The animated series "Masha and the Bear" promotes pro-Russian narratives disguised as children's content, according to Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) at the National Security and Defense Council.
Kovalenko made the statement on Telegram while commenting on Ukraine's latest sanctions against Russia, Ukrinform reports.
"'Masha and the Bear' is a Russian cultural and propaganda project that many people consider simply a cartoon. Humor is one of the most effective ways of conveying ideas, and the purpose of this product is to shape a particular perception of Russia among children on different continents, since it is a global product. It targets children who will grow up, choose their governments and shape the course of their countries. Working with children is the foundation of Russia's propaganda machine," he said.
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Kovalenko noted that Ukrainian authorities had worked for a long time to introduce the sanctions and had ultimately succeeded.
