Kremlin Continues Efforts To Spread Propaganda Through U.K. Hoax Calls

Topline

The Russian duo behind hoax phone calls to a pair of high-ranking U.K. officials last week released a likely altered clip of its call Thursday with U.K. Home Secretary Priti Patel, marking the latest effort by the Kremlin to push its propaganda through the bizarre pranks.

Key Facts

One of the Russian pranksters that claimed responsibility for the calls — which the U.K. said was backed by the Russian state — published a one-minute video of Patel in which the Russian caller impersonated Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

The video, which features obvious jumps and only shows Patel and not her caller on camera, shows the prankster ask Patel if U.K. citizens will welcome “neo-Nazi” refugees from Ukraine into the country, referring to Russia’s misguided and dangerous claim it’s trying to “denazify” Ukraine through its war on the country.“

The support is very significant here,” Patel answered in the video dated March 15, but it’s unclear if that quote was in response to that question, and the U.K. said a clip released by the same pranksters earlier this week showing their call with U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace was doctored.

Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on the clip released by the Vovan and Lexus prankster duo famed in Russia, claiming that Patel shared she is “​​ready to accept and help Ukrainian nationalists and neo-Nazis in every possible way,” according to a translation of the RIA article.

Patel’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Crucial Quote

A spokesperson for U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Monday in a statement blaming the Russian government for the prank calls: “This is standard practice for Russian information operations. Disinformation is a tactic straight from the Kremlin playbook to try to distract from their illegal activities in Ukraine and the human rights abuses being committed there.”

Key Background

Patel and Wallace revealed last week they were targeted by individuals claiming to be the Ukrainian prime minister. Wallace immediately blamed Russia for the hoax, tweeting last Thursday it was a “desperate attempt” for Russia to distract from the war and part of Russia’s “disinformation, distortion and dirty tricks.” Hours after the prime minister’s office said Russian “state actors” were responsible for the calls, the Russian pranksters released videos of their call with Wallace, which the U.K. Defense Ministry said were designed to “manipulate the truth.” Vovan and Lexus, whose real names are Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov, are celebrities in Russia, and their previous prank call targets include singer Elton John, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prince Harry.

Further Reading

UK slams Russia after officials duped by hoax video calls (Associated Press)

Kremlin calling? Meet the Russian pranksters who say ‘Elton owes us’ (The Guardian)

Video released showing Russian hoax call with UK defence secretary (The Guardian)

Russia responsible for hoax calls to Ben Wallace and Priti Patel, says No 10 (The Guardian)