Russian Disinformation Campaigns Continue to Target Ukraine’s Kursk Operation

The Center for Countering Disinformation (CPD) in Ukraine has revealed a surge in fabricated narratives and manipulations surrounding Ukraine’s military operation in the Kursk Region. These disinformation efforts, aimed at distorting the truth and shaping public perception, have been systematically debunked by the CPD.

The CPD has identified several key themes in the latest wave of Russian propaganda:

• “A Shot Man with Cerebral Palsy”: Russian propagandists have widely circulated a story about a man with a disability allegedly being killed by Ukrainian forces. However, no evidence has been provided to confirm the existence of this person, casting doubt on the veracity of the claims.

• “Mass Killings of Civilians”: Russian sources are propagating stories of a “father of many children” who reportedly evacuated his family from Sudzha and reportedly witnessed Ukrainian forces killing Russian civilians. To support this narrative, fake videos depicting the shelling of residential buildings have been disseminated across Russian media.

• “Saboteurs in Civilian Cars”: A well-known Russian propagandist with a large following has claimed that Ukrainian saboteurs are hiding in civilian vehicles in the Kursk Region. This accusation encourages Russian military forces to target the local population, fueling further violence and unrest.

• “Huge Losses for Ukraine”: Russian media outlets have been flooded with videos allegedly showing the destruction of Ukrainian military equipment, coupled with exaggerated claims of Ukrainian casualties. These figures, however, are not supported by any credible evidence.

• Denial and Illusion of Control: In an effort to maintain the illusion of control, Russian propagandists have consistently denied all Ukrainian statements regarding the Kursk operation. Simultaneously, they are mass-publishing reports that Russian military reserves have supposedly arrived in the region to halt the Ukrainian advance, a narrative aimed at reassuring the Russian public.

• Threats to Ukraine: The Kremlin’s disinformation campaign also includes psychological tactics, with threats of “catastrophic consequences” for Ukraine’s operation in the Kursk Region. These threats are widely regarded as mere bluster, intended to intimidate and destabilize the Ukrainian population.

The CPD emphasizes that these disinformation efforts are a calculated part of the Russian strategy to respond to the unfolding events in the Kursk Region.

Andriy Kovalenko, head of the CPD and an officer in Ukraine’s Defense Forces, has previously outlined this approach, warning of the Kremlin’s ongoing attempts to manipulate public opinion.