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Fact Check: No Russian Forces at Dnipropetrovsk Border, Despite Viral Photo

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Liubava Petriv
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Fact Check: No Russian Forces at Dnipropetrovsk Border, Despite Viral Photo
A fake photo suggesting that Russian forces had reached the border of Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region was circulated by Russian media. (Source: Telegram)

On May 21, Russian media outlets circulated reports suggesting that Russian forces had reached the border of Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region. Ukrainian officials have firmly denied the claims, labeling them as disinformation aimed at spreading fear and destabilizing the region.

“This is fake news! Both the ‘report’ and the photo supposedly illustrating it are false,” Dnipropetrovsk regional governor Serhii Lysak wrote on Telegram. “They were deliberately published by the enemy to intimidate residents of our region, sow panic, and destabilize the situation. Don’t fall for provocations. Trust only official sources.”

The claim, which originated from pro-Russian channels, alleged that Russian troops had reached the area near Novomykolaivka in Donetsk region, close to the Dnipropetrovsk border.

However, the head of the Novopavlivka Military Administration, Kostiantyn Simonov, stated there was no confirmation of Russian forces reaching the administrative boundary.

“As of 7:00 p.m. on May 21, I have no information indicating that Russian troops have approached the borders of Dnipropetrovsk region,” Simonov said. “The situation on that section of the front is difficult, but the defense has not been breached.”

Independent analysis by the military monitoring group DeepState provided further context regarding the photo used to support Russian claims. According to their report, the vehicle shown belonged to Ukrainian soldiers who became disoriented in barbed wire overnight. Russian forces reportedly arrived in the area near the village of Troitske the next morning and took photographs at the scene.

Earlier, it was reported that Russia has launched a large-scale disinformation campaign targeting Moldova, marking the first major operation of its kind against the country.

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