Russian Propagandists Spread Fake News About Alleged Civilian Killings in Sumy Region
In recent days, Russian propaganda outlets have been actively spreading false information aimed at sowing panic and mistrust toward Ukrainian military forces.
Specifically, through Telegram channels, a screenshot is circulated claiming that the National Police of Sumy region posted on Facebook that during a conflict in the village of Nizy in Sumy district, soldiers from the 95th Separate Assault Brigade allegedly murdered three civilians.
However, this information is entirely fabricated.
The police press service has denied these claims, confirming that no such reports have been issued through their official channels.
Analysis of the images from these fake posts revealed no watermarks or other signs of tampering, indicating a deliberate fake.
The goal of this disinformation is to discredit Ukrainian soldiers and create distrust among the local population.
Moreover, this story is part of a wider information campaign by Russia to spread false narratives to mislead the international community and weaken trust in the Ukrainian government and armed forces.
This is not the first attempt by Russian propagandists to discredit Ukrainian military personnel.
Earlier in October, Kremlin media circulated false claims that Polish mercenaries use drugs to stay awake and eat for two weeks straight.
According to the Center for Countering Disinformation, the sole ‘source’ of these assertions was an anonymous Russian military informant, without any concrete evidence.
Russia’s ongoing information warfare aims to create chaos and division within Ukraine during active combat, while also undermining the country’s leadership and military efforts.