'Western' fake from Russia: Civilians allegedly paid to 'hunt down' men fit for service in Ukraine

Russian media and propaganda Telegram channels are spreading disinformation about a supposed new mobilization practice allegedly introduced in Ukraine. According to their claims, Territorial Recruitment Centers (TRCs) are supposedly hiring civilians -- either for payment or in exchange for exemption from conscription -- to report on male neighbors, coworkers, or even strangers to military authorities. Propagandists allege that a black market of such "volunteers" exists and that Ukrainian authorities are deliberately turning a blind eye.

These claims are being attributed to so-called "Western media" outlets, which have recently published articles on the subject.

However, these claims are false. The stories being cited originate from two websites -- News4Masses and Resistance Republicaine -- and are authored by a fictitious "journalist" named Nikola Jovanovich. On News4Masses, Jovanovich is credited with only two articles, both dated April 17, 2025. His profile features nothing but a red square in place of a photo.

On Resistance Republicaine, the same name appears on nine anti-Ukrainian articles, the earliest dated March 7, 2025. No personal information about the supposed journalist is available on the site.

Both sites are fake and designed to distribute Russian propaganda. News4Masses, created in 2022, presents itself as an Indian-American news platform but lacks any transparency regarding its authors, registration, or editorial team. The images of its so-called "staff" are all stock photos found freely online. Its LinkedIn page lists only one current "employee" -- a woman whose face is hidden behind a niqab, making her unidentifiable.

Resistance Republicaine is a French-language website used to spread Russian disinformation targeting French-speaking audiences. Its domain is registered in Moscow and was created specifically to publish fake news about France and Ukraine.

This particular fake is intended to undermine Ukraine's mobilization efforts and sow discord within society -- to turn citizens against one another rather than focusing on resisting the aggressor.

Previously, Russian propaganda spread a deepfake video on TikTok about alleged "friendly fire" incidents in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Andriy Olenin