Context
The evening of November 21 became another peak of tension in the relations between Russia and the West. After a ballistic missile hit Ukraine’s Yuzhmash plant, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an emergency video message describing the strike as a response to the use of ATACMS and Storm Shadow long-range missiles against Russia.
In addition, he once again threatened the NATO countries with nuclear war.
Spreaders of disinformation took advantage of this – falsehoods poured out one after another on the Internet.
Repeats Putin’s threats
According to propagandists, the purported thrust of this magazine theme is that Western approval of Ukraine’s long-range strikes on Russian territory marks the “beginning of World War III.”
“Allowing missiles deep into Russia is the start of World War III,” reads the comment under the cover of The Economist.
However, this cover is a fake. It is not in the official one On The Economist website or on social network accounts, where the covers of this publication are constantly published.
It should be noted that the fake cover is missing certain attributes, such as the release date.
The Real Economist numberreleased on November 23, dedicated to US billionaire Elon Musk with the title “The Chief Disruptor” (eng. Disrupter-in-chief).
Previous issuereleased on November 16, depicts a globe being hit by a golf club, with the caption “What’s in store for the world economy?” What’s about to hit the world economy?).
Works in Russia fake Telegram channelcalled The Economist, is not affiliated with the British magazine, but is known for spreading disinformation and pro-Kremlin content.
It is often used by propagandists, quoting ostensibly “Western media”.
Not the first time
In July this year fake cover of The Economist had already appeared on the internet.
The forgery depicted V. Putin sitting across from J. Biden at a chess board, with an image of a rocket in the background.
The logo of The Economist can be seen at the top left, and the headline reads: “Nuclear War Is Inevitable.”
Similar illustration was published on the online art community platform back in 2017, but without The Economist logo.
It depicted then US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, instead of J.Biden and V.Putin.
A similar lie was spread in the Internet space and in June – in a fake was depicted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in the crosshairs. The caption on the alleged cover read: “Zelensky’s last months.”
15min verdict: lie. There was no such cover of The Economist.
The publication was prepared in 15 minutes in partnership with Metawhich aims to stop the spread of misleading news on the social network. More about the program and its rules – here.
Source: www.15min.lt
