EU Delegation to Ukraine Announces Fact-Checking Workshop to Combat Russian Disinformation

The Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine has launched a new initiative aimed at strengthening information resilience amid ongoing propaganda challenges. The EU mission is organizing a specialized two-day fact-checking workshop titled “Debunking Disinformation about the European Union and the EU’s Support for Ukraine,” scheduled to take place in Lutsk on April 23-24.

The workshop targets journalists, educators, and civil society activists—key stakeholders who shape public discourse and information environments in Ukraine. With Russian disinformation campaigns continuing to target Ukraine’s European integration processes and EU-Ukraine relations, the training aims to equip these professionals with critical verification skills.

According to the announcement, participants will receive hands-on training from leading experts in disinformation countermeasures. The curriculum will specifically focus on identifying and analyzing how Russian propaganda manipulates narratives about Ukraine’s European path and misrepresents the nature of EU assistance to the country.

The timing of this initiative is particularly significant as Ukraine continues its formal EU accession process, which began with the country receiving candidate status in June 2022. Disinformation about this process has been identified by multiple monitoring organizations as a priority target for Russian information operations.

Workshop participants will gain practical experience with specialized fact-checking tools and verification methodologies that can be applied in their professional contexts. The training is designed not just for theoretical understanding but for practical application in media reporting, educational settings, and civil society advocacy.

Beyond the technical training, the workshop also aims to foster networking and collaboration among Ukrainian information professionals. Organizers have highlighted the opportunity for participants to connect with like-minded colleagues and potentially develop joint projects to counter disinformation in a more coordinated manner.

This initiative reflects the EU’s broader strategic approach to supporting Ukraine’s information sovereignty. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, the European Union has intensified its support for Ukrainian media literacy and fact-checking capabilities through various programs and partnerships.

The EU Delegation’s choice of Lutsk for this workshop is also noteworthy. Located in northwestern Ukraine’s Volyn Oblast, the city represents an effort to extend critical media training beyond the capital and major urban centers—recognizing that disinformation affects all regions of the country.

Those interested in participating must complete the registration process by 8:00 PM on April 16. The EU Delegation will review applications and notify selected participants by April 17, when they will receive the detailed agenda and logistical information.

While the announcement did not specify the total number of available slots, similar previous initiatives by the EU Delegation have typically accommodated 20-30 participants to ensure interactive learning and personalized attention.

The workshop builds upon several years of EU-Ukraine cooperation in the information sphere. Since 2015, when the East StratCom Task Force was established by the European External Action Service, the EU has progressively expanded its support for countering disinformation in its Eastern neighborhood, with Ukraine being a primary focus.

For additional information about the upcoming workshop, potential participants can visit the EU Delegation to Ukraine’s Facebook page, where the complete announcement is available.