Russia prepares information operation on situation in Oleshky – Ukraine's Security Service
The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has warned that Russia has stepped up preparations for a series of information and psychological operations concerning the situation in the temporarily occupied city of Oleshky in Kherson Oblast.
Source: SSU press service
Details: The SSU said it has discovered the information during its counterintelligence activities.
Russian troops from an occupation unit have been ordered to prepare a series of "compromising" interviews with residents of the temporarily occupied city, according to intelligence obtained by the agency.
The SSU says that, under the Russian plan, local residents appearing in the videos must:
- accuse Ukraine's defence forces of constantly attacking and blockading the city;
- discredit decisions made by Ukraine's military and political leadership
- express support for and gratitude towards the military of the aggressor state.
Russia plans to carry out the psyop in October and early November this year, the SSU said.
Quote: "The aggressor has had no success on the battlefield and is therefore trying by any means possible to undermine Ukrainians' psychological and emotional state and destabilise the situation within our country.
In this regard, we urge the Ukrainian press and the public to:
- treat the emergence of such 'sensational' information critically
- not trust publications by Russian or pro-Russian Telegram channels
- not disseminate unverified information
- use information exclusively from official sources."
Background:
- On 19 September, the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organisations also reported that Oleshky was on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe.
- On the night of 3-4 October, Ukraine's National Guard carried out its second operation to deliver humanitarian aid to occupied Oleshky. Almost four tonnes of supplies were delivered to the city by drones.
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