Screenshot of video from Meduza's YouTube channel, of a fire in Sosva village, Sverdlovsk region, Russia In the past several years, Russia and Canada have experienced an escalation of wildfires before summer begins. Among other reasons, scientists attribute these devastating fires to anthropogenic climate change caused by human activities. However, propaganda and the lack of information surrounding the Russian invasion of Ukraine has led to moral panic that seeks to blame “enemies” for the devastating consequences of wildfires in Russian regions. Over the years, various groups such as the “opposition,” Navalny‘s movement, anarchists, and London-based politician in exile Mikhail Khodorkovsky, have been accused of starting these fires, but no evidence has ever been found to support these allegations. The latest scapegoat to emerge is “Ukrainian saboteurs.” Journalist Marina-Maya Govzman, writing for Spektr and the Novaya Vkladka [online independent Russian language media], explains why this phenomenon occurs. Global Voices translated and published the article, shortened for clarity, with permission from Spektr and Novaya Vkladka. On May 25, 2023, images circulated on social media depicting a man wearing khaki trousers and a thick jacket. He was seen kneeling with his hands tightly bound and secured to a tree with a belt. The caption accompanying the photo read: “Organized saboteur brigades travel through the forests, preparing and igniting piles of brushwood before quickly departing. The individual captured in this photo is one of the apprehended saboteurs.” It soon became evident that the person detained by volunteers, instantly labeled as a Ukrainian saboteur on social media, was merely a traveler on a journey from Yekaterinburg to Khabarovsk. The government information center of the Tyumen region published the man's photo and confirmed that he had not started any fires. Initial reports of wildfires emerged in late April 2023, with regions such as Sverdlovsk, Tyumen, Omsk, Kurgan [in the Urals and Siberia regions of Russia], and the far east being affected. Hundreds of people lost their homes, and some villages were nearly obliterated. As of May 2023, a special fire protection regime had been established in 57 regions of the Russian Federation. Rumors began circulating on social media platforms and messaging apps, attributing the fires to “Ukrainian involvement,” prompting residents to take matters into their own hands in search of supposed saboteurs. In one chat, a frequently forwarded message read: “Sabotage activities are taking place all over the Tyumen, Sverdlovsk, and Kurgan regions. Forests, fields, and houses are being set on fire. Volunteers are working tirelessly to dismantle campfires and extinguish the flames. The situation is dire.” The village of Yuldus in the Kurgan region, inhabited by the Tatar ethnic minority, suffered the most severe consequences this spring. On May 7, approximately 300 out of 400 houses were consumed by the flames, although these figures are still being verified. The final death toll has yet to be announced by the authorities, but it currently stands at 21 people. Local residents filmed videos where they pleaded for assistance amidst the ruins. “Our entire village has been reduced to ashes. We have been left homeless and without means of sustenance. We are now out on the streets. There are no words to describe it. Please, we need your help,” implored a woman, surrounded by her grandchildren. The village of Sosva in the Sverdlovsk region suffered severe devastation as well. Within a short period, the fire ravaged 124 residential buildings, claimed the lives of two people, and engulfed a local correctional colony with a hospital that treated prisoners with active tuberculosis. On May 7, the governor of the region, Yevgeny Kuyvashev, declared the situation “critical” and requested federal assistance. “In my memory spanning over forty years, there have been fires, but never on this scale,” remarks Andrey, one of the local volunteers. “We're experiencing a drought. If the wind picks up, sparks will fly, reigniting the fire elsewhere. What can I say? We need to work and extinguish. There was a lot of talk about arsonists, but we haven't seen any evidence.” Alyona, a volunteer coordinating efforts across Russia, mentioned the possibility of sabotage. “Information is coming in various forms, often contradictory. Speaking for myself, I believe there is a chance of arson.