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Russian propaganda is fabricating claims about ammunition depots in Kherson’s residential areas to justify attacks on civilians, according to regional officials.
Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, issued a stark warning on Telegram about this latest disinformation campaign, characterizing it as “crude, reality-detached tales” designed to rationalize Russia’s continued bombardment of civilian targets in the embattled Ukrainian region.
“This is how the Russians, once again, are trying to announce and justify strikes against Kherson’s civilians, residential buildings, and critical infrastructure,” Prokudin stated in his message to residents. “Now they’ve resorted to crude, reality-detached tales about allegedly ‘ammunition depots’ in residential areas.”
The regional administrator pointed to the already devastating toll on Kherson’s infrastructure as evidence contradicting Russian claims. With over 40,000 houses, schools, hospitals, and administrative buildings already shelled in the region, Prokudin posed a rhetorical question about the Russian narrative: “In each of them, is there someone’s ‘ammunition depot’ or perhaps a NATO base?”
His answer was unequivocal: these accusations are fabrications designed to provide cover for continued attacks on Ukrainian civilians.
The disinformation campaign comes amid ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine’s southern regions. Kherson, which was temporarily under Russian occupation in the early phases of the full-scale invasion, has faced persistent shelling since Ukrainian forces liberated parts of the region in November 2022. The city and surrounding areas remain partially occupied, with the Dnipro River serving as a dividing line between Ukrainian-controlled territory on the west bank and Russian-occupied areas on the east.
Military analysts suggest that such propaganda tactics form part of Russia’s hybrid warfare approach, combining physical attacks with information operations designed to demoralize Ukrainian citizens and potentially drive them from their homes in frontline regions.
Prokudin also warned residents about additional false information circulating that purported to show his orders regarding the defense of specific districts. He emphasized that these, too, were fakes intended to mislead the population.
In his appeal, the regional head urged Kherson residents to remain calm and vigilant, advising them to rely exclusively on official information channels and to respond appropriately to air raid warnings and shelling alerts. The regional administration has established emergency notification systems through official Telegram channels and radio broadcasts to keep citizens informed of immediate dangers.
Since the beginning of the war, Ukrainian officials have repeatedly highlighted Russia’s use of disinformation as a tool to create pretexts for attacks on civilian targets. International humanitarian organizations have documented numerous instances of Russian strikes on residential areas, hospitals, and cultural sites across Ukraine that appear to have no legitimate military purpose.
The ongoing propaganda efforts reflect the information battle that continues alongside the military conflict, with both sides aware of the importance of public perception in sustaining support for their respective positions.
As Kherson’s residents continue to endure daily shelling and uncertain conditions, local authorities remain focused on protecting civilians while countering what they describe as a deliberate campaign of misinformation designed to justify war crimes against the civilian population.
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8 Comments
The Russian government’s propaganda machine is in full swing, it seems. Trying to justify attacks on civilians by claiming the presence of ‘ammunition depots’ in residential areas is a new low, even for them. I commend the Kherson officials for pushing back against these baseless claims.
It’s encouraging to see regional officials in Kherson actively countering Russian propaganda. Calling out these ‘crude tales’ about ammunition depots is an important step in maintaining transparency and accountability, even in the midst of an ongoing conflict.
You make a good point. Debunking disinformation is critical, especially when it’s being used to justify attacks on civilians. I hope the international community continues to closely monitor and expose these kinds of false claims from Russia.
This is clearly another instance of Russian disinformation. It’s unfortunate that they continue to fabricate claims to justify their attacks on civilian populations. The Kherson officials are right to call out these ‘crude, reality-detached tales’ for what they are – propaganda designed to obscure the truth.
Exactly. The sheer scale of the damage to civilian infrastructure in Kherson already exposes the falsity of these Russian claims. One has to wonder what their real motives are in spreading these kinds of baseless narratives.
The Russian government’s blatant disregard for the truth when it comes to the war in Ukraine is truly troubling. These latest claims about ammunition depots in Kherson seem like a desperate attempt to deflect blame for their indiscriminate bombardment of the region.
It’s disheartening to see Russia resort to such transparent propaganda tactics. The Kherson officials are right to call them out and demand accountability. Civilians should never be targeted, regardless of the Kremlin’s fabricated justifications.
Agreed. Russia’s willingness to spread disinformation and outright lies to rationalize its actions in Ukraine is a disturbing trend. The international community must continue to shine a light on these tactics and hold the Russian government responsible.