Context

“Lies and blatant fabrications” – this was how the British government described Russia’s clumsy attempt to conceal its hand in the nerve agent attack in Salisbury, by staging a bizarre interview with the suspects.

“The Russian president always speaks with the people solely in the language of truth, whatever it may be. Even on New Year’s Eve. No blissful pictures – only what is in fact the case.

2018 has been a busy year for the pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign, with Russian trolls and media working hard to spread falsehoods on an ever-widening range of issues.

What a year it’s been! 2018 will go down as the year NASA successfully landed a probe on Mars, Norway won a record of 39 medals at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and the EU raised the possibility of harmonising summertime and wintertime.

As disinformation never sleeps – and there might be some free time during the holiday season – EUvsDisinfo shares the creme de la creme of reports that have caught our eyes this year. 1.

A screen shot of the Russian Embassy in Canada's Twitter account. “#FreeMariaButina is a showcase that exposes all bias & hypocrisy of #feminist agenda, actively promoted in some western countries … #MeToo someone?

Attempts to influence and interfere in elections can happen in a number of ways such as denigrating or promoting particular candidates or using the hottest topics that have the potential to polarize debate in order to destabilize the situation in a targeted country.

"Too much money was invested into Ukraine, too much money was poured into the coup in Ukraine, and justifying this coup also requires too much money.

"…unfounded claims... The Russian state and the Russian government have nothing to do with any meddling… Source: TASS, December 18, 2018 FALSE There is an abundance of evidence in the reports and indictments.

“The Friday airstrikes of the US-led Coalition have completely destroyed a hospital in the Syrian city of Hajin in the eastern Deir ez-Zor province, Ikhbariya broadcaster reported.