Footage emerges of Ukrainian military captives in Ukraine

Unraveling the "Ukraine Goes Missing" Propaganda: A Closer Look

News Alert: In an exclusive report by the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Prosecutor's Office and the SBU, a sinister plot against Ukraine has been unveiled. The plot, named "Ukraine Goes Missing," is an insidious propaganda campaign aimed at sowing discord within the ranks of the Ukrainian military and undermining the country's resistance.

The Conspiracy Unfolds: Three individuals, hailing from Kyiv, Dnipro, and Khmelnytskyi Oblast, have been identified as key players in this campaign, working under direct orders from Russian intelligence. Their mission: to discredit the state leadership and sabotage mobilization efforts by spreading destructive narratives on social media.

Prisoners of Propaganda: The investigation revealed that these operatives coerced eight Ukrainian soldiers, held captive in Kursk Oblast, Russia, to appear in manipulated videos. These videos featured the soldiers calling on active military personnel to lay down their arms, incite mutiny, and disregard combat orders. In a chilling twist, the Russians even set up an improvised studio in a detention center to record these false messages. Those who refused to participate were subjected to appalling torture and inhumane conditions.

Amplifying the Message: To further the reach of their deadly messaging, Russian intelligence attempted to involve the prisoners' relatives and acquaintances in their scheme. Those who willingly joined the campaign were later detained by the SBU, confessing to more than just spreading videos on social media - they were ordered to burn military vehicles and alter air strikes.

The Law Enforcement Crackdown: During the searches, authorities confiscated computers, flash drives, phones, SIM cards, draft notes, and other tools used by the detainees for their work with the occupying forces. The suspects have been charged under Part 1 of Art. 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine for obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces and other military formations. At present, the court has decided on a preventive measure of detention without bail for these individuals.

Countering Disinformation in the Digital Arena: Meanwhile, local Ukrainians and students have banded together to organize EU protests against Russian disinformation campaigns. These campaigns have attempted to paint Ukraine's defensive war as a threat to European stability. On a larger scale, recent investigations have uncovered other disinformation tactics, such as:

Chinese Social Media Influence: Captured Chinese citizens testified that TikTok/Douyin content was used to promote military recruitment for Russia's war effort, making service seem prestigious.
AI-generated Falsehoods: Anonymous creators spread fabricated claims about President Zelensky purchasing a French bank and the EU confiscating savings.
Frontline Disinformation: Russia claimed full control of Kursk border settlements, a claim quickly dismissed as propaganda.

The Digital Battlefield: As the lines between fact and fiction blur, the battle to expose disinformation becomes increasingly complex. In this digital war, every citizen, every soldier, every tool matters. The fight against propaganda continues.

The Ukrainian military found themselves embroiled in a propaganda campaign, code-named "Ukraine Goes Missing," masterminded by three individuals from Kyiv, Dnipro, and Khmelnytskyi Oblast, funded by Russian intelligence.
In Kursk Oblast, Russia, eight captured Ukrainian soldiers were coerced to participate in manipulated videos, calling for their comrades to lay down their arms, instigate mutiny, and disobey orders, all as part of this sinister plot.
Facing charges under Part 1 of Art. 114-1 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code of obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces, the detainees have agreed to remain in preventive detention without bail.
In response to the pervasive Russian disinformation, local Ukrainians and students are rallying together, organizing EU protests against propaganda campaigns aimed at depicting Ukraine's defensive war as a threat to European stability.
Beyond the "Ukraine Goes Missing" case, recent investigations have revealed various tactics employed by Russia to spread disinformation, such as using Chinese social media to promote military recruitment, generating AI-driven falsehoods, and falsely claiming control of Kursk border settlements.