The Russian military command systematically misleads the country's leadership by exaggerating the scale of successes in northern Ukraine. This is evidenced by a recent report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), cited by RBC-Ukraine. According to analysts, Moscow is trying to create an illusion of a victorious offensive in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions, although the actual combat situation is developing quite differently.
Paper Victories and 'Captured' Villages
Since mid-July, the Russian side has published reports almost daily about the capture of new settlements. For example, on July 29, Moscow claimed the capture of Nova Sych, and on July 30, the list of 'victories' was supplemented by Mala Slobidka and Mohrytsia in the Sumy region, as well as Verevka in the Kharkiv region. However, the actual situation on the ground does not confirm these loud claims.
ISW analysts note the absence of signs of real concentration of equipment or large-scale redeployments necessary to capture territories of such size. Instead of a real offensive, Russian infantry is limited to point infiltrations that are not capable of securing strategic objects.
Disinformation Technologies: From Drones to Neural Networks
As it turned out, to confirm their words, Russian soldiers actively use modern technologies. Soldiers shoot video clips, and then with the help of artificial intelligence change or create new recordings where RF soldiers hold flags in settlements where they could only penetrate for a short time. These manipulations allow the command to report on the 'cleansing' of territories that actually remain under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).
The Ukrainian defense forces have already officially refuted information about the loss of Mala Slobidka, Mohrytsia, and Nova Mocha. The village of Nova Sych, the 'capture' of which was also claimed by Russian sources, remains under the control of Ukrainian troops.
Political Background of the Lie
Experts believe that the goal of these fakes is not just to mislead the public, but to put pressure on the West. The Kremlin is trying to convince the US and European countries that the Russian army is winning decisive victories, and therefore further support for Ukraine is becoming meaningless. However, reality makes its own corrections: Ukrainian troops are successfully conducting counterattacks in the areas of Nova Sych, Mohrytsia, and Pisarevka, slowing down the enemy's advance.
Moreover, the AFU returned the settlement of Odradne in the Kharkiv region to their control, which completely refutes the version of the uninterrupted offensive of the Russian Federation. The story of the 'capture' of Rozhdestvenka in Zaporizhzhia and Glushkovka in the Kharkiv region also ended with exposure: these settlements were not occupied.
Conclusion
Systematic distortion of information about the course of hostilities is becoming part of the information war. The Russian command, striving to demonstrate successes, resorts to falsifications that are quickly exposed by independent analysts and the Ukrainian troops themselves. While propaganda paints a picture of triumph, the front continues to be a tense struggle where every line of defense is of decisive importance.
