Ukraine Warns of Russian Disinformation Campaign Amid Dire Humanitarian Crisis in Oleshky

Russia Launches Disinformation Campaign Targeting Ukraine in Occupied Oleshky

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has revealed that Russia is preparing a psychological information operation aimed at undermining Ukraine’s image in the temporarily occupied town of Oleshky, Kherson region. Based on intelligence gathered through counterintelligence efforts, Russian forces intend to initiate this campaign between October and early November 2026. The operation’s primary goal is to portray Russian troops positively while discrediting the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

According to the intelligence, Russian soldiers have been ordered to produce a series of staged interviews with local residents. These videos are designed to coerce civilians into blaming Ukrainian forces for ongoing shelling and the blockade of Oleshky. This tactic forms part of a broader strategy to erode the morale of Ukrainians and destabilize the situation in the country. As the SBU emphasized,

“the aggressor has no battlefield successes, so it resorts to any means to break the psychological resilience of Ukrainians.”

Critical Humanitarian Conditions in Oleshky

The humanitarian situation in Oleshky remains extremely precarious. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga has highlighted severe shortages of food, medicine, clean water, electricity, and medical services, affecting civilians including children. Sybiga has urged international bodies such as the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to facilitate humanitarian access and safe evacuation routes from the area. However, the Ukrainian Parliament’s Human Rights Commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, reported that Russia has not confirmed any willingness to allow civilian evacuations.

In response, Ukraine has called for an urgent discussion of the humanitarian crisis in Oleshky at the OSCE Permanent Council meeting. Key indicators of the critical situation include:

• statements from Andriy Sybiga;
• lack of Russian confirmation on civilian evacuation;
• humanitarian aid delivered by Ukrainian forces on October 7, 2026.

Units such as the 11th Brigade of the National Guard named after Mykhailo Hrushevsky and the 34th Kherson Regiment of the National Guard have already conducted two aid deliveries to Oleshky.

The SBU advises the media and public to approach information about the region with caution, warning against trusting enemy or pro-Russian Telegram channels and discouraging the spread of unverified reports. Instead, they recommend relying solely on information from official sources. The overarching intent of Russia’s disinformation effort is to undermine the credibility of Ukraine’s military-political leadership while showcasing a favorable image of Russian forces.

Amid ongoing conflict and relentless information warfare waged by Russia, the situation in Oleshky exemplifies Moscow’s attempts to weaken trust in Ukraine’s government and sap the morale of its people. The humanitarian emergency there underscores the urgent need for international support to safeguard civilians caught in the crossfire. Engagement from global organizations could prove vital in stabilizing Oleshky and surrounding areas, helping to alleviate the suffering caused by this protracted conflict.

The dire humanitarian conditions in Oleshky are exacerbating the situation for vulnerable populations, especially children. As reported by Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga, the scarcity of essential resources like food and medical supplies is reaching alarming levels. For a deeper understanding of the impact on the youngest residents and the urgent need for aid, read more about how children are facing starvation and medical shortages during this crisis here.