Russian troops plant flags to stage fake territorial gains, Ukrainian military says
Photo: Russians are trying to mark their territorial gains with flags (Getty Images)
Russian units use the raising of flags as a way to demonstrate their alleged control over territories. But the mere presence of a Russian flag at a particular location does not always mean that the area has actually been captured and held, Oleh Apostol, commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Airborne Assault Troops, told reporters.
After reports from the Ukrainian side regarding the results of combat operations, Russian military personnel attempted to verify information about control over specific territories.
Apostol described instances where Russian servicemen were sent to plant flags.
The commander attributed this practice, in particular, to the problem of unreliable reports within the Russian military chain of command.
According to him, lower-level commanders may mislead higher command regarding the actual situation on the battlefield.
Airborne Forces Commander Oleh Apostol also stated that the Russian army’s rate of advance has slowed greatly.
According to him, capturing a single outpost over the course of a month does not constitute an operational success that allows the enemy to advance further. He cited significant losses among Russian troops as one of the reasons for the slowdown.
Earlier, the Russian ministry of defense also published a video purporting to show the demining of Kostiantynivka. But an OSINT researcher determined that at least two segments were filmed in Toretsk and Pivnichne. Russia claimed to have fully captured Kostiantynivka, although fighting for the city continues.
