Russian propagandists have fabricated agitation posters and staged videos to discredit the Ukrainian military
Russian media and Telegram channels are circulating images of leaflets allegedly posted in Ukrainian cities. These leaflets supposedly call for the “destruction” of military personnel serving in Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centers (TRSSCs).
However, this is a fake. Firstly, the photos provide no verifiable evidence of the location where they were taken, making it misleading to claim that these leaflets are being distributed in Ukraine.
Secondly, the images show remnants of snow, yet they first appeared online on March 24. The last recorded snowfall in Ukraine was on March 18, and since then, temperatures across the country have remained above freezing.
Thirdly, the posters calling for the “destruction” of TRSSC personnel were digitally added using graphic editing software. This has been confirmed by forensic image analysis tools like Forensically and Fotoforensics.
Furthermore, Fotoforensics analysis indicates that, after file compression, the quality of these images dropped to 73%, suggesting they were altered using image editing software. Unedited photos typically retain a quality level of 90-100%.
One particularly glaring flaw in these fake images is that in one of them, the fabricated poster appears to float without any visible means of attachment to a road sign — clear evidence of digital manipulation.
Additionally, Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) has previously debunked a staged video spread by Russian propagandists online. The video allegedly shows TRSSC personnel forcibly mobilizing a man walking with an infant.
According to CCD, this fake was originally distributed by the Russian network “Pravda” in the Czech Republic, which frequently publishes disinformation aimed at discrediting Ukraine. The video lacks identifiable individuals or locations, a hallmark of staged propaganda. The characters in the footage do not behave naturally, and their actions appear scripted, with a particular emphasis on close-up shots of the baby stroller to evoke emotional reactions.
Notably, even Russian propagandists later backtracked and began denying the authenticity of this staged video.
Additionally, CCD debunked another fake — a supposed recruitment campaign targeting military-aged individuals between 18 and 24 years old. Russian sources spread images claiming that for one million hryvnias, enlistees would receive a 185-year Netflix subscription.
CCD experts verified this claim with all relevant Ukrainian authorities, including the Ministry of Defense, and confirmed that no such recruitment campaign existed. The fabricated advertisement was part of an information warfare campaign intended to discredit the “Contract 18-24” enlistment initiative.
Russian propaganda continues its information warfare to disrupt Ukraine’s mobilization efforts. These efforts aim to manipulate public emotions, discredit TRSSC personnel, undermine the mobilization process, and sabotage the “Contract 18-24” campaign. This broader strategy is part of Russia’s ongoing attempts to weaken Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
Earlier, Russian propagandists distributed a fake video purportedly from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Andriy Olenin
Source: Russia amplifies fake news to undermine Ukraine's mobilization efforts
