Young European Ambassadors Combat Disinformation at Kyiv Workshop

In a concentrated effort to counter disinformation about EU-Ukraine relations, nine Young European Ambassadors (YEAs) from Ukraine participated in a youth workshop titled ‘Debunking disinformation about the EU and support for Ukraine: Fact-checking Maysternya’ on November 7 in Kyiv.

The event, organized by the EU-UA Disinformation Awareness and Resilience (DARE) project, focused on developing critical thinking skills, teamwork, and fact-based argumentation among young Ukrainians at a time when information warfare has intensified following Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Led by Yaroslav Morozov, National Coordinator of the YEAs initiative in Ukraine, and Sofiia Bohdanova, YEA Ukraine Community Manager, the team included seven other ambassadors: Dariia Panova, Olena Pavlova, Sofiia Muraviova, Liudmyla Kovalenko, Anna Shvets, Yeva Zborovska, and Vladlen Zaitsev.

Zaitsev delivered a comprehensive presentation covering the foundational principles of the European Union, the strategic objectives of the Eastern Partnership initiative, and Ukraine’s ongoing journey toward EU membership. This educational component provided vital context for workshop participants, many of whom are navigating a complex media landscape filled with competing narratives about Ukraine’s European integration process.

Ukraine’s path to EU membership has accelerated since receiving candidate status in June 2022, but public understanding of the process remains vulnerable to deliberate misinformation campaigns. Experts have documented an increase in anti-EU propaganda targeting Eastern Partnership countries, with narratives often designed to undermine support for European integration.

The highlight of the workshop was an interactive game called ‘Fakebots vs. Fact Checkers,’ where participants practiced identifying and debunking common disinformation narratives about Ukraine’s European trajectory. The exercise provided hands-on experience in media literacy and critical analysis of information sources.

“It was great to take part in the ‘Fact-checking Maysternya’ workshop and to meet colleagues from the initiative in person after so many online meetings,” said Dariia Panova, one of the participating YEAs. “The event had an inspiring atmosphere, bringing together young people who truly care about Ukraine’s European future.”

She added that the interactive format proved particularly effective: “The game was a fun and smart way to practice critical thinking while confronting real disinformation narratives. I left the workshop feeling energized, more informed and proud to be part of a community that continues to stand for truth, cooperation, and European values.”

The workshop comes at a critical juncture for Ukraine, which has been battling not only conventional warfare but also sophisticated information operations since 2014, with significantly intensified efforts since February 2022. Disinformation experts have noted that young people are both particularly vulnerable to misleading content but also potentially powerful agents in combating it when properly equipped with media literacy skills.

The Young European Ambassadors initiative represents a broader EU strategy to foster dialogue across borders and generations. The program brings together socially engaged youth from the six Eastern Partner countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine), the European Union member states, and the United Kingdom. Their mission extends beyond countering disinformation to raising awareness about the EU’s cooperation with Eastern partner countries.

Similar workshops are planned throughout Eastern Partnership countries in the coming months, reflecting the EU’s increased emphasis on strengthening resilience to disinformation as part of its broader neighborhood policy. The DARE project, which organized this event, is part of a network of EU-funded initiatives working to improve information integrity and media literacy across the region.