Portrayal of European elites as warmongers

What it claims

European politicians are portrayed as people who supposedly are deliberately leading their own societies toward war, economic decline and forced participation in fighting for Ukraine. Damage to the Yahodyn border crossing caused by Russian strikes is inflated into a warning that Poland will enter the war. High energy prices, officials’ wealth and calls to support Ukraine are reduced to one explanation: politicians enriching themselves at citizens’ expense.

Target audience

Examples (paraphrased)

We paraphrase rather than quote: propaganda's exact wording is built to spread, so we carry the claim and not the craft. Each example cites the post it came from.

• The EU supposedly needs a war to save itself from economic collapse and will start one itself.

  Diana Panchenko, 23 Sept 2026

  x.com/Panchenko_X/status/2102835749842554926

• Damage to Yahodyn means the war is already approaching Poland and Europeans will soon fight for Zelenskyy.

  Diana Panchenko, 28 Sept 2026

  x.com/Panchenko_X/status/2104605379342876985

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Goal

To weaken the willingness of European publics and politicians to support Ukraine by portraying such support as the cause of economic losses and a risk of war for Europe.

Techniques used

• Appeal to Fear / PrejudiceDamage to a border crossing is presented as a sign that Europeans will soon be forced to fight.
• Causal OversimplificationEnergy costs and economic difficulties are reduced to support for Ukraine and politicians’ greed.

The real grievance it exploits

People in Europe are concerned about energy and living costs, economic uncertainty and the risk that the war could spread beyond Ukraine.

How to counter

• Technique exposure: Compare an emotional prediction with what it actually proves: damage to an object near the border is not evidence that Poland or other states have decided to enter the war.
• Reframe: Energy costs, economic conditions and security policy have different causes and consequences. Reducing them to a story about “warmongers” removes specific decisions, responsible actors and available data from the discussion.

Sources (all time)

• Diana PanchenkoTier 1163,942 followers
  6 posts · 23 Sept – 1 Oct 2026

  • 1 Oct · x.com/Panchenko_X/status/2105741031228518543
  • 30 Sept · x.com/Panchenko_X/status/2105280364373823602
  • 28 Sept · x.com/Panchenko_X/status/2104674749108322505
  • 28 Sept · x.com/Panchenko_X/status/2104605379342876985
  • 24 Sept · x.com/Panchenko_X/status/2103197413838405751
  • 23 Sept · x.com/Panchenko_X/status/2102835749842554926