Putin Spreads Disinformation: Fake Encirclements on the Frontline and Their Psychological Impact
In a new wave of information operations, Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to manipulate public perception and the international community by fabricating stories about alleged encirclements of Ukrainian forces in key regions of Donbas.
According to his statements, Ukrainian units are supposedly surrounded in cities such as Pokrovsk and Kupiansk, claims that Ukrainian officials dismiss as complete falsehoods aimed at inciting panic.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had already refuted these reports, describing them as propagandist fake news designed to destabilize the situation and manipulate audiences.
Meanwhile, independent monitoring maps and sources do not record any evidence of the so-called ‘cauldrons’ — operational encirclements of Ukrainian troops.
Nevertheless, Kremlin propaganda tools leverage such messages to create an illusion of Ukrainian helplessness, sow panic among the population, and intensify psychological pressure on the front lines.
Ukrainian officials maintain their stance: the combat capability of the Ukrainian military remains intact, and no verified data confirm any encirclement.
Kremlin’s misinformation campaigns target not only domestic audiences but also the international community, aiming to reinforce Russia’s narrative and distract from the current realities on the battlefield.