Russian propaganda spreading fake documents on behalf of military administration amid offensive in Kharkiv region

Fakes concern mobilization of minors, Ukraine's defense capability, and fundraisers for Ukrainian Armed Forces

Russian Telegram channels and pro-Kremlin media outlets are distributing a document that Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv regional military administration, allegedly sent to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky. He allegedly asked the Ukrainian leader to move to the city of Kharkiv the members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces who are currently involved in the defense of Kupiansk, Vovchansk, Balakliia and Izium and to consider mobilizing 17-year-old boys. In this way, it is allegedly possible to mobilize up to 35,000 people, including students in the Kharkiv region.

The "appeal" is fake. The "document" lacks a date and number. In addition, it has a number of grammatical and spelling errors. For example, the propagandists made a mistake in the word "Ukrainy" and confused the compound preposition "shchodo" with the conjunction "shcho" and the preposition "do."

Syniehubov said on his official Telegram channel that the information presented about the request to lower the mobilization age to 17 years was false and was yet another enemy psyop.

Through this fake, Russian propagandists tried to promote the narrative that Ukraine allegedly no longer has the strength to conduct hostilities in the Kharkiv region, and in order not to lose Kharkiv City, it is necessary to withdraw the military from the settlements where the fighting is already ongoing.

The purpose of such disinformation is to intimidate Ukrainian society and question Ukraine's defense capability.

Since the beginning of a Russian counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region, the influence of Russian propaganda in the region has also increased.

Another fake document on behalf of the Kharkiv regional military administration has recently been shared on the internet. The administration's officials allegedly turned to an entrepreneur with an "insistent demand" to join the program to provide charitable financial assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The region's military administration has already refuted this fake.

Dmytro Badrak