Russia prepares disinfo campaign about Ukrainian children from Mariupol

Mariupol Mayor Adviser Petro Andryushchenko shared the information in his Telegram.

"The Russians are preparing a major disinformation attack targeting the international community involving the parents of children deported to Russia and Donetsk. The Russians threaten the parents with separation from their children, force them to record a video in which they "testify" that Azov fighters and Ukrainian nationalists separated them from their children. They will also claim it was the Ukrainian forces that hindered the reunification of families, including parents with children who were in hospital," he said.

After these videos, Russia will say that they "found and returned" the children to their parents to enhance the informational and psychological effect. Petro Andryushchenko noted that these Russian actions are another war crime. The parents and children remain in the occupied Mariupol district and are unable to resist the psychological pressure from Russians. The mayor's adviser urged Ukrainians not to believe these appeals, which were made under force and are a Russian fabrication.

As of May 14, Russian forces have deported 2,000 Ukrainian children to Russia.