Russia is spreading false claims about a fuel shortage in Ukraine amid attacks on gas stations
Russian propaganda has stepped up the spread of disinformation about an alleged widespread fuel shortage in Ukraine. These disinformation campaigns coincide with Russian drone and missile attacks on gas stations in various regions of the country.
According to experts, Russia is attempting to sow panic among Ukrainians and influence the situation on the fuel market. This campaign is being called yet another information and psychological operation aimed at destabilizing the situation in Ukraine.
Russia is spreading false claims about a fuel shortage in Ukraine
The Center for Counter-Disinformation (CCD) has documented an information and psychological operation by Russian propagandists aimed at destabilizing the situation in Ukraine’s frontline regions.
“Anonymous social media accounts controlled by Russian intelligence agencies have begun actively promoting the narrative of an allegedly catastrophic fuel shortage. To escalate the situation, propagandists are mass-distributing fake videos purporting to show widespread instances of gasoline being siphoned from the tanks of parked cars,” the CPD stated.
As part of this same campaign, the enemy is cynically accusing Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel of such thefts.
The Reason Behind Russia’s Information and Psychological Operations
In reality, by shelling gas stations and spreading similar disinformation, Russia is using the media to vent its frustration over the critical fuel shortage and massive lines at gas stations in its own country.
“Since the actual scale of the problems in Russia and Ukraine is incomparable, Russian intelligence agencies are forced to artificially construct an image of a ‘fuel crisis’ in Ukraine through disinformation,” the CPD asserts.
Is There a Fuel Shortage in Ukraine?
In reality, there is no fuel shortage, particularly in communities near the front lines. According to Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, all necessary volumes of petroleum products are available. The Cabinet of Ministers and market operators are working swiftly to ensure an uninterrupted supply of fuel to the Armed Forces, businesses, and ordinary Ukrainians.
The Center for Countering Disinformation urged the public to trust official sources of information and not to fall for the Russian Federation’s disinformation campaigns.
This was reported with reference to a statement by the Center for Countering Disinformation on Facebook.
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