Migration crisis: NSDC warns of possible information provocations targeting Ukraine

Experts with the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine have warned of possible information provocations aimed at redirecting the flow of migrants to the Ukrainian-Belarusian border.

That’s according to a report released on the NSDC website, Ukrinform reports.

The CCD notes that, according to information published by the Ministry of the Interior and Administration of the Republic of Poland, rumors are being spread among the migrants near the Polish border that Germany is ready to accept refugees and that some logistical decisions were allegedly made: “coaches from Germany will come to pick them up from the border and Poland will let them through.”

Polish officials have denied the allegations as aimed at encouraging migrants to storm the Polish border, and warned against ill-considered actions.

In turn, BBC News Russian reports that in order to reduce the spread of disinformation among migrants, text messages are being sent to all non-Polish mobile phone numbers in the border area urging them not to believe these rumors: “The Polish border is well protected”. The same messages are duplicated by loudspeakers at border checkpoints.

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The CCD experts predict that similar provocation tactics could be used in the direction of the Ukrainian-Belarusian border. In particular, an information provocation might emerge that some of Ukraine’s neighboring countries are allegedly ready to accept refugees who only need to cross the territory of Ukraine.

Given the current situation, the CCD sent recommendations to the relevant authorities on the need to take preventive measures, in particular, to formulate messages in English, Arabic, and other languages ​​with information on domestic legislation governing migration issues and the legal consequences of illegal border crossing.

As reported, the Interior Ministry on Thursday denied rumors of the alleged detection of a group of migrants in the Chornobyl exclusion zone bordering Belarus.

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