"Russia to capture Pokrovsk, Selydove, Kurakhove, Chasiv Yar soon": foreign manipulations for September 6

The Center published two examples of manipulation that appeared globally on September 6.

Manipulation: Australian “journalist” Caitlin Johnstone wrote on her page in X: “Meanwhile things keep getting scarier and scarier in Ukraine. The more land and troops Ukraine loses the more eager Kyiv and Washington get to escalate to previously unthinkable levels against a nuclear superpower.”

Refutation: Johnstone's use of the phrase “scarier and scarier” aims to emotionally pressure the audience. This kind of rhetoric is typical of disinformation, as it targets people's emotions rather than providing an objective view of the situation. The claim that “Kyiv and Washington are seeking to escalate against the nuclear superpower” ignores the real diplomatic and military actions of Ukraine and its international partners. Support for Ukraine is focused on defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity, not on provoking further war with Russia.

Manipulation: on The Duran YouTube channel, “journalist” Alexander Mercouris claimed: “In the coming weeks, as Pokrovsk, Selydove, Ukrainsk, Kurakhove, Chasiv Yar, and other towns fall, we’ll see Ukraine shift towards negotiations due to pressure from the U.S. and the rest of the world.”

Refutation: these statements aim to create a sense of inevitable defeat, which is a common manipulation tactic used to undermine the morale of both the Ukrainian and international audiences and to spread pessimism about Ukraine's military prospects.

• On September 5, German-Finnish blogger Kim Dotcom spread false information claiming that Russia is winning the U.S. proxy war in Ukraine.