According to Ukrinform, Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) at the National Security and Defense Council, made this statement on television.

“Russia is currently banking on blurring the truth and reality. This is their standard propaganda tactic. Wherever the truth prevails, the Russians’ goal is to spread as many lies as possible to obscure it,” he noted.

According to Kovalenko, Russia is attempting to “mirror” Ukraine’s transparency regarding the conditions of detention for Russian prisoners of war. In particular, based on available information, Ukrainian prisoners are being transported to other detention facilities within Russia to create a more “pleasant” visual image and give the impression that they are being held in comfortable conditions.

“Now, certain tasks will be set and a specific media campaign will be carried out; videos will be filmed about their conditions of detention. The Russians want to create an alternative media narrative for the West to cast doubt on, among other things, this UN information [regarding the systematic torture of Ukrainian prisoners],” the head of the CCD reported.

He added that the Russians also plan to interview their prisoners of war who returned to Russia after the exchange. According to the Kremlin’s plan, they are to speak about the alleged poor treatment they received in Ukraine. Kovalenko emphasized that this content will be targeted specifically at a Western audience.

“The key goal is to discredit Ukraine, to show Western societies that Ukraine is allegedly a criminal state in various spheres—they are constantly engaged in this,” he noted.

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CCD

The head of the Center for Counter-Disinformation explained that through propaganda, Russia hopes to influence public sentiment in Western countries and, subsequently, political elites. The Kremlin also provides media and financial support to certain European politicians, seeking to help them come to power, divide and weaken the EU, and cast doubt on support for Ukraine.

As reported by Ukrinform, Russia is using Ukrainian prisoners of war to record propaganda videos, including statements intended to discredit Ukraine and its leadership.

Ukrinform photos can be purchased here