Russia spreads fake news about evacuation: trying to disrupt departure from Donetsk region

Russian propaganda has intensified an information campaign aimed at disrupting the evacuation of civilians from frontline territories of Ukraine.

This was reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation.

Pro-Russian Telegram channels are massively distributing messages purporting to be from “local residents” of the Donetsk region. People thank the Russian military and claim that they hid children from evacuation.

Such publications also spread fakes about “crimes during evacuation,” “disappearance of children,” and “black transplantology.” No evidence is provided for these claims.

The Center emphasizes that the goal of this campaign is to discredit evacuation measures and intimidate the population. Russia is trying to force people to refuse to leave in order to keep civilians in the combat zone and use them as “human shields.”

At the same time, propaganda is trying to shift responsibility for the crimes. It is Russia that is systematically taking Ukrainian children out of the occupied territories.

For these actions, in 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Children’s Ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova.

It was previously reported that Russian intelligence services are increasing espionage activities in the state of Florida, which is a key center for US space and defense infrastructure.

As a reminder, Russia has intensified its disinformation campaign accusing Ukraine of using chemical weapons.