Marianna Vishegirskaya is the pregnant woman who has unwittingly found herself at the centre of one of the most disputed events of the war. In a previous episode we looked at how Russia falsely accused her of helping fake photos of the aftermath of its attack on a maternity hospital, in which at least three people were killed. But now Marianna has told her side of the story, after escaping the besieged city of Mariupol with her husband and newborn baby. Her interview, given to a pro-Kremlin jour...
Apr 08, 2022•18 min•Season 2Ep. 6
What does the invasion of Ukraine have in common with the coronavirus pandemic? On the face of it not much at all, but disinformation about the war is also fuelling existing conspiracy movements around the world. Covid denialists who claimed the pandemic was invented by a shadowy elite to impose a tyrannical global government, now believe that the conflict in Ukraine is part of the same evil plot. It’s a bizarre offshoot of the extraordinary information war that’s being fought over Ukraine, in p...
Apr 01, 2022•17 min•Season 2Ep. 5
When Russia bombed a maternity hospital in Mariupol, it claimed that a wounded pregnant woman was faking it. Her friends told us something different. Images of Marianna Vyshemirska fleeing the aftermath of the attack caused an outcry around the world. But they were also seized upon for a furious disinformation campaign, waged by people including Russian diplomats, that sought to justify the bombing. But we’ve found clear evidence that the Russian story is false, and that the pregnant woman who w...
Mar 24, 2022•20 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Masha is one of the most famous faces on Ukrainian TV and a huge social media star. But the Russian-speaking celebrity has taken on a new role. Her Instagram posts about skin care tips have been replaced by patriotic propaganda. The former Eurovision Song Contest host says she is one of around 200 influencers who are using their social media accounts to help the Ukrainian government to get its message out. As the military battle for Ukraine rages, influencers on all sides are playing a part in t...
Mar 18, 2022•15 min•Season 2Ep. 3
When social media star Maxim was shelled out of his home, he didn’t expect to be called a liar by some of his followers. But did the hostility come from real people - or automated accounts? As the battle for Ukraine rages, another conflict is being fought in parallel – an information war. And like the conflict on the ground, this fight also has real consequences for the people whose lives it touches. Russia’s military assault has been accompanied by an onslaught of disinformation and propaganda ...
Mar 14, 2022•15 min•Season 2Ep. 2
What do you do when you’re Ukrainian and your cousin in Russia refuses to believe her country is attacking your home? After spending days huddled in an air raid shelter, Kristina and her family managed to flee the capital Kyiv with just the few possessions they could carry. Her ordeal has been made that much worse because her cousin in Russia - who’s been watching Russian TV - remains convinced that it’s actually the Ukrainian forces who are bombing their own country. It’s a symptom of the infor...
Mar 14, 2022•17 min•Season 2Ep. 1
What’s fake, what’s real? Stories from the information war over Ukraine. BBC disinformation reporter Marianna Spring speaks to people caught up in the battle for the truth.
Mar 11, 2022•2 min•Season 2Ep. 1
As Gary is remembered by those he left behind, what does his story tell us about the world we live in – online and off – right now? Gary Matthews was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary caught the virus, and died. Marianna S...
Feb 21, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Marianna asks what we get wrong about people who are drawn to conspiracy theories – and finds out who's really at risk of falling down the rabbit hole. Gary Matthews was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary caught the virus, ...
Feb 21, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Marianna looks at the role that social media played in pushing Gary towards conspiracy theories. Gary Matthews was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary caught the virus, and died. Marianna Spring, the BBC’s specialist disinfo...
Feb 21, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Marianna examines new evidence and fills in the gaps of Gary’s last days. Gary Matthews was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary caught the virus, and died. Marianna Spring, the BBC’s specialist disinformation reporter, trave...
Feb 21, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Filmmaker Tristan hears about the death of his cousin Gary. Seeking to understand what happened, Tristan returns to Shrewsbury, where he encounters Charlie Parker. Gary Matthews was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary caught...
Feb 21, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Gary’s death is covered in the local media – and online, the information battle heats up. Gary Matthews was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary caught the virus, and died. Marianna Spring, the BBC’s specialist disinformation...
Feb 21, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Marianna meets Charlie Parker, the man who ran the Facebook group Gary was in before he died. Gary Matthews was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary caught the virus, and died. Marianna Spring, the BBC’s specialist disinforma...
Feb 21, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Marianna goes to a rally on the invitation of a man who believes strange things about Covid. Gary Matthews was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary caught the virus, and died. Marianna Spring, the BBC’s specialist disinformat...
Feb 21, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Two of Gary’s closest friends give us the inside story of his journey towards conspiracy theories. Gary Matthews was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary caught the virus, and died. Marianna Spring, the BBC’s specialist disin...
Feb 21, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Gary Matthews was into conspiracy theories - until he caught Covid and died. What role did falsehoods play in his death? BBC disinformation reporter Marianna Spring investigates. Gary was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary ...
Feb 21, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Gary Matthews was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary caught the virus, and died. Marianna Spring, the BBC’s specialist disinformation reporter, travels to the serene medieval Shropshire town that Gary Matthews called home t...
Feb 16, 2022•3 min•Season 1Ep. 1
