Fact-check: No mentions of Yelena Nikitina urging reporters to counter Western media found on X in real-time searches using keyword and semantic queries. Although Nikitina is a verified Donetsk official with a history in information policy, web searches yielded no confirming TASS article on tass.com and only an aggregator reference; TASS as a state-controlled source lacks independent corroboration, rendering the specific claim unverified.
Donetsk official urges reporters to intensify efforts to counter Western media attacks
A Donetsk official, Yelena Nikitina, has urged reporters to intensify counter-narrative efforts against Western media coverage, claiming Donbass residents have stories about alleged crimes of the Kyiv regime that deserve wider coverage. The appeal reflects ongoing Russian and separatist information warfare efforts alongside the military conflict in eastern Ukraine. This is part of a broader propaganda campaign by Russian-controlled Donetsk authorities to shape international perception of the war