A fake video about a terrorist attack in Ukraine is circulating online
A new Russian disinformation story has begun circulating online, claiming that the Ukrainian government is allegedly planning a terrorist attack against its own population. The Center for Countering Disinformation stated that this information is untrue and that the video being actively circulated by propagandists is a fake.
According to the Center, Russia is using this tactic to preemptively shift the blame for its own war crimes onto Ukraine and justify new attacks on civilian cities.
The Center noted that Russian media outlets are spreading false information claiming that Ukraine’s leadership is allegedly “preparing a large-scale terrorist attack against its own population in order to blame Russia.”
To make the propaganda more credible, propagandists created a video styled after the American think tank ISW. However, the Center emphasizes that no such material exists on the official resources of the Institute for the Study of War. “The Center has documented the spread online of a Russian disinformation claim that Ukraine’s leadership is allegedly ‘preparing a large-scale terrorist attack against its own population in order to blame Russia,’” the Center for Public Diplomacy reported.
The agency explained that such disinformation campaigns did not appear by chance. Against the backdrop of massive Russian attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, the Kremlin is attempting to create an alternative narrative and convince the public that Ukraine itself is responsible for civilian casualties. The Center emphasized that this is one of the typical tactics of Russian propaganda—first spreading disinformation, and then using it to justify its own actions. “The goal of this campaign—against the backdrop of Russia’s massive terrorist strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, which are causing destruction to civilian infrastructure and casualties among civilians—is to shift the blame for war crimes onto Ukraine itself in advance and divert attention from the actions of the Russian Federation’s army,” the Center explained.
They also noted that creating fake videos featuring the logos of well-known international organizations or media outlets is a well-known tactic of the Russian disinformation network “Matryoshka.” This network has repeatedly used fabricated footage to spread false information and mislead the public.
The Center urged Ukrainians to trust only official sources of information and to verify sensational reports, especially if they are spread through anonymous Telegram channels or questionable social media pages. The Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine reported on the new information attack.
Ukraine has begun implementing large-scale projects designed to make water supply systems more resilient to war, shelling, and power outages. In 14 regions, water mains are being modernized, new equipment is being installed, and backup water sources are being established.
