Ukraine Embassy Calls on Enghien to Ban Screening of Alleged Propaganda Film

Ukrainian Embassy Urges Belgian Town to Block Russian Propaganda Film Screening

The Embassy of Ukraine has formally requested authorities in Enghien, Belgium, to prevent the screening of a documentary film they describe as Russian propaganda, scheduled for April 22. The film, titled “Ukraine, Russia: Behind the Smoke Curtain,” allegedly distorts facts about Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine.

In an official statement, the Ukrainian diplomatic mission expressed “serious concern” about the planned event, organized by Kairos Presse under the leadership of Alexander Penassa. The embassy claims Penassa is known for spreading conspiratorial and pro-Russian narratives throughout Belgium.

“This initiative forms part of a broader disinformation campaign related to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine,” the embassy stated. “It aims to infiltrate Belgium’s and Europe’s public discourse with distorted narratives that undermine international support for Ukraine.”

The embassy highlighted that similar screenings previously scheduled in other Belgian municipalities—Ixelles on January 31 and Woluwe-Saint-Pierre on March 19—were canceled following intervention from local authorities and public pressure. These cancellations reportedly prompted criticism from Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry.

According to Ukrainian diplomats, the documentary misrepresents events in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories and promotes narratives that obscure Russia’s responsibility for the conflict. They argue that allowing such content to be screened would blur “the line between facts and disinformation” and damage reasoned public discourse on the war.

“Providing a platform for narratives that relativize aggression and hide accountability for war crimes undermines the integrity of the democratic information space and contributes to the spread of disinformation,” the embassy stated in its press release.

The request comes amid growing concern across Europe about information manipulation and foreign influence operations. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, European countries have been increasingly vigilant about Russian disinformation campaigns designed to weaken Western support for Ukraine and sow division among allies.

Ukraine has been particularly active in countering Russian narratives about the war, with its diplomatic missions worldwide working to ensure accurate information reaches international audiences. The Belgian case represents part of this broader effort to prevent what Ukrainian officials see as the legitimization of Russian propaganda in Western countries.

The embassy’s appeal emphasizes the responsibility of local authorities to safeguard Europe’s information space from coordinated disinformation campaigns. They have urged Enghien officials to take “appropriate measures” to cancel the event.

Belgium, as a key EU and NATO member state, hosts numerous international institutions and plays an important role in shaping European policy toward the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The outcome of this specific case could set a precedent for how European local authorities handle similar requests regarding contentious media about the war.

The incident highlights the ongoing information battle that parallels the physical conflict in Ukraine, where control of narrative can significantly impact international support and diplomatic positioning. As the war continues into its third year, distinguishing between legitimate documentary work and propaganda has become increasingly challenging for Western audiences and institutions.

Local authorities in Enghien have not yet publicly responded to the Ukrainian embassy’s request as of reporting time.