Dog shot, well poisoned: absurd fakes of Russian propaganda in Donbas

According to glavcom.ua: Russian information resources disseminate 'testimonies' allegedly from local residents claiming completely fabricated crimes by Ukrainian soldiers. For example, fake news claims that the Armed Forces of Ukraine 'shot a dog in the city center' or 'attempted to poison water in a well'.

Russia has intensified its disinformation campaign, which spreads false 'evidence' of alleged 'atrocities by the Armed Forces of Ukraine' in Donbas. This campaign is part of the informational support for military operations, aimed at intimidating Ukrainians and shifting the responsibility for the destruction. This is reported by 'Glavkom' citing the Center for Counteracting Disinformation.

Such 'fake reports' are an inherent part of hybrid warfare. The Kremlin uses disinformation as a tool of terror and pressure on Ukrainians. The main goals of this campaign are:

• To intimidate the population of frontline regions, creating an atmosphere of fear and distrust.
• To reduce the level of support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine among the population, sowing discord and distrust in their own army.
• To impose the notion that Russian occupation will be a 'salvation' from the 'atrocities' of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, promoting the narrative of 'liberation'.

The Center for Counteracting Disinformation urges citizens to remain vigilant, critically assess the information coming from Russian sources, and trust only verified facts.

The presented news clearly indicates how Russia uses disinformation to achieve its goals in Donbas. This strategy is aimed at intimidating and dividing Ukrainian society, as well as spreading a negative narrative about the Armed Forces of Ukraine, debunking as many fakes as possible and maintaining healthy skepticism towards the obtained information sources.