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Pro-Kremlin accounts are exploiting Epstein documents to spread disinformation about Ukrainian children, according to researchers who have uncovered a coordinated campaign to reframe Russia’s forced deportation of Ukrainian minors.
Research by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) and AFP has revealed how Kremlin-aligned social media accounts are leveraging the recent release of Jeffrey Epstein-related court documents to push false narratives claiming Russia is “saving” Ukrainian children from sex trafficking networks.
The campaign appears designed to justify Russia’s widely condemned removal of thousands of Ukrainian children since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. International organizations and Ukrainian authorities have documented these deportations as potential war crimes, with Kyiv stating that nearly 20,000 children have been unlawfully transferred to Russia or Russian-controlled territories.
“This disinformation effort is particularly insidious because it attempts to reframe what many international observers consider abductions as humanitarian actions,” said Liana Sendetska, a researcher with the ISD. “The Epstein document release simply plays into their hands as a way to amplify previous Kremlin claims about Ukraine.”
The researchers identified over 15,000 posts on X (formerly Twitter) in just the two days following the January 30 document release. One post, which garnered more than three million views, falsely claimed the files “confirmed… Putin didn’t kidnap children from Ukraine, instead evacuated them to protect them.”
Similar content has spread across multiple platforms including Facebook and TikTok, reaching millions of users with baseless allegations that Ukraine is a global hub for child trafficking. These narratives align with long-standing Russian propaganda attempting to portray Ukraine’s government as corrupt and criminal, while presenting Russia as a moral defender.
Olga Tokariuk, co-author of the ISD report, explained the strategy behind the disinformation campaign: “The approach is to saturate the information space with all of this to see if it sticks. Even if most people don’t believe it, creating doubt and confusion serves their purposes.”
The think tank’s broader analysis uncovered more than 150,000 posts on X pushing similar narratives connecting Ukraine to human trafficking between September 2023 and August 2024, indicating a sustained effort to spread these falsehoods.
The campaign has found amplifiers beyond Russian-controlled media. Several European politicians and media personalities have helped spread these claims to Western audiences. In the United Kingdom, former lawmaker Andrew Bridgen has appeared on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’s program making unproven allegations about Ukraine. Additionally, a documentary produced by Tommy Robinson’s Urban Scoop platform featured similar unsubstantiated claims.
“The focus on British officials is strategic because the UK is one of the strongest supporters of Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression,” Tokariuk noted. “Undermining British public support for Ukraine would be a significant win for Russian information operations.”
While Moscow acknowledges taking some Ukrainian children, Russian authorities claim these transfers were conducted for the children’s safety and welfare—a justification that has been rejected by international humanitarian organizations and the International Criminal Court, which issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights on charges related to the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children.
Social media platforms have struggled to contain the spread of this disinformation, highlighting ongoing challenges in countering state-backed influence operations that exploit real events—like the Epstein document release—to advance geopolitical narratives designed to confuse international audiences and justify controversial actions.
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12 Comments
This is a deeply troubling development. Exploiting the Epstein files to spread disinformation about the deportation of Ukrainian children is a cynical and calculated move by pro-Kremlin forces. The international community must continue to shine a light on these abuses.
Agreed. Russia’s forced removal of Ukrainian minors is a flagrant violation of human rights, and they should not be allowed to distort the facts or create false narratives to justify their actions.
The Kremlin’s use of the Epstein documents to peddle disinformation about Ukraine is a cynical attempt to deflect attention from their own appalling actions. Deporting thousands of Ukrainian children is a grave violation of human rights.
Absolutely. Russia’s forced removal of Ukrainian children is a heinous war crime, and they should not be allowed to distort the facts or justify it using unrelated information.
The Kremlin’s use of the Epstein documents to justify the forced removal of Ukrainian children is a despicable manipulation of information. These deportations are war crimes, and Russia must be held accountable for their actions.
This is a deeply concerning development. Using the Epstein files to spread disinformation about the forced removal of Ukrainian children is a despicable attempt by pro-Kremlin forces to deflect attention from their own war crimes. The international community must continue to condemn these deportations in the strongest possible terms.
Absolutely. Russia’s forced deportation of Ukrainian minors is a flagrant violation of human rights, and they should not be allowed to distort the facts or create false narratives to justify their actions.
The Kremlin’s use of the Epstein documents to spread disinformation about the deportation of Ukrainian children is a reprehensible tactic. It’s clear they are trying to reframe these abductions as humanitarian actions, which is completely false and misleading.
It’s disturbing to see pro-Kremlin accounts exploiting the Epstein files to spread disinformation about the situation in Ukraine. This is a transparent attempt to create a false narrative and distract from Russia’s unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children.
Yes, this is a reprehensible tactic. The international community must continue to condemn these deportations and demand the immediate return of all Ukrainian children taken from their homes.
This is a concerning development. Using the Epstein files to spread disinformation about the forced deportation of Ukrainian children is a despicable tactic. It’s clear the Kremlin is trying to justify these abductions as humanitarian actions, which is completely false.
Agreed, this is a coordinated campaign to reframe Russia’s war crimes as something benevolent. The international community must continue to condemn these deportations and hold Russia accountable.