Russia stages fake frontline videos to exaggerate battlefield gains - Defense Forces
Illustrative photo: Russians film fake videos about fabricated "successes" (Getty Images)
Russian forces in the Oleksandrivske sector are sending fake videos to their command as supposed “proof” that they have allegedly captured territory. The footage is filmed deep inside Russia’s rear areas but presented as if it were recorded on the front line, according to Vladyslav Voloshyn, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces.
According to Voloshyn, intelligence data indicate that in the Oleksandrivske direction, the command of one Russian unit is pretending its troops have advanced toward the positions of Ukraine’s Defense Forces. As “evidence,” videos are sent to headquarters — but in reality, the footage was filmed far from the front.
Voloshyn said that Russians produce such “Hollywood fantasies” quite often. In some cases, the situation unfolds differently: a Russian sabotage group is sent deep into the rear of Ukraine’s Defense Forces with the task of raising a flag, filming a video, and staging a supposed capture.
“They film videos there claiming they have allegedly ‘captured’ the territory, raise their flags, and then Russian authorities present this as proof that they have achieved greater success than actually exists,” the spokesperson explained.
Voloshyn added that information coming from Russian military units about the situation at the front is heavily distorted. It is primarily aimed at foreign researchers, who tend to prioritize information supported by photo and video evidence.
“And based on these false, fake videos and photos, they form a picture that does not reflect the real state of affairs in the Russian-Ukrainian war. Unfortunately, this happens quite often,” Voloshyn concluded.
Earlier, Voloshyn said that near Huliaipole, Russian forces are trying to advance on Ukrainian positions from several directions — north, south, and west. However, they have been unable to gain a foothold in the city. Overall, Huliaipole is currently a vast “gray zone.”
The occupiers are also gathering personnel at forward positions to launch assault operations toward Orikhiv. In general, Russia plans to intensify its offensive in the Zaporizhzhia region in 2026, but this axis remains secondary for Moscow as long as fighting in Donbas continues.
