Russian propaganda spreads fakes about Ukrainian attacks using biopathogens

This was reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation.

Kremlin propagandists are disseminating false information from former Russian defense minister Sergey Shoigu about plans by Ukraine to carry out terrorist attacks using biological weapons.

"Supposedly, Ukrainian intelligence services are planning sabotage and terrorist attacks using biological weapons, primarily in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine. He also claimed that 'the Ukrainian Armed Forces are already using biopathogens in combat operations,'" the report says.

The Center explains that spreading these fakes is a typical tactic of Russian propaganda within a disinformation campaign aimed at the international audience. Similar lies were spread by Russian propagandists from the first days of the full-scale war.

"The purpose of these statements is to scare the citizens of foreign countries, primarily those considering the possibility of deploying peacekeeping contingents in Ukraine, by creating a threat of the use of biological weapons and its uncontrolled spread, thus reducing international support for Ukraine," analysts noted.

• On April 24, the Center for Countering Disinformation debunked a fake claim about the alleged existence of a drug laboratory of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the town of Sudzha in the Kursk region.
• Also, on April 24, media reported that Russia plans to release propagandistic video footage regarding the historical belonging of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to Russia, aiming to convince the international community of this.