Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, one of the cornerstones of Kremlin propaganda has been the discrediting of Ukrainian military personnel – from individual soldiers to entire units. Throughout the war, propagandists have developed a series of narratives along this vector of information influence: “AFU kills civilians in Donbas,” “Ukrainian military resells Western weapons, drugs, organs,” “Ukrainian army fighters are marauders,” and so forth. The general theme of these narratives is that Ukrainian military personnel represent a threat, danger, chaos, and anarchy.
At a certain point, Kremlin propagandists localized a separate branch of this narrative and focused on the claim that Ukrainian military allegedly poses a danger to Ukrainian civilians in the free territory of Ukraine.
This amplifies not only the message that “the military is not protection, but a threat,” but also creates a chasm between civilians and the military, ignoring the obvious fact that today’s military personnel are yesterday’s civilians.
Instead, a fictitious image of a soldier is created as someone “alien” to civil society. This is a direct reference to another top Russian narrative claiming that the AFU consists of “mercenaries, marginals, nationalists, terrorists,” and so on.
To implement the above, Russian propaganda resources have established an appropriate system using Ukrainian media.
In news reports – typically from regional media – they identify stories about certain crimes occurring in civilian settings: robberies, domestic violence, fights, drug distribution, murder, or other incidents. Usually, headlines of such news feature words like: man, criminal, suspect, father, son, etc. Propagandists use visual editing to change these words to “military personnel.”
For example, an original headline might read: “In Lviv region, MAN brutally beat his wife.” After propaganda “processing”: “In Lviv region, MILITARY PERSONNEL brutally beat his wife.” After editing, the falsifiers try to maintain maximum similarity between the altered content and the original publication page.
For even greater focus on who poses the threat, Kremlin fake producers attribute “crimes” in their publications to military personnel of “specific units,” for example: “fighter from 80th brigade detained for assault,” “fighter from 95th Air Assault Brigade imprisoned for domestic violence.”
For example: A publication in the top Russian propaganda Telegram channel “Ukropsky Fresh” on June 22, 2025, appeared with the headline: “In Kharkiv region, military personnel caused an accident and tried to bribe patrol officers.” The propagandists accused a “fighter from 57th motorized rifle brigade” of the incident.
The information accomplices falsified material from the Ukrainian publication “Dumka,” where the news appeared with the headline: “In Kharkiv region, driver caused an accident and tried to bribe patrol officers.” Neither in the journalists’ publication nor in official police materials is there any mention of military personnel’s involvement in the accident.
The planned and systematic nature of these actions is evidenced by broader analysis of this same propaganda resource – “Ukropsky Fresh.” During the period from September 1-15, 9 similar planted stories were identified where publications from Ukrainian media were used for falsification. In August, 11 such fake “news” items were detected, and in July – also 11.
Specifically, in August:
No.DateHeadlineFake Accusation1.1.08.In Kharkiv, military personnel abused his 71-year-old motherfake accusation against 22nd motorized rifle brigade military2.4.08.Sumy police exposed military personnel in illegal drug possessionfake accusation against eight military personnel from 47th motorized rifle brigade3.6.08.Military personnel who stabbed mother taken into custodyfake accusation against 22nd motorized rifle brigade military4.9.08.In Kharkiv region, police detained military personnel for attempted murder of three peoplefake accusation against 92nd assault brigade military5.11.08.In Kharkiv region, military personnel detained for raping 14-year-old teenager and filming itfake accusation against two military personnel from National Guard “Khartiya” brigade (now corps)6.13.08.Kharkiv police chief transported military personnel across border in service carfake accusation against two military personnel from 92nd assault brigade7.15.08.In Kharkiv, military personnel set car on firefake accusation against 22nd motorized rifle brigade military8.20.08.Military personnel beat mother to death with wooden stakefake accusation against 22nd motorized rifle brigade military9.22.08.In Kharkiv, military personnel shot wife and committed suicidefake accusation against 22nd motorized rifle brigade military10.23.08.Death of two-month-old child in Sumy region – parents notified of suspicion of malicious failure to perform dutiesfake accusation against 117th Territorial Defense military11.24.08.Demanded money and jewelry: criminals attacked military personnel’s mother in Kharkiv regionfake accusation against 92nd assault brigade military
In July:
No.DateHeadlineFake Accusation1.6.07.In Sumy region, gave 9 years to military personnel who committed sexual assault and rapefake accusation against 92nd assault brigade military2.7.07.In Lviv region, uncovered drug smuggling channelfake accusation against 80th assault brigade military3.9.07.In Kharkiv region, three military personnel beat 25-year-old man to deathfake accusation against three military personnel from 92nd assault brigade4.11.07.In Kharkiv, tried military personnel who organized shooting with casualtiesfake accusation against 92nd assault brigade military5.13.07.At Kharkiv station, military personnel caused disturbance with pistolfake accusation against 22nd motorized rifle brigade military6.15.07.In Kharkiv, military personnel killed acquaintance and dismembered bodyfake accusation against 92nd assault brigade military7.19.07.In Okhtyrka region, police exposed military personnel who robbed gravesfake accusation against 95th air assault brigade military8.20.07.In Romny, military personnel killed cohabitant, wrapped body in blanket and left on balconyfake accusation against 95th air assault brigade military9.21.07.In Kharkiv region, military personnel broke into recruitment center and struck police officerfake accusation against 22nd motorized rifle brigade military10.22.07.In Sumy region, military personnel sentenced to 8 years imprisonment for armed robbery of pensioners and theftfake accusation against 80th air assault brigade military11.25.07.Military personnel sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for selling humanitarian aidfake accusation against 22nd motorized rifle brigade military
Monitoring of the channel showed that the horizon of similar publications using this falsification system reaches at least mid-2024. Typically, such “news” is picked up and spread by other propaganda Telegram channels, social media platforms, and media outlets. This is how the planted stories are scaled up.
Examples of Systematic “Work” by Russian Propaganda Machine and Exposure of Their Lies
Transcarpathia, September 14, 2025. Propagandists falsified information about alleged “murder” by 92nd assault brigade military personnel of son in Transcarpathia
Kremlin propagandists used an original publication from “Transcarpathia News” for their falsification. The media story describes a crime, but information about military involvement is absent: “On the night of September 14 in the village of Ust Chorna, Tyachiv district, a 40-year-old man tragically died. According to preliminary data, he was fatally wounded by his own father…”
The Transcarpathian Regional Police also has no data indicating the attacker was military: “In the village of Ust Chorna, Tyachiv district, a 63-year-old man inflicted five stab wounds on his son during a conflict. The victim died at the scene from injuries received. Police detained the suspect…”
Other regional media that published news about this crime also have no data indicating the attacker was military.
Lviv Region, September 10, 2025. Propagandists “accused” 80th Air Assault Brigade military of beating passerby
In the original publication from local Lv News, there’s no mention of military personnel: “On September 8, around 15:00, police received a report that a man was beaten near a store in one of the villages of Lviv district. Criminal police operatives, investigators, and patrol police response teams immediately went to the scene…”
The official statement from local police also doesn’t mention military personnel: “In Lviv district, police detained the perpetrator who brutally beat a passerby. As law enforcement established, that day a sudden conflict arose between two men, during which a 24-year-old resident of Rivne region brutally beat a 42-year-old resident of Vynnyky, Lviv district, causing him severe bodily injuries…”
Other local media that published this story also don’t mention military personnel.
Zhytomyr Region, September 9, 2025. In the focus of Russian fake producers: 95th air assault brigade military for alleged “domestic violence”
In the material from “Criminal Ukraine” publication that propagandists falsified, no military personnel are mentioned: “In Zhytomyr region, a man was convicted for systematic psychological violence against his wife. A 53-year-old man, seeking to assert himself, systematically committed psychological violence against his former wife: verbal abuse, profanity, threats, humiliation and intimidation…”
The Zhytomyr Regional Prosecutor’s Office also doesn’t mention military involvement in the crime in their materials: “Novohrad-Volyn local prosecutor’s office conducted public prosecution in a case of psychological violence against a wife, systematically committed by a 53-year-old resident of Baranivka district. During court proceedings, it was established that the man intentionally, systematically insulted his 43-year-old wife with profanity directed at her, sometimes in the presence of their 14-year-old daughter, and also intimidated and threatened physical violence…”
Local media in this story also had no information about any military involvement in the conflict. But Russian media scaled up the lie.
Kharkiv Region, September 9. Under attack from Kremlin information thieves’ fake: 92nd assault brigade, whose military personnel was “attributed with rape”
Russians forged a publication from “Judicial-Legal Newspaper”, in whose material there’s no mention of military personnel in this crime:
“In Kharkiv region, a 35-year-old man was notified of suspicion of raping a minor. The incident occurred on September 5… At the cemetery, the man, introducing himself as a security guard, stopped a 15-year-old girl. Under the pretext of checking documents and personal belongings, he forced her to give up everything she had. Then… knocked her to the ground and dragged her into bushes where he raped her…”
The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, which is investigating the crime, also has no information that the criminal was military: “Under procedural guidance of Kharkiv District Prosecutor’s Office of Kharkiv region, suspicion was announced to a 35-year-old man under Part 3 of Article 152 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – rape of a minor, committed repeatedly and by a person who previously committed a criminal offence under Article 153 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine…”
Kharkiv region media also wrote about this high-profile case but established no additional information about military involvement in the crime. Meanwhile, Russian propaganda resources emphasized precisely this point.
Sumy Region, September 5, 2025. Propagandists “accused” 22nd motorized rifle brigade serviceman of murder
In the material from Mistosumy publication, which propagandists forged in their planted story, it concerns a 71-year-old man. Even this fact didn’t stop fake producers from calling him military: “In Sumy region, court sentenced a 71-year-old man to 8.6 years imprisonment for murder, dismemberment and concealment of body. During joint alcohol consumption between the convicted and a 56-year-old homeless man… a conflict arose. During the quarrel, the accused grabbed a knife and delivered a fatal blow…”
The Sumy Regional Prosecutor’s Office and Police don’t mention any military personnel in their investigation materials: “A man was sentenced to 8 years 6 months imprisonment for killing a homeless person, dismembering his body and burying it in the yard. Krasnopillia Department of Sumy District Prosecutor’s Office supported public prosecution against a 71-year-old man who killed his companion…”
Local Sumy region media wrote about this case, but no one reported the criminal was military, as by age he factually cannot be. Propaganda resources, however, spread the falsified version of events.
Kharkiv Region, September 5, 2025. Russians “accuse” 92nd assault brigade military of attacking recruitment center representative
The fake propaganda publication is based on original material from RegioNews, which describes the incident but contains no information about military involvement: “In the city of Zmiiv, Kharkiv region, a 41-year-old local resident attacked a recruitment center employee with a knife during document verification. After the attack, the perpetrator tried to flee, but police quickly established his whereabouts and detained him…”
Kharkiv Regional Police announced suspicion under Part 2 of Article 350 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code against a man who wounded a recruitment center employee with a knife. But law enforcement has no facts about military involvement in the attack: “On September 3, around 10:00, a 41-year-old local resident aggressively reacted to a lawful demand from an official during document verification for checking against military registration records, pulled out a knife and inflicted several stab wounds on the recruitment center employee…”
Media that published this news also didn’t spread information about any military involvement in the attack.
Sumy Region, September 4, 2025. Propaganda “made” 95th air assault brigade military “guilty” of crime involving pornography distribution
Russian propagandists falsified a RegioNews publication about discovering a child pornography distributor. But in the original, unlike the fake, there’s no mention of military personnel: “During internet monitoring, police received information that a resident of Shostka district was spreading prohibited content, including child pornography. Investigators announced suspicion to a 48-year-old man under Article 301-1 of the Criminal Code (distribution of child pornography)…”
Sumy Regional Police also have no facts about military personnel in this case in their materials: “Law enforcement quickly responded to network monitoring data and established: a 48-year-old man was distributing pornographic materials, including child pornography. During a search at his residence, police found computer equipment with video files…”
Publications by other Sumy region media that spread news about the crime discovery also lack information about military involvement.
Conclusion
The conducted analysis of enemy resources indicates an established system for monitoring Ukrainian media that exists among propagandists. Search systems are aimed at identifying the most severe crimes – murders, rapes, abuse, drug distribution, pornography.
And it’s precisely these offenses that propagandists most often attribute to Ukrainian military personnel.
The “crimes” that Kremlin information accomplices “hung” on AFU military break down in percentage terms as follows (among identified publications):
Murder, attempted murder – 40%
Rape, abuse, pornography distribution – 26%
Armed robbery – 19%
Drug distribution – 8%
Robbery, fraud – 7%
It can be stated that Russian propaganda systematically and purposefully implants into the information space the perception of Ukrainian military personnel as criminals.
The mechanism of such activity identified during analysis – namely, the use of publications from Ukrainian resources – is extremely insidious, aimed at building trust in such fake publications.
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