[Blue Whale is a "game" on Russian social media, where participants are encouraged to perform certain tasks, the final one being suicide. While it appears to be a real phenomenon, it also has proven fodder for conspiracy theorists who exaggerate its scope and speculate about its origins.]

At a hearing on February 16 of Russia's Public Chamber to discuss proposed legislation increasing punishments for inciting suicide, members heard allegations that Blue Whale had been created by "Ukrainian nationalists" as "a professionally prepared campaign that has caught up at least 2 million youths," according to a report of the meeting in the daily Kommersant.