The new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mykhailo Drapaty, has become the target of a large-scale information attack. Dmitry Likhovy, spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, stated that the mass dissemination of false information in the first days of the new commander's work indicates a targeted special operation against him.

According to the officer, fabricated stories created using artificial intelligence and spread by bots began to circulate in social networks and messengers. Likhovy pointed out that the fakes cover various areas of the army's activities, from internal policy to charity.

List of Debunked Fakes

The General Staff spokesperson listed specific false narratives that have already "come to life" in the information space:

  • A fictional public quarrel between the new and old Commander-in-Chief.
  • Information that Drapaty announced an audit in the Armed Forces.
  • Rumors that the new commander created a charity fund for the wounded at his own expense, but at the same time sent the Territorial Recruitment Centers (TRC) to the front line.
  • False accusations of racism based on quotes taken out of context from an anti-Russian interview in 2023.

Likhovy categorically refuted all these statements. He emphasized that the process of taking office and familiarizing himself with the current situation is proceeding as planned, and no conflicts or scandals are taking place. The officer also clarified that Drapaty does not plan to create additional accounts on social networks.

Blocking Fake Pages

The reaction to the fakes began promptly. Likhovy reported that yesterday's fake account of Mykhailo Drapaty on the social network X (formerly Twitter) has already been blocked with the assistance of the Ministry of Digital Transformation. Earlier, on July 26, a message from the Commander-in-Chief about an alleged audit also appeared online, which was also deemed false.

The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War also confirmed an intensification of information attacks on July 27, refuting rumors of a change in leadership within the department.

Call for Media Hygiene

Dmitry Likhovy appealed to journalists and social network users to exercise caution. He noted that before sharing content or "choking a person in their embrace" for real or imagined merits, it is necessary to verify the reliability of the source.

"Think about whether this account is real, whether the information is truthful, and what goal the author is pursuing," summarized the General Staff spokesperson, calling on people not to become tools in the hands of manipulators.