Russia is using well-known cartoon characters to spread hate speech against Ukrainians and to normalise the war. This was reported by the Centre for Countering Disinformation.
According to the Centre, videos created using artificial intelligence are being circulated on social media. In them, characters from the animated series "Masha and the Bear", "The Fixies" and other animation projects kill caricatured Ukrainians.
In this way, content featuring recognisable characters—usually associated with children’s audiences—is being used to spread propaganda and foster hostility towards Ukrainians.
The Centre for Countering Disinformation stresses that using children’s content to spread hatred is part of Russia’s propaganda campaign.
The Centre also stated that there is a need for a complete global ban on Russian media content.
- Propaganda aimed at children is one of the Russian Federation’s key tools, as it works with future generations so that they perceive Russia in their societies in a way that suits Moscow.
- Previously, YouTube blocked three channels of the Russian animated series "Masha and the Bear" in Ukraine: the Russian-language, Ukrainian-language and English-language channels.
- On 21 August, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy enacted a decision by the National Security and Defence Council to impose sanctions on five Russians and four organisations involved in the production and distribution of the animated series "Masha and the Bear".
- Now under sanctions are the studio "Animaccord", which created the series, its founder and chief executive, as well as the scriptwriter, director and producer, a co-author of the series who pays money into the budget of the aggressor state, and the rights holder of this propaganda cartoon.
- Read more about how Russian cartoons affect the mental health of Ukrainian children in an Lb.ua article.