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Russian Disinformation Campaign Falsely Claims Ukrainian Military “Starved” Myrnograd Residents
Russian propaganda outlets have launched a new wave of disinformation, claiming that Ukrainian armed forces deliberately starved the population of Myrnograd for over a year while allegedly targeting civilians delivering food. According to the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD), these accusations represent the latest chapter in an ongoing Kremlin campaign to fabricate “atrocities” supposedly committed by Ukrainian forces in the Donbas region.
The false narratives assert that Myrnograd’s civilian population became “targets for all types of weapons” used by Ukrainian military units. However, as the CCD points out, these serious allegations lack any substantiating evidence. Instead, the propaganda relies entirely on testimonials from a single local resident currently living under Russian occupation—a person whose safety and well-being remain at the mercy of Russian military forces.
This pattern of fabricating stories about Ukrainian military misconduct follows a well-established Russian playbook. Security analysts note that such disinformation serves multiple strategic purposes for Moscow, primarily attempting to justify Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine.
“These allegations follow a predictable formula,” said a European intelligence official speaking on condition of anonymity. “The Kremlin manufactures atrocity stories to create moral equivalence where none exists, and to distract international attention from documented Russian war crimes in Ukraine.”
The timing of this disinformation push coincides with growing international pressure on Russia and increased military aid commitments to Ukraine from Western allies. Multiple human rights organizations have documented extensive evidence of Russian forces committing war crimes in occupied Ukrainian territories, including summary executions, torture, forced deportations, and the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure.
Myrnograd, a city in Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast with a pre-war population of approximately 50,000, has experienced significant hardship since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The region has been subjected to intense fighting as Russian forces attempt to seize the entire Donbas area.
Media analysts point out that the Kremlin’s disinformation ecosystem operates through multiple channels—state-controlled television, official government statements, coordinated social media campaigns, and a network of proxy websites that launder Russian propaganda for international consumption.
The European Union’s East StratCom Task Force, established specifically to counter Russian disinformation, has identified over 15,000 cases of pro-Kremlin disinformation since 2015. The current narrative about Myrnograd follows recognizable patterns seen in previous campaigns.
“What makes these particular allegations especially cynical is that they invert reality,” said a Ukrainian defense ministry spokesperson. “Russian forces have repeatedly blocked humanitarian corridors and targeted civilian food distribution points, while blaming Ukrainian defenders for the resulting suffering.”
International observers and fact-checking organizations have consistently debunked similar Russian claims throughout the war. The United Nations has documented that Russian blockades of Ukrainian ports and the targeting of agricultural infrastructure have threatened global food security, not Ukrainian military actions.
Despite the lack of credible evidence, Russian propaganda outlets continue disseminating these false narratives through their extensive media networks, targeting both domestic audiences and international public opinion, particularly in regions where Russia seeks to maintain or expand its influence.
Security experts warn that Russian disinformation campaigns will likely intensify as the conflict continues, with increasingly elaborate fabrications designed to undermine international support for Ukraine and normalize Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territory.
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6 Comments
It’s disheartening to see Russia continuing to spread these types of false narratives about Ukrainian forces. The CCD’s debunking highlights how the Kremlin’s propaganda machine operates – make unverified claims and hope they stick. Glad to see this particular piece of disinformation called out.
It’s disappointing but not surprising to see Russia resorting to fabricated stories about Ukrainian forces mistreating civilians. This feels like a desperate attempt to distract from their own brutal occupation and war crimes. The lack of credible evidence is telling.
Agreed. Russia’s strategy of spreading these kinds of false narratives is well-documented. It’s crucial that fact-checkers and independent observers continue to expose these propaganda efforts for what they are.
Unsurprising to see Russia pushing more disinformation about alleged Ukrainian ‘atrocities’. This seems to be the Kremlin’s standard playbook – make unsubstantiated claims to deflect from their own actions. I’m glad the CCD was able to debunk this particular propaganda piece.
This latest disinformation campaign from Russia is just more of the same – unsubstantiated claims designed to paint Ukraine as the aggressor. I’m glad the CCD was able to quickly debunk these allegations and shine a light on the Kremlin’s tactics.
Russia’s reliance on dubious testimonials and complete lack of evidence is a clear sign that these ‘atrocity’ claims are completely fabricated. It’s disappointing to see them stoop to these levels, but not surprising given their track record of disinformation.