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As U.S. President Joe Biden uses his final days in office to boost Ukraine’s defences, Russia is playing a different game: spreading disinformation aimed at eroding U.S. support for Ukraine before Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
Since the U.S. election on Nov. 5, the Kremlin has used state-run media and its networks of fake news sites and social-media accounts to push divisive narratives about the war and the Republican president-elect. Analysts say the content, translated into English for American audiences, is intended to turn sentiment against Ukraine at a pivotal time, with the hope of reducing U.S. military assistance and ensuring a Russian victory.
Recent examples include fake videos supposedly showing Ukrainian soldiers burning effigies of Mr. Trump or his supporters. One clip depicts soldiers …