Maliar debunks three Russian narratives about Bakhmut spread by propagandists

Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar made the statement. 

“Today, the Russian information campaign accompanying the assault on Bakhmut is extremely intense. The enemy is launching several narratives aimed at demoralizing our society and military,” she wrote.

First, the enemy is spreading the narrative that Bakhmut is not of strategic importance and that its defense is an allegedly political decision.

“This is not true. The military has repeatedly explained the importance and objectives of Bakhmut's defense. The decision to conduct hostilities is made by the top military leadership,” emphasized Maliar.

Secondly, propagandists discredit the military command in the eastern direction by posting fake documents allegedly from the headquarters in the east.

Thirdly, they demonstrate the 'strength' of the occupiers and the 'weakness' of the defenders, revealing allegedly known plans for Bakhmut by both warring parties, Maliar noted.

• The spokesman for the Eastern Grouping of Forces, Serhii Cherevatyi, said earlier that the Ukrainian command had not decided to withdraw troops from Bakhmut, Donetsk region.