After Khmelnytskyi shelling, Russia sets up powerful psyop to tar Ukraine - mayor

Khmelnytskyi Mayor Oleksandr Simchyshyn addressed the issue in an interview with Ukrinform.

"It was not only a fake, but a very powerful psyop, in which, I am sure, the enemy invested hugely as they circulated it not only across Russian platforms but also on local Telegram channels, comments are available. I spoke about the situation on one of the central TV channels, and in a few hours several hundred comments appeared there, 90% of which were from obvious bots as all texts were the same. They also did a lot of work at the international level as many publications appeared on various European sites with comments by pseudo-experts. This psyop was intended to sow panic in Khmelnytskyi, throughout Ukraine, and in Europe, where they wanted to portray Ukraine as an unreliable partner. For approximately two weeks, they’ve been circulating this, all they still are," Simchyshyn said.

According to him, after the spread of such information, some Khmelnytskyi residents were alarmed, but there was no panic in the city, nor were pharmacies and gas stations overcrowded. The mayor noted that after all enemy hit Khmelnytskyi, the authorities carry out the relevant measurements for chemical and radioactive pollution.

"This is our responsibility to the people, and in such cases, no one would hide anything. Instead, appropriate measures would be taken. The measurements were carried out instantly, plus we have online atmospheric air monitoring stations. We and the the State Emergency Service were in full control and we made these statements with complete confidence. I hope that a significant part of the people heard us," mayor added.

As reported, Khmelnytskyi Mayor Oleksandr Simchyshyn refuted the reports of a possible chemical leak in the city after an enemy airstrike.