Life.ru's headline says a 'security belt is expanding'; three minutes later Life.ru quotes a general advancing 'in the general direction of Sumy'
Russia's defence minister, Andrei Belousov, inspected the forces on Ukraine's north-eastern border on 25 September. The five Russian reports we hold describe that one briefing in three ways: a buffer zone, an offensive towards a regional capital, and an inspection with awards. We hold no Ukrainian account of this front.
What happened. Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov visited the command post of Russia's "North" group of forces, according to five Russian reports published within 16 minutes of each other on 25 September. Regnum names the defence ministry's press service as its source.
Three names for one briefing.
| Outlet | What its headline calls it | What its text adds |
|---|---|---|
| Life.ru (14:15 UTC) | A "security belt" that "is expanding" | Border districts of Sumy and Kharkiv regions |
| Life.ru (14:18 UTC) | The "main direction of the offensive" | "Kursk" group attacking "in the general direction of Sumy" |
| RIA Novosti | An offensive by the "Kursk" group | We hold only the headline |
| Regnum | An inspection | Ministry press service as the source |
| TASS | An inspection and reports | Awards for "valor, courage and heroism" |
Who is heard. All 5 of 5 reports rest on the Russian ministry or its commanders. None of them quotes a Ukrainian official, a Ukrainian soldier or a resident of Sumy or Kharkiv. Life.ru ran both the "belt" headline and the "offensive" headline, three minutes apart.
What is not settled. - Whether Russian forces are advancing towards Sumy city. The claim rests on one general's report to his minister. - How far any "security belt" reaches, or where. No report gives a distance, a village or a date. - What Ukraine says. We hold no Ukrainian report on this front, which is not the same as Ukraine having said nothing. - Civilians. None of the five reports mentions them.
What this is about. This story is about Russian military operations in two Ukrainian regions, Sumy and Kharkiv, which border Russia in Ukraine's north-east.
How it got here. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and backed armed separatists in eastern Ukraine. On 24 February 2022 it launched a full-scale invasion. Russian columns entered Sumy and Kharkiv regions in the first weeks. They withdrew from around Sumy in spring 2022. A Ukrainian counter-offensive pushed them out of most of Kharkiv region that September.
In May 2024 Russia opened a new push across the border into northern Kharkiv region. Russian officials described its aim as a buffer zone to keep Ukrainian fire away from Russian border towns such as Belgorod. In August 2024 Ukrainian forces crossed into Russia's Kursk region. Russia said in spring 2025 that it had driven them out. Ukraine disputed parts of that account. Russian forces then pressed into the border districts of Sumy region. Russian officials again spoke of a buffer or "security" zone. Ukraine calls these operations an invasion of its territory.
Who the actors are. - Russia's defence ministry, led since May 2024 by Andrei Belousov, an economist rather than a soldier. - The "North" group of forces, the Russian command covering this border. The reports name its commander as Colonel-General Yevgeny Nikiforov. Its "Kursk" group takes its name from the Russian region Ukraine entered in 2024. - Ukraine's armed forces and the people of Sumy and Kharkiv regions. Sumy city is a regional capital. Kharkiv is Ukraine's second city.
What is at stake. A buffer zone would be a strip of border land. An offensive on Sumy city would be an attempt on a regional capital, which would be a wider war in the north-east. Russia's own reports use both descriptions.
Where it stands. Russian outlets say Nikiforov told Belousov the Kursk group is advancing towards Sumy. We hold no independent or Ukrainian report that confirms or denies this.
The story so far
- Regnum hails a 'record turnout' in 'Zaporozhye region'; the Guardian calls it a 'tightly controlled vote' and Verstka says 'occupied territories of Ukraine' · 21 Sep 2026
- UPI says more than 1,000 drones and 2 dead; The Media Line's headline says one Moscow refinery · 20 Sep 2026
Earlier stories The AI Times filed on this thread.
What is being argued about
- Whether Russia's operation in Sumy region is a border buffer zone or an advance on Sumy city
- A Russian general's report naming Sumy as the direction of the offensive
- Defence Minister Belousov's inspection of the 'North' group and the awards he gave
- No Ukrainian or independent account in any of the reports we hold
One briefing, three descriptionsSide by side
| Outlet | Headline calls it | Names Sumy city as a target? | Source named |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life.ru | A 'security belt' that 'is expanding' | No | Briefing to the minister |
| Life.ru | The 'main direction of the offensive' | Yes: 'general direction of Sumy' | Col-Gen Nikiforov |
| RIA Novosti | The 'Kursk' group's offensive | Headline only held | Commander of 'North' |
| Regnum | An inspection | No | Defence ministry press service |
| TASS | An inspection and reports | No | Not stated in the text we hold |
All five reports are Russian and all rest on the Russian defence ministry or its commanders. We hold no Ukrainian report on this front.
Sources
L
Life.ru
Полоса безопасности расширяется: Белоусов оценил успехи группировки «Север»
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What we have measured
Absence of notice framed as a finding a booking agent not having heard is put in the headline as the news ×1Absence used as rebuttal a booking service's lack of notice is run as a counter-report, sourced anonymously ×1Actor framing The company is the only actor named. The regulator appears only as a law it obeys. ×1Actor label Calls the Ukrainian president the head of a 'regime' ×1
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Life.ru
Командующий «Севером» раскрыл главное направление наступления группировки «Курск»
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Read it at Life.ru →
What we have measured
Absence of notice framed as a finding a booking agent not having heard is put in the headline as the news ×1Absence used as rebuttal a booking service's lack of notice is run as a counter-report, sourced anonymously ×1Actor framing The company is the only actor named. The regulator appears only as a law it obeys. ×1Actor label Calls the Ukrainian president the head of a 'regime' ×1
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R
RIA Novosti
Командующий "Севера" рассказал о наступлении группировки "Курск"
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Read it at RIA Novosti →
What we have measured
Actor named no attacker named; the channels only 'said' there were failures ×1Actor named the outage is reported with no actor named ×1Actor named 'the West' is named as acting, attributed to the foreign ministry spokeswoman ×1Actor named headline names Ukraine's armed forces as the attacker ×1
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R
Regnum
Белоусов проинспектировал работу группировки «Север» в зоне СВО
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Read it at Regnum →
What we have measured
Actor label Calls Ukraine's president the head of a regime in the report's own voice. ×1Actor named names Ukraine's forces as the attacker of the town ×1Actor named Ukraine's armed forces are named outright as the side attacking the town ×1Actor named Names the organiser and says he is under arrest ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
T
TASS
Defense minister inspects Battlegroup North, hears reports on current situation
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at TASS →
What we have measured
Accusation carried by a verb of fact 'Noted' presents a Russian diplomat's accusation of terror as an observation. Kyiv gives no response anywhere in the text. ×1Accusation carried unhedged a charge of terror against civilians is introduced with 'noted', which treats it as fact, and nobody answers it ×1Actor named Ukrainian forces are named as acting, in the report's own voice ×1Actor named Names 'the Western community' as the actor, in Putin's words ×1
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Right
estimate · not a score
Life.ru
🇷🇺RU ·
digital ·
Полоса безопасности расширяется: Белоусов оценил успехи группировки «Север»
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Life.ru →
What we have measured
Absence of notice framed as a finding a booking agent not having heard is put in the headline as the news ×1Absence used as rebuttal a booking service's lack of notice is run as a counter-report, sourced anonymously ×1Actor framing The company is the only actor named. The regulator appears only as a law it obeys. ×1Actor label Calls the Ukrainian president the head of a 'regime' ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
L
Life.ru
Right
estimate · not a score
Life.ru
🇷🇺RU ·
digital ·
Командующий «Севером» раскрыл главное направление наступления группировки «Курск»
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Life.ru →
What we have measured
Absence of notice framed as a finding a booking agent not having heard is put in the headline as the news ×1Absence used as rebuttal a booking service's lack of notice is run as a counter-report, sourced anonymously ×1Actor framing The company is the only actor named. The regulator appears only as a law it obeys. ×1Actor label Calls the Ukrainian president the head of a 'regime' ×1
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R
RIA Novosti
State / loyalist
estimate · not a score
RIA Novosti
🇷🇺RU ·
state agency · state-controlled
Командующий "Севера" рассказал о наступлении группировки "Курск"
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at RIA Novosti →
What we have measured
Actor named no attacker named; the channels only 'said' there were failures ×1Actor named the outage is reported with no actor named ×1Actor named 'the West' is named as acting, attributed to the foreign ministry spokeswoman ×1Actor named headline names Ukraine's armed forces as the attacker ×1
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R
Regnum
Right
estimate · not a score
Regnum
🇷🇺RU ·
digital ·
Белоусов проинспектировал работу группировки «Север» в зоне СВО
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Regnum →
What we have measured
Actor label Calls Ukraine's president the head of a regime in the report's own voice. ×1Actor named names Ukraine's forces as the attacker of the town ×1Actor named Ukraine's armed forces are named outright as the side attacking the town ×1Actor named Names the organiser and says he is under arrest ×1
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T
TASS
State / loyalist
estimate · not a score
TASS
🇷🇺RU ·
state agency · state-controlled
Defense minister inspects Battlegroup North, hears reports on current situation
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at TASS →
What we have measured
Accusation carried by a verb of fact 'Noted' presents a Russian diplomat's accusation of terror as an observation. Kyiv gives no response anywhere in the text. ×1Accusation carried unhedged a charge of terror against civilians is introduced with 'noted', which treats it as fact, and nobody answers it ×1Actor named Ukrainian forces are named as acting, in the report's own voice ×1Actor named Names 'the Western community' as the actor, in Putin's words ×1
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Five reports in 16 minutesTimeline
- 2026-09-2514:05 published time of the report, UTC Regnum Belousov inspected the 'North' group, according to the ministry press serviceinspection
- 2026-09-2514:10 published time of the report, UTC RIA Novosti Commander of 'North' speaks of the 'Kursk' group's offensiveoffensive
- 2026-09-2514:15 published time of the report, UTC Life.ru 'Security belt is expanding' in Sumy and Kharkiv border districtsbuffer zone
- 2026-09-2514:18 published time of the report, UTC Life.ru Nikiforov: 'Kursk' group attacking 'in the general direction of Sumy'offensive
- 2026-09-2514:21 published time of the report, UTC TASS Belousov hears reports and presents state awardsinspection
Times are when each report was published, in UTC. Life.ru moved from 'security belt' to 'offensive' in three minutes.
Sources
R
Regnum
Белоусов проинспектировал работу группировки «Север» в зоне СВО
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Regnum →
What we have measured
Actor label Calls Ukraine's president the head of a regime in the report's own voice. ×1Actor named names Ukraine's forces as the attacker of the town ×1Actor named Ukraine's armed forces are named outright as the side attacking the town ×1Actor named Names the organiser and says he is under arrest ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
R
RIA Novosti
Командующий "Севера" рассказал о наступлении группировки "Курск"
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at RIA Novosti →
What we have measured
Actor named no attacker named; the channels only 'said' there were failures ×1Actor named the outage is reported with no actor named ×1Actor named 'the West' is named as acting, attributed to the foreign ministry spokeswoman ×1Actor named headline names Ukraine's armed forces as the attacker ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
L
Life.ru
Полоса безопасности расширяется: Белоусов оценил успехи группировки «Север»
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Life.ru →
What we have measured
Absence of notice framed as a finding a booking agent not having heard is put in the headline as the news ×1Absence used as rebuttal a booking service's lack of notice is run as a counter-report, sourced anonymously ×1Actor framing The company is the only actor named. The regulator appears only as a law it obeys. ×1Actor label Calls the Ukrainian president the head of a 'regime' ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
L
Life.ru
Командующий «Севером» раскрыл главное направление наступления группировки «Курск»
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Life.ru →
What we have measured
Absence of notice framed as a finding a booking agent not having heard is put in the headline as the news ×1Absence used as rebuttal a booking service's lack of notice is run as a counter-report, sourced anonymously ×1Actor framing The company is the only actor named. The regulator appears only as a law it obeys. ×1Actor label Calls the Ukrainian president the head of a 'regime' ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
T
TASS
Defense minister inspects Battlegroup North, hears reports on current situation
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at TASS →
What we have measured
Accusation carried by a verb of fact 'Noted' presents a Russian diplomat's accusation of terror as an observation. Kyiv gives no response anywhere in the text. ×1Accusation carried unhedged a charge of terror against civilians is introduced with 'noted', which treats it as fact, and nobody answers it ×1Actor named Ukrainian forces are named as acting, in the report's own voice ×1Actor named Names 'the Western community' as the actor, in Putin's words ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Right
estimate · not a score
Regnum
🇷🇺RU ·
digital ·
Белоусов проинспектировал работу группировки «Север» в зоне СВО
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Regnum →
What we have measured
Actor label Calls Ukraine's president the head of a regime in the report's own voice. ×1Actor named names Ukraine's forces as the attacker of the town ×1Actor named Ukraine's armed forces are named outright as the side attacking the town ×1Actor named Names the organiser and says he is under arrest ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
R
RIA Novosti
State / loyalist
estimate · not a score
RIA Novosti
🇷🇺RU ·
state agency · state-controlled
Командующий "Севера" рассказал о наступлении группировки "Курск"
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at RIA Novosti →
What we have measured
Actor named no attacker named; the channels only 'said' there were failures ×1Actor named the outage is reported with no actor named ×1Actor named 'the West' is named as acting, attributed to the foreign ministry spokeswoman ×1Actor named headline names Ukraine's armed forces as the attacker ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
L
Life.ru
Right
estimate · not a score
Life.ru
🇷🇺RU ·
digital ·
Полоса безопасности расширяется: Белоусов оценил успехи группировки «Север»
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Life.ru →
What we have measured
Absence of notice framed as a finding a booking agent not having heard is put in the headline as the news ×1Absence used as rebuttal a booking service's lack of notice is run as a counter-report, sourced anonymously ×1Actor framing The company is the only actor named. The regulator appears only as a law it obeys. ×1Actor label Calls the Ukrainian president the head of a 'regime' ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
L
Life.ru
Right
estimate · not a score
Life.ru
🇷🇺RU ·
digital ·
Командующий «Севером» раскрыл главное направление наступления группировки «Курск»
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Life.ru →
What we have measured
Absence of notice framed as a finding a booking agent not having heard is put in the headline as the news ×1Absence used as rebuttal a booking service's lack of notice is run as a counter-report, sourced anonymously ×1Actor framing The company is the only actor named. The regulator appears only as a law it obeys. ×1Actor label Calls the Ukrainian president the head of a 'regime' ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
T
TASS
State / loyalist
estimate · not a score
TASS
🇷🇺RU ·
state agency · state-controlled
Defense minister inspects Battlegroup North, hears reports on current situation
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at TASS →
What we have measured
Accusation carried by a verb of fact 'Noted' presents a Russian diplomat's accusation of terror as an observation. Kyiv gives no response anywhere in the text. ×1Accusation carried unhedged a charge of terror against civilians is introduced with 'noted', which treats it as fact, and nobody answers it ×1Actor named Ukrainian forces are named as acting, in the report's own voice ×1Actor named Names 'the Western community' as the actor, in Putin's words ×1
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The bias in this coverageBias
Buffer zone or push on Sumy: both from one briefing
Every report comes from the same Russian defence ministry briefing. One headline calls it a widening security belt. Another quotes the commander saying the offensive is aimed at the city of Sumy.
0 reports carrying a Ukrainian voice
5 reports using the ministry's own account
1 reports naming Sumy as the target
Scored without the mastheads. Where the two passes differ, both are kept.
Sources
T
TASS
Defense minister inspects Battlegroup North, hears reports on current situation
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at TASS →
What we have measured
Accusation carried by a verb of fact 'Noted' presents a Russian diplomat's accusation of terror as an observation. Kyiv gives no response anywhere in the text. ×1Accusation carried unhedged a charge of terror against civilians is introduced with 'noted', which treats it as fact, and nobody answers it ×1Actor named Ukrainian forces are named as acting, in the report's own voice ×1Actor named Names 'the Western community' as the actor, in Putin's words ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
L
Life.ru
Командующий «Севером» раскрыл главное направление наступления группировки «Курск»
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Life.ru →
What we have measured
Absence of notice framed as a finding a booking agent not having heard is put in the headline as the news ×1Absence used as rebuttal a booking service's lack of notice is run as a counter-report, sourced anonymously ×1Actor framing The company is the only actor named. The regulator appears only as a law it obeys. ×1Actor label Calls the Ukrainian president the head of a 'regime' ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
L
Life.ru
Полоса безопасности расширяется: Белоусов оценил успехи группировки «Север»
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Life.ru →
What we have measured
Absence of notice framed as a finding a booking agent not having heard is put in the headline as the news ×1Absence used as rebuttal a booking service's lack of notice is run as a counter-report, sourced anonymously ×1Actor framing The company is the only actor named. The regulator appears only as a law it obeys. ×1Actor label Calls the Ukrainian president the head of a 'regime' ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
R
Regnum
Белоусов проинспектировал работу группировки «Север» в зоне СВО
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Regnum →
What we have measured
Actor label Calls Ukraine's president the head of a regime in the report's own voice. ×1Actor named names Ukraine's forces as the attacker of the town ×1Actor named Ukraine's armed forces are named outright as the side attacking the town ×1Actor named Names the organiser and says he is under arrest ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
R
RIA Novosti
Командующий "Севера" рассказал о наступлении группировки "Курск"
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at RIA Novosti →
What we have measured
Actor named no attacker named; the channels only 'said' there were failures ×1Actor named the outage is reported with no actor named ×1Actor named 'the West' is named as acting, attributed to the foreign ministry spokeswoman ×1Actor named headline names Ukraine's armed forces as the attacker ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
State / loyalist
estimate · not a score
TASS
🇷🇺RU ·
state agency · state-controlled
Defense minister inspects Battlegroup North, hears reports on current situation
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at TASS →
What we have measured
Accusation carried by a verb of fact 'Noted' presents a Russian diplomat's accusation of terror as an observation. Kyiv gives no response anywhere in the text. ×1Accusation carried unhedged a charge of terror against civilians is introduced with 'noted', which treats it as fact, and nobody answers it ×1Actor named Ukrainian forces are named as acting, in the report's own voice ×1Actor named Names 'the Western community' as the actor, in Putin's words ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
L
Life.ru
Right
estimate · not a score
Life.ru
🇷🇺RU ·
digital ·
Командующий «Севером» раскрыл главное направление наступления группировки «Курск»
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Life.ru →
What we have measured
Absence of notice framed as a finding a booking agent not having heard is put in the headline as the news ×1Absence used as rebuttal a booking service's lack of notice is run as a counter-report, sourced anonymously ×1Actor framing The company is the only actor named. The regulator appears only as a law it obeys. ×1Actor label Calls the Ukrainian president the head of a 'regime' ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
L
Life.ru
Right
estimate · not a score
Life.ru
🇷🇺RU ·
digital ·
Полоса безопасности расширяется: Белоусов оценил успехи группировки «Север»
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Life.ru →
What we have measured
Absence of notice framed as a finding a booking agent not having heard is put in the headline as the news ×1Absence used as rebuttal a booking service's lack of notice is run as a counter-report, sourced anonymously ×1Actor framing The company is the only actor named. The regulator appears only as a law it obeys. ×1Actor label Calls the Ukrainian president the head of a 'regime' ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
R
Regnum
Right
estimate · not a score
Regnum
🇷🇺RU ·
digital ·
Белоусов проинспектировал работу группировки «Север» в зоне СВО
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Regnum →
What we have measured
Actor label Calls Ukraine's president the head of a regime in the report's own voice. ×1Actor named names Ukraine's forces as the attacker of the town ×1Actor named Ukraine's armed forces are named outright as the side attacking the town ×1Actor named Names the organiser and says he is under arrest ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
R
RIA Novosti
State / loyalist
estimate · not a score
RIA Novosti
🇷🇺RU ·
state agency · state-controlled
Командующий "Севера" рассказал о наступлении группировки "Курск"
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at RIA Novosti →
What we have measured
Actor named no attacker named; the channels only 'said' there were failures ×1Actor named the outage is reported with no actor named ×1Actor named 'the West' is named as acting, attributed to the foreign ministry spokeswoman ×1Actor named headline names Ukraine's armed forces as the attacker ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Claims and verdicts
unverified
Russia's 'Kursk' group is advancing in Sumy region, heading in the general direction of the city of Sumy.
Life.ru and RIA Novosti both carry it from one source, General Nikiforov's report to Defence Minister Belousov, so this is one account. We hold no Ukrainian or independent report on the front.
Checked against 2 sources:
L
Life.ru
Командующий «Севером» раскрыл главное направление наступления группировки «Курск»
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Life.ru →
What we have measured
Absence of notice framed as a finding a booking agent not having heard is put in the headline as the news ×1Absence used as rebuttal a booking service's lack of notice is run as a counter-report, sourced anonymously ×1Actor framing The company is the only actor named. The regulator appears only as a law it obeys. ×1Actor label Calls the Ukrainian president the head of a 'regime' ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
R
RIA Novosti
Командующий "Севера" рассказал о наступлении группировки "Курск"
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at RIA Novosti →
What we have measured
Actor named no attacker named; the channels only 'said' there were failures ×1Actor named the outage is reported with no actor named ×1Actor named 'the West' is named as acting, attributed to the foreign ministry spokeswoman ×1Actor named headline names Ukraine's armed forces as the attacker ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Right
estimate · not a score
Life.ru
🇷🇺RU ·
digital ·
Командующий «Севером» раскрыл главное направление наступления группировки «Курск»
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Life.ru →
What we have measured
Absence of notice framed as a finding a booking agent not having heard is put in the headline as the news ×1Absence used as rebuttal a booking service's lack of notice is run as a counter-report, sourced anonymously ×1Actor framing The company is the only actor named. The regulator appears only as a law it obeys. ×1Actor label Calls the Ukrainian president the head of a 'regime' ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
R
RIA Novosti
State / loyalist
estimate · not a score
RIA Novosti
🇷🇺RU ·
state agency · state-controlled
Командующий "Севера" рассказал о наступлении группировки "Курск"
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at RIA Novosti →
What we have measured
Actor named no attacker named; the channels only 'said' there were failures ×1Actor named the outage is reported with no actor named ×1Actor named 'the West' is named as acting, attributed to the foreign ministry spokeswoman ×1Actor named headline names Ukraine's armed forces as the attacker ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
unverified
Russia is widening a 'security belt' in the border districts of Sumy and Kharkiv regions.
Life.ru, Regnum and TASS all carry the Russian defence ministry's account of Belousov's visit, so this is one account. No report we hold from Ukraine or any other source addresses it.
Checked against 3 sources:
L
Life.ru
Полоса безопасности расширяется: Белоусов оценил успехи группировки «Север»
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Life.ru →
What we have measured
Absence of notice framed as a finding a booking agent not having heard is put in the headline as the news ×1Absence used as rebuttal a booking service's lack of notice is run as a counter-report, sourced anonymously ×1Actor framing The company is the only actor named. The regulator appears only as a law it obeys. ×1Actor label Calls the Ukrainian president the head of a 'regime' ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
R
Regnum
Белоусов проинспектировал работу группировки «Север» в зоне СВО
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Regnum →
What we have measured
Actor label Calls Ukraine's president the head of a regime in the report's own voice. ×1Actor named names Ukraine's forces as the attacker of the town ×1Actor named Ukraine's armed forces are named outright as the side attacking the town ×1Actor named Names the organiser and says he is under arrest ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
T
TASS
Defense minister inspects Battlegroup North, hears reports on current situation
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at TASS →
What we have measured
Accusation carried by a verb of fact 'Noted' presents a Russian diplomat's accusation of terror as an observation. Kyiv gives no response anywhere in the text. ×1Accusation carried unhedged a charge of terror against civilians is introduced with 'noted', which treats it as fact, and nobody answers it ×1Actor named Ukrainian forces are named as acting, in the report's own voice ×1Actor named Names 'the Western community' as the actor, in Putin's words ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Right
estimate · not a score
Life.ru
🇷🇺RU ·
digital ·
Полоса безопасности расширяется: Белоусов оценил успехи группировки «Север»
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Life.ru →
What we have measured
Absence of notice framed as a finding a booking agent not having heard is put in the headline as the news ×1Absence used as rebuttal a booking service's lack of notice is run as a counter-report, sourced anonymously ×1Actor framing The company is the only actor named. The regulator appears only as a law it obeys. ×1Actor label Calls the Ukrainian president the head of a 'regime' ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
R
Regnum
Right
estimate · not a score
Regnum
🇷🇺RU ·
digital ·
Белоусов проинспектировал работу группировки «Север» в зоне СВО
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Regnum →
What we have measured
Actor label Calls Ukraine's president the head of a regime in the report's own voice. ×1Actor named names Ukraine's forces as the attacker of the town ×1Actor named Ukraine's armed forces are named outright as the side attacking the town ×1Actor named Names the organiser and says he is under arrest ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
T
TASS
State / loyalist
estimate · not a score
TASS
🇷🇺RU ·
state agency · state-controlled
Defense minister inspects Battlegroup North, hears reports on current situation
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at TASS →
What we have measured
Accusation carried by a verb of fact 'Noted' presents a Russian diplomat's accusation of terror as an observation. Kyiv gives no response anywhere in the text. ×1Accusation carried unhedged a charge of terror against civilians is introduced with 'noted', which treats it as fact, and nobody answers it ×1Actor named Ukrainian forces are named as acting, in the report's own voice ×1Actor named Names 'the Western community' as the actor, in Putin's words ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Who wrote it
М
Милена Скрипальщикова
Life.ru
What the bias passes found in their reporting
Actor named
Ukraine's forces named as the attackers, stated flat×1
Actor named
no actor named for who granted the discount; ties it to the leaders' call×1
Actor named
no actor named: the attack is by 'drones' only×1
Actor named
both sides are named as acting; Ukraine's forces named as the attacker, stated flat×1
Claims we checked that rest on their reporting
9 unverified3 true
From 1594 reports we hold under this byline, at
Life.ru. Two independent readings, each made without the masthead, a quote attached to every tag. A record, never a rating.
Their full record →
О
Оксана Попова
Life.ru
What the bias passes found in their reporting
Euphemism
The report calls the seizure a move to 'outside control'×1
No actor named
The headline is passive and leaves out who ordered the handover×1
Owner nationality omitted
The owner is called 'international', while the other report calls the plant French×1
Term adopted flat
The ministry's term 'security belt' is used as the headline's own words, without quotation marks or attribution×1
Claims we checked that rest on their reporting
2 unverified1 true
From 604 reports we hold under this byline, at
Life.ru. Two independent readings, each made without the masthead, a quote attached to every tag. A record, never a rating.
Their full record →
Р
РИА Новости
RIA Novosti
What the bias passes found in their reporting
Actor named
no attacker named; the channels only 'said' there were failures×1
Actor named
the outage is reported with no actor named×1
Actor named
'the West' is named as acting, attributed to the foreign ministry spokeswoman×1
Actor named
headline names Ukraine's armed forces as the attacker×1
Claims we checked that rest on their reporting
2 false2 misleading5 disputed38 unverified12 true
From 26630 reports we hold under this byline, at
RIA Novosti, Regnum. Two independent readings, each made without the masthead, a quote attached to every tag. A record, never a rating.
Their full record →
The bylines on the reports this story is built from. Hover one for what our passes have measured on their reporting.
· 2 reports we hold carry no byline — we do not invent one.
Coverage, outlet by outlet
T
TASS
Defense minister inspects Battlegroup North, hears reports on current situation
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at TASS →
What we have measured
Accusation carried by a verb of fact 'Noted' presents a Russian diplomat's accusation of terror as an observation. Kyiv gives no response anywhere in the text. ×1Accusation carried unhedged a charge of terror against civilians is introduced with 'noted', which treats it as fact, and nobody answers it ×1Actor named Ukrainian forces are named as acting, in the report's own voice ×1Actor named Names 'the Western community' as the actor, in Putin's words ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
— state-controlled
State / loyalist
estimate · not a score
TASS
🇷🇺RU ·
state agency · state-controlled
Defense minister inspects Battlegroup North, hears reports on current situation
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at TASS →
What we have measured
Accusation carried by a verb of fact 'Noted' presents a Russian diplomat's accusation of terror as an observation. Kyiv gives no response anywhere in the text. ×1Accusation carried unhedged a charge of terror against civilians is introduced with 'noted', which treats it as fact, and nobody answers it ×1Actor named Ukrainian forces are named as acting, in the report's own voice ×1Actor named Names 'the Western community' as the actor, in Putin's words ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
— state-controlledLeads on the awards, carrying the ministry's phrase 'valor, courage and heroism' without attribution.
MOSCOW, September 25. /TASS/. Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov has inspected the Battlegroup North and heard reports from commanders on the current situation in the group’s area of responsibility, the Defense Ministry said. "During a working trip to the special military operation zone, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov heard reports from commanders on the current situation in the areas of responsibility at the command post of one of the Battlegroup North’s units," the ministry said in a statement. Following his visit to the command post, Belousov presented state awards to servicemen who
Stated flat: repeats the ministry's praise for its own troops without attribution — “servicemen who had demonstrated valor, courage and heroism”
Official language adopted: Ministry award wording is carried without attribution — “servicemen who had demonstrated valor, courage and heroism”
Read it at TASS →
https://tass.com/politics/2192895
L
Life.ru
Командующий «Севером» раскрыл главное направление наступления группировки «Курск»
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Life.ru →
What we have measured
Absence of notice framed as a finding a booking agent not having heard is put in the headline as the news ×1Absence used as rebuttal a booking service's lack of notice is run as a counter-report, sourced anonymously ×1Actor framing The company is the only actor named. The regulator appears only as a law it obeys. ×1Actor label Calls the Ukrainian president the head of a 'regime' ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
—
Right
estimate · not a score
Life.ru
🇷🇺RU ·
digital ·
Командующий «Севером» раскрыл главное направление наступления группировки «Курск»
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Life.ru →
What we have measured
Absence of notice framed as a finding a booking agent not having heard is put in the headline as the news ×1Absence used as rebuttal a booking service's lack of notice is run as a counter-report, sourced anonymously ×1Actor framing The company is the only actor named. The regulator appears only as a law it obeys. ×1Actor label Calls the Ukrainian president the head of a 'regime' ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
— Quotes Col-Gen Nikiforov telling Belousov that the 'Kursk' group is attacking in Sumy region 'in the general direction of Sumy'.
«Группировка «Курск» ведёт наступательные действия на территории Сумской области с общим направлением на Сумы», — сообщил Никифоров. Доклад прозвучал во время инспекции Белоусовым группировки войск «Север». Российское командование также сообщило главе Минобороны о ходе создания полосы безопасности в Сумской и Харьковской областях. Ранее Life.ru писал о продвижении группировки «Север» в Сумской области. 1 сентября Владимир Путин заявил, что российские подразделения находились примерно в 12 километрах от окружной дороги Сум и продолжали создание полосы безопасности вдоль российско-украинской гра
Framing term: frames the same operation as an offensive aimed at the city of Sumy — “ведёт наступательные действия в Сумской области с общим направлением на Сумы”
Objective stated: A Russian commander names Sumy city as the direction of the offensive, which is more than the 'security belt' wording elsewhere claims — “Группировка «Курск» ведёт наступательные действия в Сумской области с общим направлением на Сумы.”
Read it at Life.ru →
https://life.ru/p/komanduyuschiy-severom-raskryl-glavnoe-napravlenie-na…
L
Life.ru
Полоса безопасности расширяется: Белоусов оценил успехи группировки «Север»
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Life.ru →
What we have measured
Absence of notice framed as a finding a booking agent not having heard is put in the headline as the news ×1Absence used as rebuttal a booking service's lack of notice is run as a counter-report, sourced anonymously ×1Actor framing The company is the only actor named. The regulator appears only as a law it obeys. ×1Actor label Calls the Ukrainian president the head of a 'regime' ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
—
Right
estimate · not a score
Life.ru
🇷🇺RU ·
digital ·
Полоса безопасности расширяется: Белоусов оценил успехи группировки «Север»
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Life.ru →
What we have measured
Absence of notice framed as a finding a booking agent not having heard is put in the headline as the news ×1Absence used as rebuttal a booking service's lack of notice is run as a counter-report, sourced anonymously ×1Actor framing The company is the only actor named. The regulator appears only as a law it obeys. ×1Actor label Calls the Ukrainian president the head of a 'regime' ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
— The only headline that calls the operation a 'security belt', and it says the belt 'is expanding' across the border districts of Sumy and Kharkiv regions.
Командующий группировкой генерал-полковник Евгений Никифоров сообщил, что подразделения группировки «Курск» продолжают наступательные действия в направлении Сум. По его словам, за летний период российские военнослужащие освободили более 250 квадратных километров территории и 10 населённых пунктов, а в настоящее время ведут бои за освобождение еще четырёх посёлков. Особое внимание в ходе визита уделили технологическому оснащению войск. Для снижения рисков личного состава в группировке развернули систему снабжения передовых подразделений с помощью беспилотной авиации, а основные приграничные авт
Term adopted flat: The ministry's term 'security belt' is used as the headline's own words, without quotation marks or attribution — “Полоса безопасности расширяется”
Read it at Life.ru →
https://life.ru/p/polosa-bezopasnosti-rasshiryaetsya-belousov-otsenil-u…
R
RIA Novosti
Командующий "Севера" рассказал о наступлении группировки "Курск"
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at RIA Novosti →
What we have measured
Actor named no attacker named; the channels only 'said' there were failures ×1Actor named the outage is reported with no actor named ×1Actor named 'the West' is named as acting, attributed to the foreign ministry spokeswoman ×1Actor named headline names Ukraine's armed forces as the attacker ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
— state-controlled
State / loyalist
estimate · not a score
RIA Novosti
🇷🇺RU ·
state agency · state-controlled
Командующий "Севера" рассказал о наступлении группировки "Курск"
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at RIA Novosti →
What we have measured
Actor named no attacker named; the channels only 'said' there were failures ×1Actor named the outage is reported with no actor named ×1Actor named 'the West' is named as acting, attributed to the foreign ministry spokeswoman ×1Actor named headline names Ukraine's armed forces as the attacker ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
— state-controlledA second outlet whose headline speaks of the 'Kursk' group's offensive. We hold only the headline.
Read it at RIA Novosti →
https://ria.ru/20260925/svo-2120299634.html
R
Regnum
Белоусов проинспектировал работу группировки «Север» в зоне СВО
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Regnum →
What we have measured
Actor label Calls Ukraine's president the head of a regime in the report's own voice. ×1Actor named names Ukraine's forces as the attacker of the town ×1Actor named Ukraine's armed forces are named outright as the side attacking the town ×1Actor named Names the organiser and says he is under arrest ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
—
Right
estimate · not a score
Regnum
🇷🇺RU ·
digital ·
Белоусов проинспектировал работу группировки «Север» в зоне СВО
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Regnum →
What we have measured
Actor label Calls Ukraine's president the head of a regime in the report's own voice. ×1Actor named names Ukraine's forces as the attacker of the town ×1Actor named Ukraine's armed forces are named outright as the side attacking the town ×1Actor named Names the organiser and says he is under arrest ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
— Names the defence ministry's press service as its source and uses the Russian state's term for the war, 'special operation'.
Министр обороны России Андрей Белоусов проинспектировал работу группировки войск «Север» в зоне проведения спецоперации. Об этом 25 сентября сообщила пресс-служба оборонного ведомства. В ходе рабочей поездки министр обороны заслушал доклады о ситуации в зонах ответственности группировки. Генерал-пол...
Framing term: uses the Russian state's term for the war — “в зоне проведения спецоперации”
Whose voice: the sole source is the Russian defence ministry's press office — “Об этом 25 сентября сообщила пресс-служба оборонного ведомства.”
Single source: The report is attributed to the defence ministry's press service, and that is its only source — “Об этом 25 сентября сообщила пресс-служба оборонного ведомства.”
Read it at Regnum →
https://regnum.ru/news/4063977
Checked, didn’t cover
International Criminal Court
Spectrum not set
estimate · not a score
International Criminal Court
INT ·
official record · intergovernmental body
What we have measured
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
UN News
Spectrum not set
estimate · not a score
UN News
INT ·
official record · intergovernmental body
What we have measured
Actors named Names both vetoing states and the sponsor, and says what the draft would have created ×1Asserted versus attributed share of women and children among the dead given with no source ×1Asserted vs attributed Israel named as acting, stated in the report's own voice ×1Asymmetric verb The Iranian government's crimes are 'confirmed'. The US finding is only 'reasonable grounds'. The two findings are weighted differently in one sentence. ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Silence is recorded, not inferred — each of these was read when we built this story
and carried nothing on this event.
We could not read these
International Court of Justice
Spectrum not set
estimate · not a score
International Court of Justice
INT ·
official record · intergovernmental body
What we have measured
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
These are must-cite outlets for this desk that we did not manage to read
when we built this story. That is a gap in our reach, not a silence on their part, and
it is not evidence of anything about this story.