Russia plans fresh propaganda assault on Ukraine and allies, report warns
Photo: Kremlin launches a new wave of fakes (Getty Images)
Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation warns that Russia will intensify information and psychological operations in late June.
The Kremlin's propaganda will focus on several topics at once: discrediting the Ukrainian delegation at the talks in Istanbul, attempts to demonize the Armed Forces, manipulating the topics of NATO, prisoners, abducted children, and even Pride Month.
Negotiations in Istanbul
The focus of the Russian campaign is on trying to undermine the credibility of Ukrainian negotiators, accusing them of backroom deals with Russia and sabotaging the talks. Fake news about corruption, betrayal of interests, and alleged ties to Moscow may be used.
In the international arena, Russia will promote messages that it is Kyiv that is delaying the agreements, acting unconstructively, and provoking escalation. It is actively rhetoricizing about so-called terrorist attacks by the Armed Forces, particularly after Operation Spiderweb, which destroyed Russian military aircaft.
Attempts to intimidate the United States
After a series of successful SBU actions, Russia will try to convince the world that Ukraine is a dangerous player that can allegedly transfer technology to terrorists.
Propagandists will actively exploit the trauma of September 11 to sow fear among Americans.
There will also be accusations that Ukrainian operations are allegedly supervised by Western intelligence services to support the thesis of external control of Ukraine, which is favorable to Russia.
Manipulation of the NATO summit and Western support
On the eve of the NATO summit in The Hague on June 24-25, a wave of fake news about West's fatigue and a split in support for Kyiv is expected.
Russia will promote theories about the alleged unwillingness of the United States to take an active part in resolving the war, the bureaucratic inefficiency of the Alliance, and NATO's inability to guarantee security even to its own members.
Fakes about tortures
Disinformation around prisoner and body exchanges will be a separate block.
The Kremlin will spread fakes about tortures from the Ukrainian side and accuse Kyiv of sabotaging the exchange negotiations. Fake testimonies from released Russian prisoners are also expected.
Russia will also try to whitewash the abduction of Ukrainian children by spreading messages about "rescue from hostilities.” In parallel, it will spread fakes about trafficking children to the West and using them for organs.
The offensive and fake catastrophic losses
On the frontline, Russia will rely on panic-mongering - it is expected to spread reports about the allegedly rapid advance of Russian troops, heavy losses of the Armed Forces, and preparations for a major offensive.
Anonymous pro-Russian Telegram channels may spread fakes about the surrender of positions, calls for surrender, and staged videos.
Threats to the West: From nuclear weapons to World War III
Moscow will step up its rhetoric of intimidation, especially toward Europe.
They will talk about the possibility of a nuclear strike, accusing the West of escalation, and quotes from NATO leaders will be presented as evidence of aggression against Russia. Particular attention will be paid to France and the United Kingdom.
In June, against the backdrop of Pride Month, Russia will intensify narratives about the moral decline of the West and the decay of traditions.
It will become another tool to create a split in Western societies and an additional background for contrasting “traditional Russia” with the “rotten West.”
Talk of a nuclear threat in the West benefits only Russia, as it is part of its fear propaganda.
The theoretical desire to launch a nuclear strike would harm Russia more. The whole world is against using nuclear weapons, and the Russian economy is based only on energy, which is still being bought from Russia.
