Propaganda fake: NATO banned coverage of anti-corruption protests in Ukraine

Anonymous foreign-language bots on social media platforms X, TikTok, and Instagram are spreading claims that NATO allegedly prohibited major reputable outlets such as BBC and CNN from covering protests in Kyiv related to the adoption of Law No. 12414. The posts also compare these protests to the 1989 Tiananmen Square student demonstrations in China — a symbol of censorship and repression.

This claim is false. Official BBC and CNN websites and social media channels feature coverage of the Kyiv protests, which were held in support of the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption institutions.

Similar reports can also be found on the websites of other leading global outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, NBC News, AP News, The Guardian, and Financial Times.

NATO itself has refuted the claim. In a comment to AAP FactCheck, a NATO spokesperson confirmed that the military alliance had not prohibited media coverage of the events.

"The claim is bogus and we categorically reject it," the official said.

Such fabricated narratives aim to undermine public trust in credible media outlets both in Ukraine and in Western countries.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Russian sources had also circulated a fake story about "Ukrainian scammers" allegedly defrauding fans of Ozzy Osbourne.

Andriy Olenin