The Security Service of Ukraine has warned that Russia has stepped up preparations for a number of information and psychological special operations concerning the situation in Oleshky, in Kherson Region.
The SBU uncovered this information during its counter-intelligence work, the press release says.
It is known that servicemen from one of the occupiers’ units have been ordered to prepare a series of “compromising” interviews featuring residents of the temporarily occupied city.
In these videos, local residents must:
- accuse the Defence Forces of Ukraine of constant shelling and a blockade of the city;
- discredit decisions by our country’s military and political leadership;
- express a positive attitude towards, and gratitude to, the military of the aggressor state.
The campaign is scheduled to be carried out in October and early November this year.
“The aggressor has no success on the battlefield, so it is trying by any means to undermine Ukrainians’ psycho-emotional state and destabilise the situation inside our country,” the SBU said.
The agency urged representatives of the Ukrainian media and citizens not to trust publications from hostile or pro-Russian Telegram channels and not to share unverified information.
Ukraine’s Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, said that dozens of people are leaving occupied Oleshky on their own. Some are travelling out by bicycle or moped, while others are going on foot, including in order to find and buy food for themselves and their loved ones.