Claim:
Residents of Kharkiv received official evacuation alerts from the Ukrainian government urging them to leave the city due to an imminent Russian encirclement.
Verdict:
False
The Claim:
In April 2023, messages circulated among Kharkiv residents claiming to be from the Ukrainian government. These alerts warned of an imminent encirclement by Russian forces and included detailed evacuation instructions. The messages featured the logo of Ukraine’s State Emergencies Service and infographics outlining escape routes.
Fact-Check Analysis:
- Verification of Messages:
- Volodymyr Tymoshko, Kharkiv’s police chief, confirmed that the messages were fake. He stated that no official evacuation plan had been announced.
- Ukrainian security officials determined these alerts were part of a psychological operation designed to induce panic among residents.
- Tactics Used:
- Russian forces utilized Leer-3 systems, devices attached to Orlan-10 drones, to send mass text messages. These devices mimic cellular base stations, enabling messages to be sent to phones within range.
- The false evacuation messages were accompanied by disinformation campaigns on social media platforms such as Telegram and TikTok.
- Additional Evidence:
- Infographic maps bearing fake road closures and warnings of missile strikes were distributed online to amplify fear.
- Reports from Ukraine’s Centre for Countering Disinformation (CCD) revealed a significant spike in disinformation posts during the Kharkiv offensive, with an average of over 2,500 daily posts categorized as disinformation in May 2023.
Context:
The conflict in Ukraine has seen an extensive use of digital disinformation strategies. Russian influence operations include mass text campaigns, social media disinformation, and microtargeting tactics. These operations aim to disrupt civilian trust, create chaos, and influence public perception.
According to Ukrainian security officials, Russian disinformation is often coordinated by entities such as the FSB and GRU. Platforms like TikTok and Telegram have been identified as significant channels for disseminating false narratives.
Conclusion:
The evacuation alerts sent to Kharkiv residents in April 2023 were confirmed to be false and part of a coordinated disinformation effort. These tactics highlight the use of psychological operations as a weapon in modern conflicts.
Verdict:
False