Federico DeVirgiliis

Russia continues to create fake versions of western magazine covers to promote fraudulent narratives, over the past few days focusing heavily on fake stories about "torture chambers in Kyiv". Propagandists are circulating fabricated covers of Libération, La Croix, and The Jerusalem Report, dated November 3rd. The covers feature a photo of a 14-year-old boy wrapped in a blanket, who is referred to as a "victim of Zelenskyy" and allegedly rescued from "torture chambers of the Azov [National Guard] unit." According to "Detector Media." In reality, the boy participated in the storming of a building in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka, which the 1st Corps of the National Guard "Azov" uses as a temporary base for military personnel. All three covers are fake. The actual issue of Libération dated November 3rd is dedicated to the US midterm elections, while La Croix focuses on the disappointment of Catholics in Trump. The Jerusalem Report is published every two weeks; the previous issue was dated October 26th, and the next is expected on November 9th. There is no issue dated November 3rd. In this way, Russia creates the illusion that Western media are confirming its accusations. The goal is to discredit the Ukrainian authorities and military, and to exacerbate divisions within society.