Russian propaganda has once again stepped up the spread of disinformation about alleged “atrocities by Ukraine’s Armed Forces” in Donbas. This was reported by the Centre for Countering Disinformation.
According to the CCD, Kremlin-linked outlets have launched a new series of materials based on unverified accounts from people whom Russian propaganda describes as “witnesses”.
In particular, hostile media are circulating the story of a resident of Kostiantynivka who claims that a Ukrainian drone allegedly deliberately attacked her family, including an infant, during an evacuation.
Another Russian source tells of a woman who supposedly, because of “attacks by Ukraine’s Armed Forces”, was forced to leave her wounded husband on the road.
At the same time, these claims are not supported by independent evidence or other reliable corroboration.
The Centre stresses that such materials match typical Russian propaganda templates.
The aim of these information attacks is to discredit Ukraine’s Armed Forces and to shape an image of Ukraine as an “enemy” among Russian audiences and residents of the temporarily occupied territories.
The CCD notes that in this way Russian propaganda is trying to divert attention from the real destruction and civilian deaths caused by the actions of the Russian army.
- In the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, Russia is running a propaganda campaign dedicated to the anniversary of the 2004 Beslan tragedy.