Thread by @DFRLab

As the situation in #Ukraine continues to rapidly escalate, today’s #RussianHybridWarReport🇷🇺 covers the latest on #Russia’s ongoing aggression, how social media companies are protecting user data, and Russian media’s curious lack of the word “war.” 🧵⬇️ atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atla…

.@Meta created a “Special Operations Center” to monitor war content on @Facebook/@instagram. The tool was used when the #Taliban took #Afghanistan. Meta also activated their one-click privacy tool to secure user data and shield users from surveillance.

https://twitter.com/ngleicher/status/1496909654072315915?s=20&t=QrzjL6SLYlSaQj-7Z3w-zg

@Meta @Facebook @instagram .@Patreon removed a fundraising campaign for a Ukrainian charity that collects donations for the Ukrainian military. #Patreon has a longstanding, if inconsistent, ban on the financing of violent activities but said funds raised would go to charity. cnbc.com/2022/02/24/pat…

On Sunday, #Russia-state owned media TASS listed Russian losses and acknowledged #Putin’s frustration with the war thus far. Now removed, one theory is that someone at TASS intentionally leaked the info. Others speculated that TASS may have been hacked.

https://twitter.com/kamerknc/status/1498019480877809665

In a narrative shift, #Kremlin media are spreading #disinformation implying that #Ukraine’s army is demoralized. Fact-checkers saw an increase in stories of this nature as well as the continued push by Russian state media to paint Ukraine as the aggressor. stopfake.org/ru/category/no…

As many Russian celebrities publicly condemn #Russia’s invasion of #Ukraine, some are already experiencing consequences for their actions. State-media cancelled TV shows, while some saw ticket sales suspended, and other still received online harassment. france24.com/en/live-news/2…

In #Belarus, Belarus Cyber Partisans announced the “collapse” of Belarus Railway’s computer systems “to slow down the deployment of occupying troops and give Ukrainians more time to repel the attack.” This was the second attempt in recent weeks. t.me/cpartisans/702

Pro-#Kremlin media outlets are refusing to use the term “war,” instead referring to the situation in #Ukraine as a “special military operation.” For example, #RT's site says “special operation,” yet frequently uses the term “war” to describe Ukrainian action.

A Russian newspaper published a commentary comparing the war in #Ukraine to #Gaza and claimed Ukraine had been bombing the so-called #Donetsk people’s republic for 8 years. The letter then went on to claim that 100% of residents in Donetsk are Russians rather than Ukrainians.

Two Mexican outlets amassed 100K's of views by misleadingly claiming that the #US will invade #Mexico following #Russia's invasion. The videos distorted an interview w/ former President Trump. At no point does Trump suggest an invasion, but rather an increase in border security.

#Georgia’s PM said #Ukraine failed to avoid war and announced that Georgia won't join in sanctions against #Russia. The remarks were praised by Russian media while thousands of Georgian citizens protested in the streets in support of #Ukraine. jam-news.net/ge/irakli-ghar…

On Friday, President Bzhania of #Georgia’s #Abkhazia breakaway region signed decrees recognizing the #Donetsk and #Luhansk people’s republics. Bzhaina claimed “militant nationalism” and radical political forces deprived Ukraine of the ability to negotiate. apsnypress.info/ru/item/6849-a…

As always, you can keep up-to-the minute with the @AtlanticCouncil's live blog featuring experts from @DFRLab, @ACEurasia, @ACEurope, @ACGeoEcon, and more: atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atla…

Today's #RussianHybridWarReport🇷🇺 was contributed to by: @etbrooking, @acarvin, @nikaaleksejeva, @SGelava, @DanielSuarezPer, and @IngridDickinso9.

Read the full report: atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atla…