Public-interest reference

Standing with Ukraine: awareness & reporting

A calm, practical guide to two things: spotting where Ukrainians are attacked, defamed, or harmed, and recognising how Russian war propaganda spreads — plus the right Australian channels for reporting a genuine threat.

What this is — and isn’t

This page does

  • Surface news where Ukrainians are harmed or defamed.
  • Help you recognise Russian war-propaganda framings.
  • Point to accountable researchers and fact-checkers.
  • List the correct channels for reporting real threats.

This page does not

  • Collect, store, or rank data about any person.
  • Track accounts, communities, ethnicity, or nationality.
  • Submit reports to anyone automatically.
  • Encourage naming, shaming, or vigilantism.

This reference focuses on conduct and content — published news and narratives — never on who someone is or where they come from.

Propaganda framings to recognise

These are recurring talking points used to justify the war or smear Ukrainians — not a description of any individual.

“Ukraine is run by Nazis / we’re de-nazifying it.”

The tactic

A dehumanising pretext borrowed from WWII memory to justify aggression and smear Ukrainians.

Worth knowing

Ukraine is a democracy with a Jewish president elected with 73% of the vote. ‘Denazification’ is a documented state-media talking point.

“It’s a proxy war — NATO forced Russia’s hand.”

The tactic

Shifts agency away from the aggressor and manufactures false balance.

Worth knowing

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of a sovereign neighbour. UN Resolution ES-11/1 condemned it; 141 states agreed.

“Both sides are as bad as each other — who really knows?”

The tactic

Manufactured doubt. The aim is to exhaust you into disengaging, not to prove a counter-fact.

Worth knowing

Uncertainty about details doesn’t erase documented facts. Cross-check specific claims against independent outlets.

A 30-second verify routine

  1. 1

    Pause before you share

    Outrage and fear are the payload. If a post is built to make you feel both, that’s the moment to slow down.

  2. 2

    Find the original source

    Trace claims to a primary source. State-affiliated outlets and anonymous channels aren’t primary sources for contested facts.

  3. 3

    Cross-check independently

    Look for the same claim in two or more independent outlets. Reverse-image-search photos — recycled images are the most common trick.

  4. 4

    Separate opinion from conduct

    Disagreeable opinions are lawful speech. Threats, harassment, and incitement are conduct — that’s what the channels below are for.

Reporting paths (Australia)

For a genuine threat, harassment, or violent/extremist material, these are the right channels. This page submits nothing on your behalf.

Emergency — immediate threat

000

A crime is happening now, or there’s a specific, imminent threat.

National Security Hotline

1800 123 400 · SMS 0498 562 549

Possible terrorism or violent extremism that isn’t an immediate emergency.

Official site →

Police Assistance Line (VIC)

131 444

Non-urgent crime or police matters in Victoria.

Official site →

Crime Stoppers Victoria

1800 333 000

Anonymous tip-offs about criminal activity.

Official site →

eSafety Commissioner

esafety.gov.au

Online hate, abuse, or violent/extremist material.

Official site →

Accountable sources