Stop fakes: 20 reliable sources of information about current events in Ukraine
Source: Depositphotos “The truth about Russia’s war in Ukraine” collection
On February 24, 2022, at 4 am, Russia attacked Ukraine. The aggressor shelled military and civilian facilities — residential areas, hospitals, maternity centers, schools, kindergartens, etc. On March 17, World Health Organization verified 43 attacks on health care facilities, with 12 people killed and 34 injured, including health workers. WHO estimates the general number of people impacted in Ukraine at 18 million.
Some Ukrainian cities such as Kharkiv, Mariupol, Bucha, Irpin, and Hostomel are almost completely destroyed, while others are occupied. Moreover, Russia doesn’t leave attempts to seize the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv. And while the war is going on in the military front, the aggressor is also actively fighting on the information field, spreading outrageous lies about the invasion to justify the war.
During these turbulent times, we, the VistaCreate team, are using our website as a media platform to tell you the truth about the war in Ukraine. We have collected the top 20 reliable sources of information — from Ukrainian and global news to social media accounts of Ukrainian politicians and correspondents on the ground.
But first, what is an informational war?
To put it simply, informational war or information warfare (IW) is the same as a regular war, the only difference being — the battle goes on in the information field. Information warfare is not about capturing cities, but people’s minds by misleading, disorienting, and dividing them. Info warfare includes manipulation of facts, using propaganda techniques, and spreading false information.
The antidote to IW could be information hygiene, i.e. a set of measures that expose propaganda, explain the mechanisms of information warfare, and provide education on fact-checking.
How to spot fakes?
❌ The article is based on emotions, not on supporting sources
If an article is emotionally charged, but has no analysis and direct links to reliable sources, then this is not journalism, but a propaganda weapon. Trustworthy media provides readers with facts, not emotions.
❌ The news is provided by a Russian state media agency
Russia spreads its propaganda via official state channels sponsored by the government: TVzvezda, RT (Russia Today), NTV, Vesti, Izvestia, etc. This type of media receives executive orders issued by the Russian government to tell lies that justify the invasion.
For instance, one of the biggest myths of Russian propaganda is their so-called “military operation” not being about killing civilians, but rather destroying Ukrainian military infrastructure. In reality, they are shelling civilian objects like the Drama theater in Mariupol that also had “Children” spelled out on grounds on two sides of the theater. And this is just one of the latest examples of Russian aggression and inhumanity, as they are bombing Ukrainian cities from day one.
Not to mention state propaganda media, Russian liberal news sources also can’t be trusted. All the Russian media obeys the laws of the aggressor; they are censored, hence, distorting facts.
❌ The author’s writing portfolio seems suspicious
Research the article’s author and their past materials to see their work and find out what media they worked for in the past. If you find out that the journalist has been working in propaganda media or has written political PR articles, then they are biased and untrustworthy.
❌ The news refers to outdated information
As with any military conflict, the war in Ukraine is developing very quickly. Therefore, if you read a new article that relies on some minor events a week ago, it may be a sign of irrelevant information or even fake news.
How to stop fakes?
Although we cannot completely stop the flow of lies that comes from many sources, each of us can influence the situation. Therefore, based on the information above, you should double-check sources of information and quotes. How else can you help stop fake news?
✅ Spread the truth on social media
The best way to stop fake news is by telling the truth. Share links to reliable sources on your social network and explain to your followers what’s going on in Ukraine. Don’t let propaganda prevail on social platforms. Use hashtags #StandWithUkraine, #stopwar #stoprussianaggression, and such to draw more attention to your posts and stories.
✅ Share real photos and videos of what’s going on in Ukraine
Being a sister company of VistaCreate, Depositphotos shows the grim realities of war providing free stock photos of shelled Ukrainian cities and villages, prisoned Russian soldiers, pictures of volunteers, refugees, etc. We encourage you to browse our section The truth about Russia’s war in Ukraine and share these photos with your friends and family.
✅ Follow media sources from non-involved countries
Learn more about the Russian invasion from the international press, as they are not directly involved in the war and don’t have a reason to spread biased information. To help you out, we put together a list of global media that shares reliable and detailed information about the Russia-Ukraine war.
✅ Support independent Ukrainian media
In many countries, including Ukraine, the government and business people sponsor some of the media. So, if you want the truth, consider following independent media platforms founded by journalists dedicated to their mission. Such sources are uncensored and reliable, as they get their funding mainly from readers. Find the list of Ukrainian independent media down below.
Top 5 reliable Ukrainian news websites
We’ve put together a selection of trustworthy Ukrainian sources that have English versions. These media are run by independent Ukrainian journalists, who are currently working from bomb shelters and shelled cities.
1. Kyiv Independent
Kyiv Independent has daily coverage of the Russian invasion; it provides exclusive materials, expert interviews, and even podcasts in English. All this and more — here.
2. Ukrainian Pravda
Ukrainian Pravda shares live updates on the Russian invasion, along with detailed information on the losses of the Russian army. Click here to read.
3. Babel
Babel offers live coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war, provides survival life hacks, a day-by-day chronology of the invasion, and etc. Follow Babel’s reporting here.
4. Ukrinform
Ukrinform is the only national news agency in Ukraine. It provides news in 8 languages: Polish, Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Russian, Ukrainian, and English. Read Ukrinform here.
5. Censor.net
Independent media Censor.NET has no live coverage, but offers news, exclusive interviews, and videos. Click here for their War in Ukraine section.
Top 5 global media that offer a live update on the war
Indeed, the most prominent media worldwide covers current events in Ukraine. However, some global news websites went further and launched special sections dedicated to the war in Ukraine. Here are 5 reputable sources that provide a detailed overview of the Russian invasion.
1. The New York Times
NYT is posting live updates about the war, photos of Ukraine under attack, and maps that track the Russian invasion. Moreover, the media has a separate page dedicated to sanctions against Russia, so you can learn what they are about and which countries have imposed them. Follow their live continued war coverage here.
2. CNN
CNN provides on the grounds reports, the latest updates from the war, refugees, etc. The media has also dedicated a section to Mariupol, the city in South-Eastern Ukraine suffering tremendous destruction, by reporting updates on local events. Click here for CNN live updates on the Russia-Ukraine war.
3. BBC
The BBC is covering the war in Ukraine with live updates, on the ground and front line reports, and The War Explained section with in-depth analyses on Putin’s motivation, cyber war, etc. Read their updates on the War in Ukraine here.
4. The Washington Post
The Washington Post’s “War in Ukraine” section offers live updates, maps of the war, news on refugees, as well as an explanation on the background of the Russian invasion. Explore The Washington Post’s “War in Ukraine” section here.
5. Aljazeera
Aljazeera is posting news and podcasts on the Russia-Ukraine war, offering analytical articles on the topic and a summary of the key events at the end of each day.
Click here for Aljazeera’s coverage of the war in Ukraine.
5 Ukrainian official channels to follow
To get a wider perspective on this war, you need to get first-hand information from officials. So, we’ve written a list of verified official channels and governmental websites where you can get direct quotes from the Ukrainian President and ministers.
1. Ukraine.ua, the official website of Ukraine
Ukraine.ua is an official website of the state verified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. It provides the latest news on the Russian invasions and contains essential links to official bank accounts for secure donations. Click here for more information.
2. The website of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine
MDU provides operational information in English and Ukrainian in a formal and just-the-facts way. For a more informal format, follow the Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Oleksii Reznikov, on Twitter. Reznikov regularly updates his followers on the current military situation in Ukraine, and talks about the safety and needs at the forefront. On another note, he reminds every Russian soldier to follow a Russian ship “before it’s too late.” Follow the Minister of Defence here.
3. Official social media accounts of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook.
The current President of Ukraine is highly active on social networks. Using the most popular socials, Zelensky exposes fake news and Russian propaganda, explains important political decisions, and also directly addresses the citizens of Ukraine and the whole world.
4. Official Twitter account of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba
Using Twitter, Kuleba covers the war on the diplomatic front; he focuses on cooperating with foreign partners regarding economic sanctions against Russia. In his latest tweets, he’s calling for Deputinization, i.e.getting rid of Russian influence in politics, international relations, economy, energy, business, art, research, etc.
5. Official Twitter account of Mykhailo Fedorov
Fedorov is the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. Being the youngest minister in the history of Ukraine, he uses technology, cryptocurrency, and social media as modern weapons of war. Armed with Twitter, Fedorov has managed to persuade Elon Musk to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations. He has also collected $60 million in cryptocurrency donations for the Aid for Ukraine website.
Top 5 international correspondents on the ground
If you want to see relevant information about Ukraine on social media, follow reliable journalists reporting from Ukraine. We chose 5 correspondents and photo- and video journalists that provide in-depth coverage of the war, and post breathtaking visuals from different parts of Ukraine.
- Instagram of Salwan Georges, a staff photojournalist at The Washington Post who has been reporting from all over Ukraine, posting photos from Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolayiv, and Odesa.
- Instagram account of Oksana Parafeniuk, an independent photographer based in Lviv, Western Ukraine. Works for The Washington Post, The New York Times, and NBC News.
- Instagram of Mstyslav Chernov, the Associated Press journalist based in Ukraine, who is currently covering the catastrophe of the city of Mariupol, the Donbas region of Ukraine.
- Twitter account of Sarah Rainsford, the BBC Eastern Europe correspondent “expelled from Moscow after many years,” who is currently in Ukraine sharing updates on the Russia-Ukraine war.
- Twitter of Olga Tokariuk, a freelance reporter from Kyiv, contributor of the Center for European Policy Analysis.
We have all witnessed the damaging effect of Russian propaganda — for years, it has been inciting hatred towards Ukrainians and dividing families. Massive lies made this war possible. Thus, the truth can help finish it.
Join us on the informational front and amplify the voice of truth. Explore our free collection of Stand With Ukraine templates by VistaCreate and use them to spread truth about the Russian invasion of Ukraine on social media.
Glory to Ukraine!
Glory to heroes!
