Sources in the Conspiracy-Pseudoscience category may publish unverifiable information that is not always supported by evidence. These sources may be untrustworthy for credible/verifiable information; therefore, fact-checking and further investigation is recommended on a per-article basis when obtaining information from these sources. See all Conspiracy-Pseudoscience sources.

• Overall, we rate South Front a strong conspiracy site based on secretly promoting Russian Propaganda that is not always factual.

Detailed Report

Bias Rating: RIGHT-CONSPIRACY
Factual Reporting: LOW
Country: Russia
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: TOTAL OPPRESSION
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: LOW CREDIBILITY

History

Founded in 2015, South Front is a Russian propaganda website that claims to be non-profit and non-partisan. According to their about page, South Front is a “public analytical umbrella organization created and maintained by a team of experts and volunteers from the four corners of the Earth. SouthFront focuses on issues of international relations, armed conflicts, and crises. The organization provides military operations analysis, military posture of major world powers, and other important data influencing the growth of tensions between countries and nations.”

The website lacks transparency as they do not name an owner or editors and articles lack author names and bios.

In 2016, South Front was accused of being a Russian propaganda tool. In another 2016 article, they were accused of “spreading Russian propaganda during the [U.S.] election.” Finally, in 2017, their Wikipedia page was deleted due to being a non-reliable source.

Read our profile on Russia’s media and government.

Funded by / Ownership

South Front does not disclose ownership; however, the domain is registered in Russia, there is an email address with the .ru extension and donations via Paypal are in Russian, “Пожертвовать на southfront@list.ru, Цель: Any amount donation.” In other words, this source does not disclose they are from Russia and try hard to hide that fact. Revenue is derived through donations.

Analysis / Bias

In review, South Front provides an analysis of battles and conflicts, evaluates the major world power armed forces, and studies tensions between countries from a Russian perspective. Articles are published anonymously and typically do not use loaded emotional headlines such as this LOCAL FIGHTERS KILLED, INJURED IN TWO SEPARATE ATTACKS IN SYRIA’S DARAA. This story does not source to an outside source.

According to EU VS Disinfo, South Front frequently publishes false or misleading Russian Propaganda. During the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, they published highly propagandistic articles such as this BREAKING: RUSSIA LAUNCHED PEACE ENFORCEMENT OPERATION IN UKRAINE. While people may have differing perspectives on the invasion, a peace mission is not a perspective most would hold. This is a Russian propaganda website.

Failed Fact Checks

• Russian TV Claims U.S. Arming Islamic State in Yemen – False

Overall, we rate South Front a strong conspiracy site based on secretly promoting Russian Propaganda that is not always factual. (D. Van Zandt 8/1/2016) Updated (02/25/2022)

Source: https://southfront.org/