Russian propaganda spreads false claims about AFU allegedly preparing “terrorist attack” with chemical substances
Russian propaganda, with the aim of discrediting the Ukrainian Armed Forces, is spreading misinformation about the alleged preparation of a “Ukrainian chemical provocation.”
This was reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) of the National Security and Defense Council on Facebook, according to Ukrinform.
“The Russian occupation structures in the Kharkiv region are spreading statements about the alleged arrival of Ukrainian Armed Forces radiation, chemical, and biological protection units in Izium and the preparation of a ‘terrorist attack’ using chemicals between January 6 and 8,” the Center said.
The center explained that this campaign could be an example of the classic tactic of “information alibi.” Russia may in advance attribute to Ukraine actions that it itself systematically resorts to, creating an information cover for possible provocations or crimes of its own.
A separate element of manipulation is the appeal to religious themes, the CCD emphasized. The fictitious provocation is linked to the dates of “Orthodox Christmas.” In this way, the enemy is trying to create a negative image of Ukraine and turn the population against the Ukrainian state.
“The statements of the Russian occupation structures are not supported by any evidence and are part of an information war. On the contrary, the use of chemical substances by Russian troops has been repeatedly recorded by the Ukrainian side and international organizations, and the Russian Federation itself is under sanctions for the use of chemical weapons,” the CCD noted.
As reported by Ukrinform, Russian propagandists registered accounts on TikTok en masse on the eve of the Christmas and New Year holidays and filled them with AI content to quickly build an audience, and after reaching their target audience, the profiles gradually changed their theme and began to promote manipulative narratives.
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