The article discusses how the upcoming Paralympic Games will transform the perception of Russian and Belarusian symbols in sports, as they shift from banned items to accepted symbols, affecting disinformation campaigns targeting Ukraine.
The article outlines the evolving narrative of disinformation campaigns by Russia as the Paralympic Games approach, particularly in regards to the changing status of Russian and Belarusian national symbols within the event. Currently, these symbols are displayed as banned items at security checkpoints; however, they will soon be integrated into the games, which in turn influences the objectives of Kremlin-sponsored disinformation strategies.
It highlights a specific disinformation campaign named 'Matrjoška' that seeks to imitate recognizable figures, state institutions, and familiar media visuals to saturate the information landscape with fabricated content. Unlike previous Olympic Games in Paris, where the main focus was on the games themselves, the current goal of these trolls is to undermine Ukraine's participation. Reports from these campaigns portray the Ukrainian team negatively, suggesting that they cause conflicts with other athletes.
The article notes that one athlete, Vladislavs Heraskevičs, suffered from these campaigns, being barred from participation in the games. This indicates a more concerted effort to tarnish Ukraine's reputation and impact its athletes, showcasing the wider implications of how national symbols are controlled and manipulated in the context of international sports.
