Disinformation Targeting Ukraine's National Guard
Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation has refuted a new wave of Russian propaganda, which falsely claims that Ukraine's National Guard is being used as 'barrier troops' near the village of Zybine in the Kharkiv region. The Center states these allegations are entirely baseless and unsupported by evidence. This tactic is a known element of Russia's hybrid warfare, aiming to sow discord without factual basis.
According to the fabricated narrative, National Guard soldiers are allegedly forcing members of the 113th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade to remain at their positions. However, this is part of a renewed Russian information operation designed to demoralize Ukrainian society and discredit the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is not the first time Russian propaganda has attempted to spread similar myths about 'barrier troops' on other sections of the front.
New Information Attacks and Their Objectives
Furthermore, Russian propagandists have launched another information attack, using artificial intelligence to create a video purportedly showing marines fleeing their positions in the Donetsk region. Disinformation is also being spread regarding the situation in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast, where the occupiers claim Ukrainian soldiers are disguising themselves as civilians.
The Center for Countering Disinformation emphasizes that these statements are pure fiction. Through such fakes, Russia is attempting to attribute its own military practices—characteristic of a war machine that disregards human life—to Ukraine. The enemy's goal is to create hostility between different branches of the Ukrainian military, such as the National Guard and Territorial Defense, and to create an illusion of a 'collapsing front' and low morale among Ukrainian defenders. This projection of its own tactics is a hallmark of Russia's disinformation campaign.
The disinformation situation underscores Russia's strategy to undermine trust in Ukraine's defense forces and destabilize public morale.
Amid active combat, information warfare has become a critical element of the conflict. It is therefore vital for the public to recognize the manipulation and speculation tactics employed by the adversary. Countering these challenges requires not only military readiness but also informational resilience from Ukraine.
In addition to the recent claims about 'barrier troops', Russia has intensified its disinformation efforts by deploying AI-generated fabrications targeting various locations, including Kostiantynivka. These misleading narratives not only aim to sow confusion but also to undermine the credibility of the Ukrainian military. To understand the broader implications of these tactics, you can read more about the AI-generated fakes in the disinformation campaign.