Russian propaganda began its psychological operation even before the offensive in the Kharkiv region. However, yesterday, the number of enemy information and psychological operations significantly increased.
This was reported by analyst Sergiy Zhukov from the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security during a telethon broadcast.
Occupiers started a psychological operation for informational support of the hostilities in the north of the Kharkiv region back in March, which began yesterday.
According to the analyst, it was precisely on May 10 that there was a noticeable increase in the number of disinformation and fake news aimed specifically at Kharkiv, its residents, and the region in general.
"In terms of the informational support of yesterday's hostilities, which apparently will continue today, the network of Russian war correspondents and other media channels used to disseminate such information reported that the Russian army is successfully advancing, occupying certain populated areas, consolidating, taking a significant number of Ukrainian military personnel captive, who are fleeing, abandoning positions, and that Kharkiv will soon be encircled, and so on," Zhukov explained.
The analyst clarified that by disseminating such information, the Russians aim to spread panic, exaggerate their successes, and demotivate and demoralize both civilians and military personnel.
According to Zhukov, this is a standard practice in warfare.
"Distracting maneuvers, combat reconnaissance can be used to mislead the enemy. Any combat actions have informational support. One must always be prepared for this," he noted.
Zhukov emphasized the need to rely primarily on official reports and disregard the disinformation spread by the Russian side.