UKRAINE, KHARKIV, Oct. 29 — On Oct. 21, Gwara Media, a Kharkiv-based newsroom, held an online Global Disinformation Conference — Kharkiv 2026 that united local universities, international experts, and scholars from 18 countries to discuss the evolution and dissemination of disinformation, key narratives and tactics used by disinformation actors, and ways to counter disinformation and fake news. 

Among the participants were people from Ukraine, Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Ireland, India, Mexico, Kenya, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and others. 

Gwara Media’s founder and editor, Serhii Prokopenko, said that the conference was one of the ways to expand the work of the newsroom’s fact-checking department and their expertise. He explained: 

“Over the last two years, we have understood that the classic methods of countering disinformation are not enough, especially with the development of AI and bots. We wanted to engage the local scientists to find new solutions for our regions and exchange experiences with international colleagues.” 

Over 100 participants submitted theses for the conference.

“Hopefully, the collaboration will continue, and universities will continue to research disinformation,” Prokopenko said. 

Since the Russian full-scale invasion, Ukraine has become both a subject of misinformation campaigns and a target of multiple narratives, often produced by pro-Russian figures or Russian propaganda actors. That’s one of the reasons we opened a fact-check department within our newsroom. You can support our journalism and fact-checking efforts with a $5 coffee or become a member of our community. 

Read more