Enemy used 'ceasefire' to bring in reserves – disinfo watchdog

Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, stated this on Ukrainian television, according to Ukrinform.

"This was the Russian intent -- wherever the intensity of fighting decreased, they used the opportunity to move in reserves and equipment for future assaults. Just like during the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) and the Minsk process, Russia continues to follow the same tactic -- using any self-declared pause to prepare for further aggression," Kovalenko said.

At the same time, he noted that Russian diplomacy is once again attempting to mislead the West by accusing Ukraine of violating the ceasefire.

“Their diplomats try to claim that Russia wants peace, and Ukraine doesn't -- that Ukraine is violating something while Russia supposedly isn't. Since 2014, the Russian system and Putin's regime have not changed their approach to diplomacy. During the Minsk process, they tried to deceive the Europeans; now they're attempting to do the same with the Americans," Kovalenko added.

The Center for Countering Disinformation stated earlier that Russia's information operation -- aimed at blaming Ukraine for breaking the "ceasefire" -- had failed, including within Western media spaces.