Russian Disinformation Campaign Targets Ukraine Regarding African Swine Fever
On August 1, 2025, Russian channels on Telegram initiated another disinformation campaign against Ukraine, alleging that Estonia is supposedly supplying the country with meat from wild boars infected with African Swine Fever (ASF), reports 24brussels. The propagandists claim that Estonia is “disposing of” infected carcasses by turning them into canned goods for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
This claim is a manipulation with no basis in reality. According to Estonian Minister of Agriculture Hendrik Terras, the country plans to purchase only meat from healthy animals culled as part of efforts to combat ASF. This meat will be used to produce half a million cans of stew for the needs of the Estonian Defense Forces and as humanitarian aid for Ukraine. The minister emphasized that infected carcasses are not to be processed—they are to be disposed of.
The motive behind this manipulation is to belittle Ukraine and undermine the support from its international partners. Through such fabrications, Russian propaganda seeks to sow distrust among allies and demoralize the Ukrainian public.
The Center for Countering Disinformation also debunked a Russian fake regarding the alleged use of dead animals by Ukrainian military forces as carriers of explosives.
