Russian Telegram channels spread fake news about «voodoo doll classes» in Kharkiv schools
Russian Telegram channels are spreading a new fake claiming that Kharkiv schools are conducting classes on making «voodoo dolls.» This was reported by the Disinformation Resistance Center.
According to information from Russian propagandists, allegedly the deputy head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine in one of the Kharkiv schools taught how to make voodoo dolls, which supposedly are used to cast spells on Russians.
«This is another stupid invention of Russian propagandists who suffer from a lack of imagination,» the Disinformation Resistance Center said.
In reality, children from the Novobavarsky district of Kharkiv attended a workshop called «Amulet for a Warrior,» where they learned to make traditional Ukrainian motankas.
Motanka is a folk amulet that, according to Ukrainian traditions, does not cause harm, but on the contrary, helps in various situations: there are amulets for the home, for protecting children and the household from negative influences.
There were no military personnel at the workshop.
It is worth noting that some African nations did practice voodoo rituals, which included the use of dolls for magical rituals. However, these rituals took place only in specific cultures and have no relation to Ukrainian traditions.
The Disinformation Resistance Center emphasizes that such fakes are spread with the aim of fostering negative attitudes towards Ukrainian military personnel and inciting hatred towards Ukrainians among Russians.
Russian propagandists are not the first to turn educational events in Kharkiv into objects for their fake stories. For example, training sessions for teachers on the subject of «Defense of Ukraine» have already been portrayed as preparing pensioners to defend Kharkiv as a living shield.
