Russia spreads fake about Ukrainian soldiers surrender, Ukraine refutes

This was reported by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security.

"The soldiers of the 128th Detached Mountain Assault Brigade laid down their arms and surrendered," the Russian Ministry of Defense published this fake.

Later, a “Ukrainian” version of the same video appeared with the logo of the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade and the text that "the surrender of the Russian diversion group was filmed", but the 128th Brigade officially denied any involvement in this video and the capture of the Russian soldiers. How exactly the re-edited version of this Russian video got to Ukrainian channels is a separate story that we are not considering here,” Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security writes.

The Center explained why this video is a fake:

• The footage shows yellow sunflowers, which have long been absent from Ukrainian fields. In fact, they are not on the contact line due to constant shelling.

• All the actors surrender with their assault rifle magazines attached, although the magazine must be disconnected during surrender.

• None of them are wearing any equipment, such as body armor, helmets, or shoulder belt system. Only their uniforms and assault rifles.

The only man in the video who takes off his “bulletproof vest” is actually taking off an empty bulletproof vest case – if you look closely, there are no armor plates in this bulletproof vest case.

"It is possible that the video was staged by cadets of Russian military universities, who are training for further service in the so-called 'information warfare' units of the Russian Armed Forces. This explains the young age, identical hairstyles and lack of equipment on the actors," writes the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security.

• Kremlin-controlled propaganda outlets spread a fake that the Ukrainian Azov unit allegedly conducted a “satanic rite”.