For nearly 11 years, russia has waged war against Ukraine, and three years ago, this war escalated into a brutal full-scale invasion. Every day, Ukraine loses territory – places where people live. russian missiles and bombs destroy villages and cities, while drone attacks terrorize civilians and target critical infrastructure. This winter, russia aims to dismantle power and heating systems, leaving millions at risk.

It is naïve to believe and foolish to demand that Ukraine and its allies should now make concessions in negotiations with russia – after three years of brutal invasion, thousands of war crimes, destroyed cities, and millions living in fear, torture, and oppression. russia’s ambitions extend beyond Ukraine; it threatens freedom, democracy, and the right to a safe life globally. It will not stop on its own – it must be decisively stopped.

It is clear: appeasing the aggressor will not lead to peace but only allow it to regain strength. Negotiations without robust security guarantees and justice for the victims are not a path to sustainable peace. russia sees concessions as weakness and exploits them.

With the upcoming Bundestag elections and the rise of populist and far-right forces, we must ask ourselves: will we stand for democracy, peace, and freedom – or allow tyranny and oppression to prevail?

On February 24, the anniversary of the full-scale invasion, we will come together to send a clear signal:
We choose freedom, democracy, and peace. We choose Ukraine!

📍 Where: Brandenburger Tor, Berlin
📅 When: February 24, 19:00

Gratitude to @Viter.stepoviy for providing the pixel illustration of the moment when the Ukrainian flag was raised in liberated Vysokopillia in the Kherson region on September 4th, 2022.

📅 This Saturday, our Truth to Justice conference brought together 200+ attendees and over 4,000 livestream views! Thank you to everyone who joined us to tackle disinformation and propaganda together.

📚 What’s next?
We’ll soon publish all conference lectures & research findings. While we prepare the materials, you can watch the recorded livestream on YouTube: Click here to watch the livestream!

🤝 Want to join a community against disinformation?
 Click here to apply!

Together, we are stronger! 💪✨
#TruthToJustice

Truth to Justice conference was organized by Vitsche, in collaboration with the Kyiv School of Economics, Center for Cultural Projects Arta Azi, and with the Ukrainian Institute in Germany supporting the conference program, funded by the German Foreign Office.

Video: @rinymore

“With North Korean troops, Iranian drones, Russian intercontinental missiles, Belarusian ground support, Chinese technology, and European concern – they are killing us!”

When Russia escalates, restraint alone is not enough – we must confront the Axis of Dictators.

For over 1,000 days, Ukraine has bravely resisted Russia’s full-scale aggression. But as the number of its enemies grows, international support has not kept pace.

In recent weeks, Ukraine has been hit not only by missiles and artillery shells from North Korea but also by North Korean soldiers actively participating in the fighting. It is estimated that Kim Jong Un has sent up to 50,000 soldiers to Russia to provide fresh “cannon fodder” for Russia’s war machine. Meanwhile, Moscow is also recruiting mercenaries from Nepal, India, and even Yemen, exploiting desperate people for its war efforts.

While Shahed drones – initially supplied by Iran and now mass-produced in Russia – terrorize Ukrainian cities night after night, Western arms deliveries face growing delays due to internal political debates. At the same time, Russia continues to escalate. The recent use of a new ballistic missile in Dnipro, with the potential to carry nuclear warheads, highlights the seriousness of the threat. And yet, some of Ukraine’s key allies hesitate to lift range restrictions on weapon systems, fearing “provocations.”

While Putin’s nuclear threats are seen as bluffs in Ukraine, Western politicians continue to stoke fear within their own societies instead of firmly confronting the danger.

Ukraine faces an “Axis of Dictators” that brings death and destruction to its people and actively sows division among its allies. After more than a decade of Russian aggression – militarily against Ukraine or through hybrid tactics against NATO countries – these methods should be well understood. Yet free societies still hesitate to confront this threat head-on.

Now is the time to act!
Ukraine cannot afford to lose its most crucial supporters. Without their protection, this war will inevitably spread deeper into Europe.

On December 12, we call on everyone to send a strong message against the Axis of Dictators, which continues to inflict war and suffering on Ukraine. We demand greater support for Ukraine, as a just peace is impossible without it. As elections approach, it is vital to recognize the scale of Ukraine’s suffering and its heroic resistance.

Germany has played a key role in supporting Ukraine – and that support is essential. But it must not falter. Germany must assume real responsibility for European security, as that security is being defended today in Ukraine.

Let’s stand together!

• For a united commitment from all democratic forces to support Ukraine.
• For a just peace that includes the punishment of the Russian regime, reparations, and the transformation of Russian society.

📅 Join us on December 12, 2024, at 6:30 PM at the Brandenburg Gate!
Let’s show that we stand united with Ukraine – for freedom, justice, and the security of Europe!

Berlin, Germany—November 18, 2024 – In a world where disinformation has reshaped narratives and destabilized societies, the Truth to Justice Conference seeks to confront the manipulation of truth head-on. Hosted by Vitsche, in collaboration with the Kyiv School of Economics, Center for Cultural Projects Arta Azi, and Ukrainian Institute in Germany, and supported by the German Foreign Office, this conference will take place on December 7, 2024, at Berlin’s renowned Silent Green cultural center. The event, which will also be available in livestream, aims to build resilience against the influence of russian disinformation and empower audiences with practical tools to counteract manipulation.

Around 20 speakers, among whom established propaganda researcher Peter Pomerantsev, russian and soviet imperialism scholar Prof. Dr. Botakoz Kasymbekova, and German diplomat and former NATO’s first chief of intelligence Dr. Arndt Freytag von Loringhoven will participate in discussions and workshops circling around two main topics of the conference:

• Propaganda and Cognitive Resilience: Examining how cultural and historical contexts shape disinformation and exploring the role of memes and narrative manipulation in modern hybrid warfare.
• Modern Instruments of Disinformation: Investigating digital-era tactics, such as social media algorithms, PsyOps, and russian PR strategies, and their impact on public perception.

From case studies from Ukraine and Moldova to examining of russia’s targeting of Germany, participants will engage with the latest insights on psychological operations, modern propaganda tactics, and the role of media algorithms and memes in amplifying false narratives. 

“Russian disinformation played a critical role in paving the way for russian aggression in Ukraine and the illegal occupation of Crimea in 2014. Today, similar tactics continue to undermine democratic values globally. This conference is a call to action to expose and counteract these manipulations, fostering a shared commitment to truth and justice.” — Iryna Shulikina

Event Details

• Date: December 7, 2024
• Location: Silent Green, Berlin (livestream available online)
• Registration and more info: https://truth-to-justice.org/conference

For media inquiries, interview requests and accreditation, please contact:

Press Contact:

Truth to Justice Conference Team

Roman Selezinka
Email: press@truthtojustice.org
Phone: +49 1520454442
Website: www.truth-to-justice.org

Join us in standing up to disinformation—together, we can make a difference.

On November 17, 2024, Julija Nawalnaja, Vladimir Kara-Murza, and Ilja Yashin are organizing a demonstration in Berlin, presented as an “anti-war protest.” However, Vitsche expresses deep concerns regarding both the unclear positioning of the organizers and the overall direction of this event.  

Our Main Criticism: Responsibility Cannot Be Placed Solely on putin

The organizers focus their rhetoric on portraying vladimir putin as the sole perpetrator of the russian war of aggression. This narrative ignores the deeply rooted problems within russian society and fails to address the essence of a democratic, oppositional approach. True responsibility requires not only holding one person accountable but also scrutinizing the societal structures and collective attitudes that enabled this war.

Iryna Domnenko, researcher and civil society activist, comments: 

 “Since 2014, Ukrainian society has hoped for anti-war protests and opposition leaders taking the lead in the fight against Putin. But now, in 2024, this is no longer enough. It neither stops Russian soldiers from killing Ukrainians nor deters the Russian population from supporting the military industry. It shows that these exiled politicians have no connection to Russian society and no influence to change the population’s mindset in Russia. Their target audience is outside of Russia, and this has no impact on the withdrawal of Russian troops or justice for Ukrainian victims.”

Moreover, the demonstration fails to deliver a clear message on crucial issues such as supporting Ukraine or critically addressing russian societal responsibility. In recent weeks, Julija Nawalnaja has repeatedly condemned the war but referred to it as “putin’s war” and expressed concerns of arms deliveries to Ukraine. Ilja Yashin and Vladimir Kara-Murza, in recent interviews, highlighted the impact of sanctions on the russian population, arguing that such measures disproportionately affect poorer social strata without achieving the desired political outcomes.  

“All these speeches and statements do nothing to help Ukraine win the war. On the contrary, they undermine the necessary reckoning with russia’s role and reinforce the narrative that putin alone is to blame, while society and opposition figures are absolved of any shared responsibility. This, in turn, obstructs the possibility of genuine change and a move toward democratic values.” – adds Vitsche CEO Iryna Shulikina.  

The ignorance to the use of russian state symbols on the demonstration – such as the use of the russian tricolor – further demonstrates a lack of understanding of the political context and engagement with German society and the Ukrainian community in Europe.  

The Eastern Europe historian Franziska Davies sums it up concisely in her commentary:

“The positioning of prominent Russian opposition figures regarding the war against Ukraine is highly problematic. Kara-Murza, Navalnaya, and Yashin all reinforce the narrative that only Putin is responsible for the war against Ukraine and absolve Russian society of any responsibility. Yet, it is obviously not only Putin who commits war crimes in Ukraine on a daily basis, but also the ‘ordinary Russians’ whom many Russian opposition figures see as victims rather than (co-)perpetrators. The solidarity of Yashin, Kara-Murza, and Navalnaya is primarily directed at an imagined innocent Russia and not at Ukraine, which has been attacked. This is evident in the fact that while they do call for the withdrawal of Russian troops (without a clear addressee for their demand), they do not advocate for increased arms deliveries to Ukraine or donations to the Ukrainian army. However, only strengthening the Ukrainian army can lead to a lasting and just peace in Ukraine.”

An Event for Self-Promotion

Nikolai Klimeniouk, an expert on Eastern European politics, summarizes:  

“This demonstration appears to be primarily aimed at consolidating the organizers’ support base and providing them with a platform. There is a lack of clear demands, constructive solutions, or genuine solidarity with Ukraine. The absence of willingness to take or even articulate concrete actions, such as fundraising appeals or mobilization against Russian aggression, shows that the focus of this event is not on ending the war. Instead, it reflects politically irresponsible self-promotion. Criticizing the war is not the same as actively contributing to Russia’s defeat.” 

Our Appeal

Vitsche emphasizes that without accepting collective responsibility for russia’s wars, confronting the imperial mindset, and taking concrete action, no meaningful change is possible. The current self-promotion abroad by those claiming to represent the russian opposition, continues to evoke our disbelief in their ability to effect change. The only true force capable of altering the situation in russia – and so the only true russian opposition as of now – is the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Until we fully support them with all available resources, peace will remain out of reach.

Date: Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Filmrauschpalast, Lehrter Str. 35, Berlin

“Zusammen sein” by Ukrainian filmmaker and soldier Pavlo Didula tells the moving story of Dmytro Pashtshuk, who took a stand to protect his loved ones from russian aggression. His courage brought people together, turning them into heroes. This film reflects on joy and sorrow, family and friendship, and the power of creative ideas to unite people.

The film will be shown in Ukrainian with German subtitles, and a Q&A session will follow. Entry is by donation (suggested €10), with all funds supporting our campaign to equip a shelter for a school in the Kharkiv region.

The film screening was made possible through cooperation with Orest Lubinets.