics-of-escalation-standing-with-ukraine/) [creator for](http://archive.today/2022.05.02-170933/https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2022/05/02/the-blind-alleys-of-european-politics/) Strategic Culture, a [sanctioned](https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0126#:~:text=The%20Strategic%20Culture,trust%20the%20sourcing.) [SVR-run](https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pillars-of-Russia%E2%80%99s-Disinformation-and-Propaganda-Ecosystem_08-04-20.pdf) outlet), [Eva](https://twitter.com/Cen4infoRes/status/1518104800621215744?s=20&t=3vB5TEpFi86msyk5PXqJOQ) [Barlett ](https://www.rt.com/op-edge/authors/eva-bartlett/)([article](https://archive.ph/PL3Ph); [RT](https://www.state.gov/report-rt-and-sputniks-role-in-russias-disinformation-and-propaganda-ecosystem/) contributor), and [Dilyana](https://archive.ph/wip/77u29) [Gaytandzhieva](https://mythdetector.ge/en/profiles/gaytandzhieva-dilyana/) ([article](http://archive.today/2021.04.02-032256/https://thealtworld.com/author/dilyana_gaytandzhieva); [a content](https://archive.ph/wip/gsM8H) [creator](http://archive.today/2020.04.16-131635/https://southfront.org/pentagon-bio-weapons/) for SouthFront, an [FSB-operated](https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0126#:~:text=The%20FSB%20directly,presidential%20election%20cycle.) outlet).

**[The Francophone Saker](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-064643/https://lesakerfrancophone.fr/les-accusations-de-viol-contre-les-troupes-russes-en-ukraine-etaient-fausses) (June 1).**
- The French-language version of The Saker [republished](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-064643/https://lesakerfrancophone.fr/les-accusations-de-viol-contre-les-troupes-russes-en-ukraine-etaient-fausses) the Moon of Alabama article but also [linked ](https://archive.ph/fEZ4h#selection-1597.0-1623.1:~:text=As%20Cailtlin%20Johnstone%20aptly%20points%20out%20in%20his%20latest%20article%20on%20the%20same%20topic%3A%20%E2%80%9CThis%20news%20shows%20that%20even%20the%20Ukrainian%20government%20is%20more%20skeptical%20of%20Ukrainian%20government%20claims%20than%20the%20mainstream%20Western%20press.%20%C2%BB)to Johnstone’s article.
- The Francophone Saker is part of the [Saker family](https://nimb.ws/KwHPto) of websites (The Saker in various languages) that disinformation research organizations have [called](https://euvsdisinfo.eu/the-saker-blind-loyalty-disguised-as-defiance/) “a franchise for an international network of pro-Kremlin outlets.”
- Hoaxlines assesses the site as a “partner” based on our [definition](https://hoaxlines.org/2022/appendix-cast-doubt-on-victims), [independent](https://clintwatts.substack.com/p/russias-disinformation-ecosystem?s=r) [researchers](https://euvsdisinfo.eu/the-saker-blind-loyalty-disguised-as-defiance/), the U.S. State Department’s [mention](https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pillars-of-Russia%E2%80%99s-Disinformation-and-Propaganda-Ecosystem_08-04-20.pdf) of the website in “Pillars of Russia’s Disinformation and Propaganda Ecosystem,” and The Saker’s [partnership](https://web.archive.org/web/20150910052151/http://southfront.org/) with [SouthFront](https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0126), “an online disinformation site registered in Russia that receives taskings from the [FSB](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Security_Service).”
- SouthFront, [according](https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0126) to the U.S. federal government, “targets military enthusiasts, veterans, and conspiracy theorists” and has been sanctioned by the U.S. for “acting on behalf of the FSB.”

**[Sott.net](https://archive.ph/w8Hz3) (June 1).**

- Sott.net [backlinked](http://archive.today/2022.06.05-072821/https://www.sott.net/article/468432-Ukrainian-official-behind-western-media-reports-of-Russian-atrocities-fired-by-Ukrainian-parliament) and republished the Substack version of the Johnstone article. It then published an article from [Zero Hedge](https://archive.ph/20220608170913/https://www.sott.net/article/468458-Ukraine-fires-own-human-rights-chief-for-pushing-fantastical-claims-of-systematic-rape-by-Russian-troops) on the same topic, taking the same stance. This may indicate editorial decision-making is outsourced [RSS aggregation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_aggregator).


- [Sott.net](http://archive.today/2022.06.04-192605/https://www.sott.net/article/468503-Bilderberg-does-China) also republished Strategic Culture’s [Escobar](http://archive.today/2022.06.04-110235/https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2022/06/03/bilderberg-does-china/) story.
- On the French-language version, [fr.Sott.net](https://archive.ph/20220608200916/https://fr.sott.net/article/40162-Bilderberg-vise-la-Chine), the Escobar story was republished but sourced from [Reseau International](http://archive.today/2022.06.08-210249/https://reseauinternational.net/bilderberg-vise-la-chine/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bilderberg-vise-la-chine).
- Reseau International is an outlet [known](https://www.disinfo.eu/publications/how-two-information-portals-hide-their-ties-to-the-russian-news-agency-inforos) for publishing content from the GRU via InfoRos.
- Hoaxlines assesses Sott.net as a “partner” because of its previous [partnership](https://web.archive.org/web/20150910052151/http://southfront.org/) with [SouthFront](https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0126), “an online disinformation site registered in Russia that receives taskings from the [FSB](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Security_Service).” As mentioned earlier, SouthFront “targets military enthusiasts, veterans, and conspiracy theorists” and has been [sanctioned](https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0126) by the U.S. for “acting on behalf of the FSB.”

**[Consortium News](https://archive.ph/9hX7J) (June 1)**.

- Consortium News is an outlet [categorized](https://adfontesmedia.com/consortium-news-bias-reliability/) as “hyper-partisan left” by Ad Fontes Media, which uses evidence-based assessment and bipartisan reviewers.
- According to Consortium News, the outlet has a history of [processing](https://archive.ph/20190530213553/https://twitter.com/consortiumnews/status/1083812955861540864) “donations from North America” for Russia Insider.

- The outlet [denies](https://archive.ph/20190530213553/https://twitter.com/consortiumnews/status/1083812955861540864#selection-4713.0-4713.231:~:text=Russia%20Insider%20was%20never%20%22a%20part%20of%20Consortium%20News.%22%20For%20a%20time%20CN%20processed%20donations%20from%20North%20America%20but%20ceased%20doing%20so.%20Russia%20Insider%20republishes%20our%20stories%20from%20time%20to%20time%20without%20our%20permission%20and%20against%20our%20wishes.) Russia Insider was part of Consortium News and stated, “Russia Insider republishes our stories…without our permission and against our wishes.”

**[Lew Rockwell](https://archive.ph/wip/9IPrR) (June 2)**.

- Rockwell founded the Mises Institute, [described](https://www.cssn.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/CSSN-Mises-Research-Report.pdf) as “a concerted effort to disseminate climate opposition discourse, featuring a clear spike in published articles during 2019.”
- The MCFC’s [assessment](https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/lew-rockwell/) of the Lew Rockwell website was poor. “Overall, we rate Lew Rockwell questionable based on extreme right bias, promotion of propaganda, conspiracy theories, pseudoscience, and failed fact checks.”

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# The disinformation

The articles undermine victims’ rape and sexual assault claims by presenting a dismissed official as evidence that the claims were fabricated. Evidence that rape has been weaponized is strong, and physical evidence has already been [collected](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/25/evidence-ukraine-women-raped-before-being-killed-say-doctors-russia-war) from victims. Russian soldiers [have uploaded](https://www.news.com.au/world/europe/russian-soldier-arrested-for-raping-baby-in-ukraine-after-sick-video/news-story/4369cbb9d8a92968b8ea8e1b093dada2) [images](https://twitter.com/lyla_lilas/status/1525210312932265989?s=21&t=6QQ8ddS4B3mtgf3WaVqK5w) of many types of crimes and [intercepted](https://twitter.com/ServiceSsu/status/1509110830658375680?s=20&t=Qw2A_g330zSqzwnobDzifQ) [calls from](https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-rape-russian-soldier-wife-bykovsky/31805486.html) [soldiers](https://twitter.com/ServiceSsu/status/1509110830658375680?s=20&t=0s6iH-3VXp3zq3uksf5xig) suggest that rape is widespread.

[Some victims](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61071243) [have chosen](https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-women-violence-russia-soldiers/31805398.html) [to speak publicly](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/ukrainian-rape-survivor-russia-bucha-hostomel-rcna24540), but we should not blame them for not wanting to share details. For too many unfortunate women, Russian soldiers appear to have [murdered them after the assault](https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1510333131320090633?s=20&t=ivnlLSGbI_nw_Ccu-yI37g). Their fates are known only from the evidence left behind. Some families [decide to tell](https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/22/europe/ukraine-sexual-violence-allegations-russia-cmd-intl/index.html) [their lost](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/one-soldier-raped-me-then-the-other-as-my-son-cried-7xbqwzdqw) loved ones’ stories. In late April, medical examiners [found](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/25/evidence-ukraine-women-raped-before-being-killed-say-doctors-russia-war) evidence of rape among the deceased:

> Forensic doctors carrying out postmortem examinations on bodies in mass graves north of Kyiv say they have found evidence that some women were raped before being killed by Russian forces.

Sima Bacchus, Executive Director of UN Women, [stated](https://news.un.org/ru/story/2022/04/1421702?fbclid=IwAR3os3t-7Nftpymb_9jAiKLIhvKVTe28W66uX1HQI4GvQYGxmTrIH4teQ1k) on April 11, 2022:

> The war has forced millions of Ukrainian women and girls to leave their homes, jobs, and schools in the middle of the night and flee from bombs and shelling. Among those who remained, there are many victims—gang rapes, murders, and other crimes are reported. A whole generation of Ukrainian women has been traumatized. At the same time, thousands of Ukrainian women helped their compatriots survive the war by staying at their jobs. The Security Council today discussed the consequences of the war for children and the female half of Ukraine.

Katerina Turtle, head of the Ukrainian human rights organization La Strada, [said](https://news.un.org/ru/story/2022/04/1421702?fbclid=IwAR3os3t-7Nftpymb_9jAiKLIhvKVTe28W66uX1HQI4GvQYGxmTrIH4teQ1k):

> We know that many of these crimes are unlikely to be solved or will never be solved. Many of the victims were killed by Russian occupiers, who tried to cover up these crimes. We know about all these atrocities, and we want you to hear that the Russian invaders in Ukraine use violence and rape as a weapon.

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## Recommended reads

- [A Decade of Deceit](https://novelscience.substack.com/p/a-decade-of-deceit-examining-over?s=w): Over ten years of pro-Kremlin narratives from a single Twitter user.
- [After Putin’s bungled invasion, Russian state media still ran a now-deleted victory article](https://novelscience.substack.com/p/after-putins-bungled-invasion-russian?s=w).

## References

- [Definitions](https://hoaxlines.org/2022/appendix-cast-doubt-on-victims)
- [Interactive Graphic](https://www.canva.com/design/DAFCvxX7NX0/1IqcGTD77hT4fIAMV_6qXA/view?website#2)
- [Entities funded or controlled by the Russian state](https://hoaxlines.org/2022/appendix-cast-doubt-on-victims/entities-controlled-or-funded-by-the-russian-state)

## Footnotes

1. Search “Caitlin Johnstone” returns [112 articles](http://archive.today/2022.06.09-134747/https://www.rt.com/search?q=caitlin+johnstone&type=) on RT.com. The [oldest result](https://archive.ph/wip/EW5KG) was a 2017 article about Julian Assange in which Johnstone is quoted.

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