Ukraine’s Battle Against Russian Disinformation Campaign

Ukrainian Fact-Checker Olena Churanova on Battling Disinformation in Wartime

Olena Churanova stands at the frontline of Ukraine’s information war. Since 2016, the veteran journalist and fact-checker has worked tirelessly at StopFake.org, confronting Russian disinformation campaigns while training others in digital verification techniques. Beyond her work as a senior lecturer at the Mohyla School of Journalism at NaUKMA, where she teaches media literacy and data journalism, Churanova’s expertise has been sought by organizations like EUvsDisinfo, the Institute of Mass Information, and Voice of America’s Ukrainian Service.

As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, Churanova has intensified her focus on combating increasingly sophisticated disinformation. Her recent work includes developing practical guides on verification in the era of artificial intelligence and delivering public presentations across Ukraine and international forums on identifying deepfakes and misinformation.

In a recent interview, Churanova emphasized the critical need for coordination between fact-checkers, government institutions, and technology platforms to effectively counter disinformation during wartime.

“During wartime, it is very important to maintain effective communication with various institutions in the country, the government, the army, and companies responsible for the most popular social platforms among Ukrainians,” Churanova explained. She advocates for policies that establish cooperation channels between fact-checkers and platforms where misinformation proliferates, while creating communication networks with government agencies to ensure faster responses to verification requests.

Churanova also addressed the troubling reality that some Western-funded outlets continue to amplify Kremlin narratives. She argues for stricter funding criteria beyond simply supporting Russian opposition voices abroad.

“Certain criteria must be established for granting funds to such opposition groups, and if this concerns the media, then the media’s work must comply with universal journalistic standards,” she said. “The criterion that they are Russians and they are abroad should not be the main one.” Churanova stressed that Western funders should verify that recipients have no connections to or financial support for Russia’s occupation forces.

Drawing from her guide “Surviving Social Media Chaos,” Churanova outlined three essential rules for reducing vulnerability to misinformation. First, she emphasizes emotional regulation—consciously analyzing why certain content triggers emotional reactions. Second, source verification remains crucial: determining origin, distribution channels, and credibility. Third, practicing restraint before sharing suspicious content helps prevent the spread of falsehoods.

With the rise of AI-generated deepfakes, Churanova recommends a three-step approach to verification. Begin by tracing the content’s origin and checking if reputable media have addressed it. Then examine the audio or video closely for desynchronization, unnatural elements, or unusual speech patterns. Finally, utilize specialized detection tools like AIorNOT, Attestiv, or Hiya Deepfake Voice Detector.

The fact-checker identified striking parallels between Russian information operations targeting Ukraine and the Western Balkans. In both regions, Moscow aims to undermine trust in European and NATO institutions, weaponize historical and cultural divisions, and cultivate local actors who amplify pro-Russian narratives.

When asked about balancing speed with accuracy in wartime fact-checking, Churanova was unequivocal: “There is no such thing as a perfect balance when it comes to debunking fake news during wartime. However, the standard of timeliness will still suffer because the priority is to provide verified and reliable facts, not speed.”

She noted that while AI-powered search tools have transformed information gathering, traditional open-source intelligence (OSINT) techniques maintain advantages in geolocation accuracy, identifying AI hallucinations, and applying contextual understanding to content verification.

Churanova warned that fact-checking itself can become dysfunctional through false positives or excessive delays. False accusations damage public trust, while slow responses allow misinformation to spread unchallenged. Her solution emphasizes transparency in verification processes and maintaining rigorous standards despite wartime pressures.

As Ukraine continues to face both kinetic and information warfare, Churanova’s work exemplifies how fact-checking has evolved from a journalistic function into a critical component of national resilience against foreign interference.