Russian propagandists are spreading claims that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have allegedly mined several dams and bridges in Odesa and that blowing them up will lead to mass death of the population. They say that this is the usual tactics of the Ukrainian Armed Forces before retreating from a populated area. However, this is fake.

Specialists from the Center for Strategic Communications and Security drew attention to it. They found out that such information is cyclically repeated by Russian propaganda on similar objects in different regions of Ukraine. The Ukrainian armed forces do not plan to retreat from Odesa, and the information about the mining is fake.

Such fakes have already been used by the Russians to justify their missile attacks on critical infrastructure. Also, Russian propaganda has repeatedly announced the “mining” of hydraulic structures in the Kharkiv region. Namely, the Russian occupiers at one time blew up the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station, which led to an environmental disaster in the Kherson region.

The purpose of disseminating such disinformation is to create panic among the population, undermine trust in the Ukrainian authorities and the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and also justify Russia’s aggressive actions. Such fakes are used to legitimize attacks on civilian infrastructure and prepare public opinion for possible terrorist acts by Russia.