A pseudo-evacuation is an information and psychological operation aimed at imitating the withdrawal of civilians from the territory where a military conflict is taking place.
Such evacuation is considered a violation of the laws and customs of war.
Ukraine has repeatedly stated that evacuations are possible only under the auspices of the UN and the Red Cross, and that in all other cases evacuations put people in danger.
Example:
Russia’s PSYOP regarding the evacuation of Mariupol defenders from Azovstal:
reports of forced detention of civilians;
unilateral declaration of humanitarian corridors;
reports of the disruption of the evacuation by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
On May 6, during the evacuation of civilians from Azovstal in Mariupol, despite the agreement not to shoot and the raised white flag, russians fired at the evacuation escort vehicle with an ATGM, killing one soldier and seriously injuring six.
