Russian Propaganda Falsely Claims Ukrainian Soldiers Killed Civilians in Sumy Region

Russian propagandists have been caught spreading false information on social media claiming Ukrainian soldiers murdered three civilians in the Sumy region, according to officials from Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation.

The fabricated story, which has been circulating on pro-Kremlin channels, alleges that members of Ukraine’s 95th Air Assault Brigade brutally killed three civilians near the village of Nyzy in Sumy region. In an attempt to lend credibility to the false narrative, propagandists shared a manufactured screenshot designed to look like an official post from the Sumy Regional Police’s Facebook page.

The Center for Countering Disinformation, which operates under Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, detailed how the fake post claimed the supposed victims were involved in illegal alcohol production. To enhance the deception, the fabricated screenshot included images of moonshine containers and homemade alcohol rather than any evidence of a crime scene.

“There are no mentions or matching photos on the police’s official accounts or in regional media,” the Center stated in its report. The organization pointed out several telltale signs of the forgery, including the absence of a police watermark that would typically appear on genuine crime scene photographs.

“For a report about a triple murder, one would expect photos of the crime scene or weapon, not containers of homemade alcohol,” the Center added, highlighting the implausible nature of the content. Officials also noted that such a serious crime would have generated significant media coverage, yet no legitimate news outlets had reported on any such incident.

After contacting the National Police directly for verification, officials confirmed that the story about a “triple murder in Sumy region” was entirely fabricated.

This latest disinformation attempt fits into a broader pattern of Russian propaganda tactics aimed at undermining Ukrainian institutions and creating discord between civilians and military personnel. The Sumy region, which shares a border with Russia, has been a frequent target of both military attacks and information warfare since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

“Such fabrications are part of Russia’s ongoing campaign to discredit the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” explained the Center for Countering Disinformation. “Fake-makers take real criminal news stories and add false details about alleged involvement of Ukrainian troops.”

According to disinformation experts, these tactics serve multiple purposes in Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy. By portraying Ukrainian soldiers as criminals, Russian propagandists attempt to erode civilian trust in the military and create internal tensions within Ukrainian society. This approach aligns with Russia’s broader strategy of using information warfare alongside conventional military operations.

The Center for Countering Disinformation has identified and debunked similar fabrications on multiple occasions. Just weeks earlier, Russian propaganda channels circulated a false claim that President Volodymyr Zelensky was transferring $50 million monthly to a Saudi bank account, another example of disinformation designed to undermine trust in Ukrainian leadership.

In mid-October, Ukrainian authorities noted an intensification of Russian disinformation focused on Ukraine’s alleged “unpreparedness for winter” and supposed “inability to resist Russia.” This timing coincided with Ukraine’s ongoing counteroffensive operations and Russia’s continued strikes on critical infrastructure.

As the conflict approaches its third year, the sophistication of Russia’s disinformation campaigns continues to evolve, requiring constant vigilance from Ukrainian authorities and international fact-checkers to identify and counter false narratives before they gain traction.