Russia is conducting an information-psychological operation to disrupt mobilization in Ukraine. The enemy has managed to demonize the image of the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centers (TRC), creating a “boogeyman” to scare Ukrainians.
This opinion was expressed by Colonel Taras Dziuba, chief specialist of the Communications Department of the AFU Ground Forces Command, in an interview with Ukrinform.
“This IPSO (information-psychological special operation) can be conditionally called the ‘draft-dodger’ information campaign. Russians have managed to demonize the image of the TRC and create a ‘boogeyman’ for Ukrainians. The Russian Federation has used the assessment of the socio-political situation, fatigue from the war amid the real losses Ukraine is facing. Together with the information operation, this has had a certain effect,” Dziuba emphasized.
According to him, the Communications Department of the AFU Ground Forces Command conducted research into the attempt to disrupt mobilization. “Right now, we have the highest level of trust in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and the lowest level of trust in the TRC, which are also part of the AFU. According to statistics, representatives of the territorial recruitment centers notify about 10,000 people every day. However, conflict situations involving them, which could interest law enforcement agencies, arise only between two and five times! De facto, we don’t have a critical situation. However, the information scale supported by the aggressor is doing its job,” Dziuba added.
Analyzing the enemy’s actions against Ukraine, the military noted: “Upon examining the sources of information provocations, especially the provocative videos about the TRC, we discovered that 75% of all channels in the network have Russian and Belarusian registration. The most effective tools in the hands of the aggressor country for publicly stirring up the mobilization issue in Ukraine are Telegram channels and TikTok services.”
Dziuba also pointed out that Russians actively support, including financially, the ordering and dissemination of information that benefits them, manipulating facts and distorting the real state of affairs. “How should we respond? Ukrainians need to be aware. If we don’t divide our society ourselves, the enemy will not succeed,” emphasized the specialist.
Earlier, Andrii Kovalenco, Head of the Center for Counteracting Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council, stated that the explosions at territorial recruitment centers, as well as attacks on military personnel, are being carried out under the supervision of Russian intelligence agencies. Alongside this, the media campaign that has been ongoing since 2022 is intensifying.
