Why russian propaganda is spreading claims about the “atrocities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine” in frontline areas

russian propaganda continues its efforts to discredit the Ukrainian military and disrupt evacuation from frontline zones. The enemy is using the local population to produce its information campaign.

▫️ Propagandists rely on a familiar tactic—publishing accounts from local residents that include vivid descriptions of alleged “crimes by the Ukrainian military.” These stories claim that people have been “executed” for refusing to evacuate and that soldiers are “hunting” for children, all without any supporting evidence. Furthermore, the individuals in these reports often admit they have not witnessed such events firsthand but claim to have heard about them from others.

▫️ The enemy’s goal is to intimidate residents in frontline areas into refusing assistance from the Ukrainian military to evacuate from combat zones. By doing so, russia seeks to limit the effectiveness of the defense forces and use civilians as human shields.

❗️Through these fakes, russian propaganda attempts to portray the occupying forces as the so-called “saviors” of the local population.