Russia justifies attack on grain trucks by saying it hit Ukrainian drones
Illustrative photo: Russia justifies attack on grain trucks (Getty Images)
Russia distorted information about a strike on trucks in the Chernihiv region. To justify the attack, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed it had "destroyed Ukrainian trucks carrying drones," although in reality the vehicles were ordinary grain trucks, according to the Center for Countering Disinformation.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that Iskander-M missiles and Geran-2 drones destroyed 20 trucks transporting Ukrainian strike drones and killed 60 Ukrainian soldiers. As evidence, the ministry published a video.
"In fact, according to the Chernihiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, the attack damaged and destroyed trucks transporting grain," the Center for Countering Disinformation said.
The center added that a 47-year-old civilian truck driver was killed as a result of the strike.
"The fake story about drone trucks and eliminated Ukrainian soldiers is an attempt to justify yet another strike on civilian targets and to conceal the death of a civilian," the statement read.
It was also noted that the Russian video actually proves a war crime rather than justifying the attack, as the footage shows only civilian vehicles with no drone trucks or soldiers.
Photo: In reality, the trucks were transporting grain, not drones belonging to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (Center for Countering Disinformation)
It is known that Russia frequently spreads fake stories about Ukraine and the war.
For example, recently, Russian outlets circulated disinformation about 1.7 million Ukrainian soldiers killed, which was based on a fabricated claim of a hacked Ukrainian General Staff database.
Last month, the Center for Countering Disinformation also debunked a Russian fake about language patrols in Ukrainian schools, aimed at portraying discrimination against Russian speakers.
