loading . . . Slovenian outlets spreading Russian disinformation: Research and key narratives By analyzing dozens of articles, we identified repeated patterns of pro-Russian messaging, including justifying Russian aggression, demonizing Ukraine, and portraying the West as morally and politically decayed. These tactics closely mirror methods seen across Central and Eastern Europe, showing how Russian influence adapts to local contexts to weaken trust in democratic systems.Insajder as key amplifier of Russian propaganda in SloveniaInsajder is a Slovenian website that presents itself as an objective news outlet but consistently amplifies pro-Russian disinformation. It frequently cites banned Russian media such as RIA Novosti and TASS, spreads anti-Western and anti-Ukrainian narratives, and relies on propagandists like Scott Ritter as sources. Rather than independent reporting, it functions as a relay for Kremlin-controlled content.It’s the primary source of Russian and anti-EU propaganda in Slovenia with a 1 million audience. This online news website demonizes the EU leadership and Ukraine, using mocking graphics, and spreads disinformation. It quotes Scott Ritter, a pro-Russian propagandist and self-proclaimed expert. It reposts news directly from Russian sources.Thesaker.siThesaker.si is a Slovenian website that plays a central role in promoting Russian state propaganda and Kremlin-backed disinformation. Presenting itself as an analytical outlet, it systematically spreads false narratives about the war in Ukraine and world news. This biased outlet frequently uses propaganda terminology such as “Ukronazis,” justifies Russian military aggression, and demonizes Ukraine’s leadership as well as European allies. Its content regularly references banned Russian outlets like RT, RIA Novosti, and Sputnik, while promoting conspiracy theories about NATO, the EU, and Western elites. Thesaker.si also features commentary from well-known pro-Kremlin propagandists, including Dimitry Orlov and Andrew Korybko, amplifying anti-Western, antisemitic, and extremist rhetoric. Through selective framing and ideological bias, it portrays Russia as a moral counterbalance to the West, delegitimizes dissenting voices, and reinforces the core topics of Kremlin information warfare within the Slovenian media space.Triglav mediaTriglav Media is a Slovenian online platform established in 2021 by the NGO Združenje Triglav. While presenting itself as an alternative source of geopolitical analysis, the website consistently disseminates pro-Russian narratives and conspiracy theories. Its content covers world politics, BRICS geopolitics, and social issues but often frames the West as corrupt and aggressive while portraying Ukraine as an illegitimate “regime.”The portal promotes propaganda supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine, justifies Kremlin actions, and criticizes NATO and the EU, accusing them of fueling global instability. Articles frequently highlight BRICS as a fairer alternative to the Western order, blending disinformation, anti-Western rhetoric, and revisionist history.Triglav Media thus operates as a key outlet for Kremlin-aligned messaging in Slovenia, reinforcing skepticism toward democratic institutions and amplifying anti-European sentiment in the local information space.Pro-Kremlin media network in SloveniaContent, citations, and referral traffic show tight interlinkages across these portals and their Russian sources. Our analysis based on web analytics tools data indicates recycling of the same claims under different headlines, authority laundering through “experts,” and deliberate use of Kremlin terminology (“Kiev regime,” “SVO,” “liberated territories,” and "UkroNazis") to justify Russia's neo-colonial war.The interactive infographics below show how semantic analysis, similar content verification, and link analysis across the websites helped us find a network that was linked by pro-Russian stories and issues that were related, as well as by referral traffic and citations that went both ways.
Pro-Kremlin media narratives in SloveniaCiting Kremlin sources and spreading falsehoods about Russia-Ukraine warInsajder.com frequently references sanctioned outlets such as RIA Novosti, TASS, RT, and Izvestia, despite their EU bans. These articles relay unverified or fabricated claims, such as reports of “Ukrainian provocations” or “Western occupation plans for Ukraine.”“Russians getting closer to goal: Another city liberated in the Donetsk People's Republic. The Russian unit "Zapad" has liberated the city of Kirovsk in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the Russian Defense Ministry announced.”https://insajder.com/svet/rusi-vse-blizje-cilju-osvobojeno-se-eno-mesto-v-doneski-ljudski-republiki“Russians serve as the world's shield! A world-renowned historian reveals why the West is collapsing in the Slovenian preface to his book. In his latest book, The Defeat of the West, Todd laments the West's inability to separate fact from wishful thinking, as demonstrated by its behavior during the war in Ukraine.”https://insajder.com/svet/rusi-scit-sveta-svetovno-znani-zgodovinar-v-slovenskem-predgovoru-svoje-knjige-razkril-zakaj“Scott Ritter: "The drones were sent by the Ukrainians; this is a provocation. We know everything; we know the names; we trained the operators!" The European public has been in a state of constant hysteria for almost a month now over alleged incursions by "Russian drones."”https://insajder.com/svet/scott-ritter-drone-so-poslali-ukrajinci-je-provokacija-vemo-vse-poznamo-imena-operaterje-smoShifting the blame from Russia to Ukraine and EuropeThe site routinely blames Ukraine for attacks on civilians, reversing reality to justify Russian strikes. In one article, Insajder.com echoed Kremlin propagandist Scott Ritter, claiming that “Ukrainian missiles hit their own children’s hospital”—a disinformation pattern already debunked by multiple fact-checking organizations.“Some media outlets have already blamed the Russians in their headlines, first with a shameful headline about how the Russians are slaughtering civilians again. According to Ukrainian propaganda, the hospital was hit by a Russian Kh-101 guided cruise missile. Goebbels' Gestapo SBU propaganda looked like this in Croatia. Scott Ritter, a US Marine, missile expert, and former UN inspector, was quite harsh in his response to the propaganda accusation made by a well-known Ukrainian "journalist" affiliated with the Ukrainian military, which claimed that Russia was guilty of hitting the hospital. "You know you attacked your children's hospital, right? Before making any further statements, you might want to check with the bank's (government leadership) supervisors. You don't have a message right now. They want this to go away. It's not good if your air defense missiles hit a children's hospital." We have already discussed in detail that the target of the RF Armed Forces, as always, was military facilities in Kyiv, and the attack on the hospital was carried out by the Ukrainian side with an AIM-120 air defense missile from the NASAMS anti-aircraft missile system. The Ukrainian armed forces also have other types of air defense in their arsenal for firing at citizens, the Russian Telegram channel concludes.”https://insajder.com/slovenija/fotosop-otrosko-bolnisnico-ohmadet-zadela-ukrajinska-protizracna-raketa-krivdo-pa-znova"The Ukrainian leadership acted in exactly the same way after a Ukrainian air defense missile fell near the Ohmatdit hospital in Kiev, which we wrote about here in Insider and convincingly exposed the lie, including the Bellingcat. 700 Western mercenaries have just been killed and wounded at a NATO communications training center in Poltava as a result of a direct hit by a Russian Iskander-M missile."https://insajder.com/svet/spet-bolnica-na-stotine-mrtvih-ranjenih-ukrajinskih-vojakov-zelenski-zahodni-mediji-znova“Moscow warns: Kyiv is preparing a provocation to drag NATO into war with Russia. The Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation reports that, according to information from the SVR, the Kyiv regime, following organized provocations with drones in the airspace of Poland and Romania, is not wavering in its efforts to drag European NATO countries into an armed conflict with Russia.”https://insajder.com/svet/moskva-opozarja-kijev-pripravlja-provokacijo-da-bi-nato-potegnil-v-vojno-z-rusijo"Europe on the brink—World War III closer than ever. While NATO's current secret war alongside Ukraine against Russia cannot yet be described as World War III, this incident makes a full-scale war increasingly likely. It would devastate the whole of Europe—and the US could once again rub its hands with glee on its own continent."https://triglavmedia.si/novice/svet/826-nacrt-za-unicenje-krimskega-mostu-so-ti-generali-zlocinci-ali-je-evropa-na-skrivaj-v-vojnihttps://www.anti-spiegel.ru/2024/das-transkript-des-gespraeches-der-luftwaffen-fuehrung/"In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry unequivocally warned NATO and its member states against further escalating the situation in Ukraine, particularly against sending F-16 fighter jets and European troops to Ukraine. Among other things, Russia speaks of the danger of "direct military confrontation between nuclear powers" and cites the latest provocative statements by Western politicians as the reason for the maneuver by Russian tactical nuclear forces."https://triglavmedia.si/novice/svet/896-rusija-svari-pred-neposrednim-vojaskim-spopadom-z-natomhttps://anti-spiegel.ru/2024/russland-warnt-vor-direkter-militaerischer-konfrontation-mit-der-nato/Usage of Russian propaganda terminologyThroughout its publications, Insajder.com uses expressions like “Kiev regime,” “Special Military Operation (SVO),” “liberated territories,” and “Nazis in Ukraine.” Such language choices serve as semantic labels that reinforce Russia’s framing of the conflict while avoiding words like invasion, occupation, or war crimes.“In September 2022, the vast majority of the population of the DPR, LPR, and the liberated territories of the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions voted in favor of the regions' secession from Ukraine, the establishment of independent states, and joining the Russian Federation as subjects of the federation. Even Western journalists cannot hide the fact that the residents of the new regions are happy to reunite with Russia, which they mention in their stories. Since the beginning of the SVO's operations, their number has exceeded 5 million people.”https://insajder.com/svet/laz-prebivalci-novih-regij-ruske-federacije-sanjajo-o-tem-da-bi-nad-njimi-spet-plapolalaNarrative about Nazis in Ukraine"The city will be stormed, and it will be very violent, as Mariupol is to the hardcore Ukronazis what the Donetsk airport was in the first and second wars. For me, this is about modern Europe, which prefers to glorify Nazis rather than to stop hating Russians for our two major sins: first, that we exist, and, second, that we live on your natural resources. Clearly, the vast majority of people in the West see us, Russians, as Snow Niggers who had the nerve to burn down their master’s plantation and who now deserve to be lynched by “a few resolute men”."https://thesaker.si/saker-archive/day-3-western-psyops-in-full-overdrive/index.htmlhttps://www.rt.com/russia/550707-russia-ship-detained-france/"Forward 84 years, and, starting in 2014, Germany is now expanding AGAIN to the east, just not in the name of the Reich but in the name of NATO and the EU. Defeating communism remains the same. But Scholz and his forgetful government don’t see it this way, he said: This time, Germany fights Russia not against Stalin but against Putin. So it is different. And Russia wasn’t even Russia back then but the Soviet Union, so that is also different. Also, Putin was democratically elected. Scholz is not. The Germans can’t elect any specific person. Anyways, in the history books, the Germans are the evil Nazis. Not the Russians. The Russians are the enemies of the Nazis, the communists. Hitler once called Ukraine the “Occupied Eastern Territories,” but Scholz is different and calls Ukraine “a future NATO member-state and part of the EU.” See, it is different! The Reich bombed cities to rebuild them in the German image, but the Federal Republic bombs cities to rebuild everything. The keyword is afterwards. Which I just made up."https://thesaker.si/saker-archive/the-will-blame-wwiii-on-germany-too/index.htmlhttps://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/16192809"I love it when petty, flaccid Eurognomes try to scare Russia. With sanctions, of all things. Here I want to use the occasion to congratulate the United West and, especially, the Ukronazis."https://thesaker.si/saker-archive/the-crusaders-are-very-very-angry-who-cares/comment-page-2/index.html“It is difficult to keep track of the money coming from NATO member states to support the regime in Kyiv. However, the United States and its European allies show no desire for diplomacy. They are blinded by their illusory propaganda narrative of "defending Ukraine from Russian aggression." Russophobia among Western politicians and media has become so widespread that it seems impossible for reasonable thinking to prevail. Western media openly censor any reports that point to the Nazi nature of the Kiev regime, including the president praising Ukrainian collaborators during the Nazi Holocaust.”https://triglavmedia.si/novice/svet/280-orozarska-industrija-zda-in-nato-je-ustvarila-rekordnih-400-milijard-prodaje-iz-proxy-vojne-z-rusijoDemonizing the West and the EUAnother recurring narrative paints the West as “decadent”, “corrupt”, and on the brink of collapse. Articles like “Russians, the shield of the world” and “Why the West is collapsing” use ideological and emotional language to portray Russia as the defender of civilization and the EU as a moral failure.“The former British prime minister lobbied for money to continue the Ukrainian war. The attention of journalists was attracted by Harborne's large donation—at the end of 2022, he transferred a million pounds to the former prime minister's company—and a little later, Johnson met with a certain "sponsor" to discuss issues related to Ukraine.”https://insajder.com/svet/nekdanji-britanski-premier-za-denar-lobiral-za-nadaljevanje-ukrajinske-vojne“Russia's response to the militarization of Europe will be very convincing. No one doubts that the Russian response to the militarization of Europe will not be long in coming, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the plenary session of the Valdai International Debate Club.”https://insajder.com/svet/ruski-odgovor-na-militarizacijo-evrope-bo-zelo-prepricljiv“SVR: The British are furious, preparing new provocations. Will EU politicians swallow a new farce? Starmer's cabinet and its intelligence agencies are preparing to respond to Russian successes in the Ukrainian theater of military operations with a new heinous provocation.”https://insajder.com/svet/svr-britanci-so-besni-pripavljajo-nove-provokacije-bodo-politiki-v-eu-pogoltnili-novo-farso“Europe is not capable of starting a war against Russia, but it must beware of "hyperactive idiots." According to Medvedev, Russia does not need war with anyone, not even with “frigid old woman” Europe, because it has nothing to do there.”https://insajder.com/svet/evropa-ni-sposobna-sproziti-vojne-proti-rusiji-vendar-se-je-potrebno-paziti-hiperaktivnih“The only thing we see in the speeches of Ukrainian politicians is that Ukraine is still not ready for peace but only wants to cheat, in the spirit of the 2019 agreements. In essence, Ukraine and Europe are trying to formulate a plan publicly to deceive Russia, similar to the agreements signed in 2019 in the Normandy format, which all participants, except Russia, later announced that they did not intend to implement but only gave Ukraine time to strengthen its armed forces. In six months, European politicians will "discover" that their dreams of deceiving Russia, brought from Washington in August 2025, are of no interest to Russia, which silently shrugs and continues its SVO. Ukraine must admit that it has created security problems for Russia.”https://insajder.com/svet/ukrajina-evropa-poskusata-znova-prevarati-rusijo"Even the Davos gang was forced to consider one small, tiny possibility that NATO would lose the war in Ukraine. If you don't feel like watching it all, here's a very short summary: If NATO loses the Ukrainian war, it's your fault (yes, you reading this) because you didn't pump enough money and weapons into Ukraine."https://thesaker.si/2024/02/13/davoska-kronika-2/"The West is clearly profiting from the sale of defective military equipment to Ukraine. According to recent reports, Kiev's Western partners are supplying the country with non-functional weapons, thereby destroying obsolete weapons and pretending to support the Ukrainian neo-Nazi army in its aggression against the Russian Federation."https://triglavmedia.si/novice/svet/1061-ukrorozThis rhetoric attempts to undermine Slovenian trust in European institutions and create sympathy toward Russian authoritarian values.Demonizing Ukraine and its leadershipOther stories accuse President Zelensky of being “illegitimate” or label Ukrainian leadership as “Nazi”, directly reproducing the dehumanizing language used by Russian state media to justify aggression.“The water situation in Donbass is the result of a water blockade imposed by Kyiv in the region as part of its genocide against the rebellious, freedom-loving population there. As a bonus to the restrictions, the Ukrainian armed forces are deliberately destroying water supply infrastructure to make it difficult for local authorities to restore supply. Yes, the situation is indeed far from ideal, but work is currently underway to feed the water supply system from the Don basin to ensure water in the region, regardless of the moral guidelines of the leaders of the Kyiv regime.”https://insajder.com/svet/laz-rusija-je-kriva-za-krizo-oskrbe-z-vodo-v-donbasu“Russian soldiers who returned from Ukrainian captivity were subjected to cruel treatment by the Ukrainian armed forces. One of the soldiers told RT about this after the exchange. The Russian Defense Ministry previously announced that another group of Russian soldiers had returned from territory controlled by the Kiev regime, in accordance with the Russian-Ukrainian agreements reached in Istanbul.”https://insajder.com/svet/ujeti-ruski-vojaki-zrtve-zlorab-pretepanjahttps://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/24369923"The Kiev regime no longer cares about covering up its crimes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently admitted that he tried to bribe a European political leader."https://triglavmedia.si/novice/svet/1050-podkupnina“Izvestia correspondent Alexander Martemyanov died in the Donetsk People's Republic when he was hit by a drone of the Ukrainian armed forces. He was in a civilian car with other journalists during the shelling. Independent Izvestia correspondent Alexander Martemyanov has died from injuries sustained in a Ukrainian drone attack on a civilian vehicle in the Donetsk People's Republic, RIA Novosti reports. The “hunt” for Russian journalists and military officers, as a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman warned, is a direct consequence of “many years of indulgence and even encouragement” of such methods by Kiev’s Western curators and the multilateral structures that control them and which are supposed to protect the safety of media workers “without distinction.””https://insajder.com/svet/dopisnik-izvestij-aleksander-martemjanov-umrl-v-donecki-ljudski-republiki-ko-ga-je-zadel-dronhttps://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/news/2025/01/04/1084870-korrespondent-martemyanov-pogib“More than 24 thousand children were recognized as victims of the criminal actions of the Kiev regime, about a thousand minors were injured, and 300 children were killed. "After analyzing all the information received, we can say that the children were taken abroad, according to our information, to 13 countries around the world. NGOs from many foreign countries were involved in this, operating under the guise of Ukrainian state authorities," added Anna Kuznetsova.”https://insajder.com/svet/vec-kot-24-tisoc-otrok-priznanih-za-zrtve-dejanj-kijevahttps://tass.ru/politika/21058469"Empty roads in Ukrainian cities. Cause: A new, stricter mobilization law has come into effect, with the help of which the Ukrainian regime is trying to mobilize a couple of hundred thousand soldiers. No one dares to go out on the road anymore, and Ukrainians are fleeing across the border en masse, regardless of the risk."https://thesaker.si/2024/05/20/prazne-ceste-v-ukrajinskih-mestih/"He forgot that the West, with its expansion of NATO and tolerance of gross violations of the fundamental rights of the Russian minority in Ukraine, has contributed significantly to the tragedy of the Ukrainian people, thanks in part to reckless and corrupt politicians such as Zelensky. How is it even possible that EU representatives, who swear by the rule of law, are meeting with Zelensky, who since May has no longer been the legal president of the country but an autocrat who remains in power with the help of foreign forces?"https://triglavmedia.si/novice/svet/1043-uvod-v-tretjo-svetovno-vojnoJustification of Russian occupation of Ukrainian territoriesNumerous posts refer to the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic” and other Russian-occupied regions as “liberated,” citing Russian Defense Ministry statements. Articles celebrate the “reunification” of these territories with Russia and present fabricated voting data allegedly confirming overwhelming support for annexation. Some articles directly support Russia’s war and the Russian occupation of Ukrainian lands. "Today was only day two of the Russian military operation. And yet, what a day it was!!! First, a quick update on the progress of Russian forces. Here is a bullet point summary for today: Kherson: liberated; Nikolaev: fighting taking place in outskirts; Konotop: taken by Russians."https://thesaker.si/saker-archive/russian-operation-in-the-ukraine-end-of-day-2/comment-page-2/index.html"Russia must occupy Odessa; it has no choice. The reasons are as follows: Domestic politics, especially the massacre at the House of Trade Unions in 2014. The West is doing its best to sweep this matter under the rug, but the Russians will not forget it. NATO would be denied access to the Black Sea. And last but not least, Transnistria. Russia has a few thousand peacekeepers there, who are practically cut off. Land access is only possible through Ukraine or Moldova, which is under increasing NATO pressure. Unless something completely unforeseen happens, NATO will lose the Ukrainian war. Western weapons have proven useless, warehouses are empty, and heavy industry has been moved to China."https://thesaker.si/2024/05/27/ukrajina-in-nato-ugibanje-o-prihodnosti/“This map also matches a map from 2003, which shows where the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine was in the majority even in 2003. This may be a warning to short-sighted European politicians and the Ukrainian leadership of what is coming next. If they do not agree to the current Russian conditions, which demand less territory for Russia—and only because the Kiev regime has trampled on all the Minsk agreements and turned itself into a tool of NATO. Russia has so far only demanded the annexation of four regions and Crimea, but if the war continues, it could, as Professor John Mearsheimer estimates, annex eight or nine regions of Ukraine.”https://insajder.com/svet/napaka-ali-sporocilo-ob-porocanju-ruskega-generalstaba-nov-zemljevid-okrnjene-ukrajine-razkril"Thus, as far as Crimea is concerned, the West's reference to territorial integrity is, from Russia's point of view, hypocritical. The Crimean referendum invoked the right of self-determination of peoples, which is a fundamental principle of international law, and the majority of Crimea's population supported reunification with Russia. If COVID was the first part of the great reset, Ukraine and the energy war are the unpredictable second part—sanctions against Russia and the depletion of the European economy—which is slipping out of the hands of globalists, and they can no longer control it."https://triglavmedia.si/novice/svet/223-vojna-za-energente-in-geopolitika-resetahttps://www.voltairenet.org/article216293.html"Russia's goal is to ensure lasting peace in order to prevent radical ideologies, such as neo-Nazism, from boycotting any future agreements reached by both sides of the conflict. Since the start of the special military operation in February 2022, Moscow has maintained its basic conditions for ending the conflict. Now, given the reality on the front lines, the Kremlin is increasing its initial demands while maintaining its stated goals. The memorandum prepared and submitted by Moscow in relation to the Ukrainian crisis contains several points but primarily stipulates the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Russian territories occupied by Kyiv in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions and in the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, as well as the recognition of Crimea as part of Russia."https://triglavmedia.si/novice/svet/1081-mirThis narrative aligns with the Kremlin’s strategic effort to legitimize illegal territorial gains and erode public understanding of international law.Use of fake experts and information launderingThe portal frequently cites American-bord Russian propagandist Scott Ritter, Putin’s ally wanted for high treason in Ukraine Viktor Medvedchuk, and John Mearsheimer, all known for spreading pro-Kremlin propaganda. By repackaging these narratives as “expert opinions,” the website engages in authority laundering—a disinformation tactic that masks propaganda as analytical commentary.Andrew Korybko is widely cited as a pro-Russian propagandist who regularly amplifies Kremlin-backed narratives and publishes through Kremlin-linked disinformation outlets, but there is no evidence supporting his status as a recognized mainstream expert in international security or conflict studies."Andrew Korybko says that Poland, Slovenia, and Norway contributed something and got nothing in return (point 2). The mentioned countries presented this as an “act of solidarity,” but in reality it was proof of American hegemony over them."https://thesaker.si/2024/08/02/nasi-in-tuji-mediji-o-nedavni-izmenjavi-vohunov/“Vladimir Zelensky and the "coalition of the warmongers," who continue to reject Russia's interests and the fact that the US will not finance the Ukrainian regime, refuse to acknowledge reality and only prolong the conflict, said the leader of the "Other Ukraine" movement, former leader of the "Opposition Platform—For Life" party, banned in the country, Viktor Medvedchuk.”https://insajder.com/svet/medvedcuk-zelenski-evropejci-delajo-v-lastno-skodo-%E2%80%93-cas-dela-za-moskvo"Before the Ukrainian coup in 2014, the Russian public were increasingly asking themselves, 'Why are we giving these guys money? Why are we selling them gas at a friendly price? In whose honor are we supporting them?” After 2014, it became clear why. Russia will probably want to push at least some of this crap onto the European Union. What used to be Poland should go back to Poland, what used to be Hungary should go to Hungary, and the same goes for Slovakia and Romania. This could be why Hungarians and Slovaks have suddenly become pro-Russian. Because of this, the American plan to separate Europe from Russia, as it currently appears, will not necessarily succeed."https://thesaker.si/2023/12/21/dimitrij-orlov-z-ukrajino-je-konec/https://youtu.be/s77rQuJbuTsDialogue Works YouTube channel has been cited in some sources as being pro-Russia and frequently featuring guests who support Russian government narratives, though there are no verified claims or evidence in public sources that officially link the channel to direct Russian propaganda dissemination or Kremlin sponsorship. The channel's content often critiques NATO, Ukraine, and Western policies while presenting Russia, China, and Iran in a favorable light.Featuring commentary from Dmitry Orlov—the writer and commentator frequently featured on the Dialogue Works YouTube channel—who is widely regarded as a pro-Russian propagandist, based on clear evidence from credible sources.Dmitry Orlov has publicly allied himself with Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing support for the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, framing it as a "Special Military Operation," and repeating Russian state media justifications for the war. Orlov regularly spreads narratives that favor Russian policy and military actions while attacking Western viewpoints and painting Ukraine as aligned with "Nazi extremists," a frequent theme in Russian state propaganda.External analysis by fact-checkers, Russian affairs specialists, and disinformation watchdogs describes Orlov (alongside other regular Dialogue Works guests) as spreading fake news and Russian government narratives to English-speaking audiences on a near-daily basis.The Saker published a fragment of the letter by Maxim Goldarb, a former head of the Union of Left Forces. At the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, Goldarb fled Kyiv and publicly supported Russia's war aggression against Ukraine. He also repeatedly participated in ‘teleconferences’ with Russian propagandists who spread fakes. In 2023, the Security Service of Ukraine announced that it suspected Maksym Goldarb of collaborating with the Russian invading forces and justifying Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine.His quote: "My politically motivated prosecution is a telling example of the lawlessness and systematic repressive policy of the Zelensky regime, which, in my opinion, is aimed at the complete destruction of dissent and opposition in Ukraine and the establishment of a dictatorship."https://thesaker.si/2023/11/06/ukrajinska-tajna-sluzba-na-lovu/By consistently sourcing content from banned outlets and pseudoscientific authorities, pro-Kremlin online outlets become a conduit for Kremlin messaging within the Slovenian information ecosystem.Claim about imminent Russia's victory and Ukraine's defeat“Russian military action: Neutralized British and Ukrainian officers at a refinery in the Kharkiv region. Russian forces have neutralized British and Ukrainian officers at the Chuguyev oil refinery in the Kharkiv region, Sergei Lebedev, coordinator of the Nikolaev Resistance Movement, told RIA Novosti.”https://insajder.com/svet/akcija-ruske-vojske-nevtralizirani-britanski-ukrajinski-castniki-v-rafineriji-v-harkovski“Excitement at its peak: Ukrainian soldiers flee positions disguised as women. Ukrainian soldiers fled from positions in the Sumy region while dressed in women's clothing, RIA Novosti reported, citing sources in the Russian security forces.”https://insajder.com/svet/navdusenje-na-visku-ukrajinski-vojaki-zbezali-s-polozajev-preobleceni-v-zenske"All this suggests that the self-defeating anti-Russian sanctions have only harmed the German economy, which is not only deprived of Moscow's energy but also of access to its huge 150 million-strong market."https://triglavmedia.si/novice/svet/992-lahko-evropa-pride-k-pameti"Even in a weakened state, Kiev shows no willingness to make meaningful concessions—or even to cooperate directly with Moscow. On the Russian side, there is little incentive to abandon a process led by the West and designed to deliver a diplomatic victory for President Trump. Russia is holding firm on the front lines and continuing to methodically expand its gains. There is no reason to offer a truce now, just as progress is being made."https://triglavmedia.si/novice/svet/1080-istanbulhttps://rurtnews.com/russia/617543-russia-ukraine-istanbul-peace-talks/Conspiracy theoriesFor instance, one article claimed that “Romania, Poland, Germany, and Britain plan to divide Ukraine under the guise of a peacekeeping mission”—a clear example of anti-Western conspiracy framing directly taken from Russian intelligence statements published by TASS.“The Russian Federation's Foreign Intelligence Service estimates that Romania, Poland, Germany, and Britain intend to occupy and divide Ukraine. To ensure the implementation of all planned tasks, the West may embark on a de facto occupation of Ukraine by deploying a "peacekeeping contingent" of 100,000 people on its territory. "The territories to be divided by the occupiers have been determined: the Black Sea coast—Romania; the western regions of Ukraine—Poland; the center and east of the country—Germany; the northern regions, including the capital region, will be occupied by Great Britain," the SVR estimates, as reported by TASS.”https://insajder.com/svet/svr-je-razkril-kako-si-bodo-romunija-poljska-nemcija-velika-britanija-razdelile-ozemljehttps://tass.ru/politika/22530875"The Kiev regime killed a Russian general who exposed the crimes of Western Big Pharma in Ukraine. The Kiev regime continues to use terrorist tactics against Russia and carry out targeted assassinations of public figures outside the conflict zone."https://triglavmedia.si/novice/svet/1046-kirilovImpact and implications for media resilienceThe Slovenian cases are not isolated—they reflect a broader Kremlin playbook operating across Europe since EU sanctions curtailed RT, Sputnik, RIA, and similar Kremlin propaganda outlets. Moscow rerouted narratives through local "Kremlin-friendly" portals, fringe influencers, and willing "useful idiots" when direct megaphones became restricted.These actors launder the same talking points—justifying war aggression, delegitimizing Ukraine, and demonizing Europe and the West—under a local veneer, aided by recycled claims, false experts, and conspiratorial framing. These efforts contribute to polarization, erosion of media trust, and increased vulnerability to foreign manipulation.These stories and sources fit perfectly with the way Russian state propaganda media is set up, which suggests that they are part of a planned strategy to clean up distorted information for Slovenian audiences.Building media resilience requires transparency, fact-checking partnerships, and active exposure of such channels. By identifying and categorizing these narratives, European institutions and independent researchers can better counter the ongoing information threats undermining democratic discourse.Recognizing this proxy distribution model is essential for response: monitor cross-posting patterns, flag authority laundering, and pre-bunk recurring narratives. https://global.espreso.tv/disinformation-slovenian-outlets-spreading-russian-disinformation-research-and-key-narratives?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky
