Dmitry Tabachnyk's Allegation
In an appearance on the propaganda channel Crimea 24, former Ukrainian Minister of Education and Science, Youth and Sports, Dmitry Tabachnyk, asserted that Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines communicate in Russian. Citing radio intercepts, he claimed:
When intercepts occur during the so-called 'special military operation' and the fighting reaches an incredible intensity, the majority of Ukrainian fighters on the intercepted radio communications curse, groan, and ask for help in the Russian language.
Tabachnyk, a former member of the pro-Russian Party of Regions, now serves as an advisor to the Russian-appointed head of the occupied Zaporizhzhia region. Following the 2014 Euromaidan revolution, he left Ukraine and acquired citizenship from the aggressor state. He has since joined the ranks of collaborators and conducts business in occupied territories, including in the agricultural sector.
Personal Sanctions Imposed
In 2023, under a decree by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council imposed personal sanctions on eight individuals, including Ukrainian citizens. Dmitry Tabachnyk was among those targeted. His statement was reported by the Ukrainian publication Glavcom.
Tabachnyk's remarks on the propaganda channel have provoked outrage in Ukrainian society, as he is a figure associated with collaboration and support for the aggression against Ukraine. Such propaganda messaging, disseminated through media, is often part of an information war aimed at discrediting the Ukrainian armed forces and increasing psychological pressure on the population.
During wartime, it is crucial to critically assess information from unverified sources to avoid manipulation. This incident underscores the ongoing need for information security and the fight against disinformation within the country. His claims are widely viewed as a disinformation tactic, given his well-documented role working for the Russian occupation authorities.