Why did Russians publish a video of a POW's beheading right now?

Kovalenko shared his findings on his Telegram channel

The journalist recalls that last week, "top secret" documents allegedly revealing some secret details of Ukraine's upcoming counteroffensive went public. The situation is unpleasant. But the documents did not contain top secret information as such, so many experts concluded that it was a "psyop designed to disrupt the Ukrainian counteroffensive" and that the command of the Russian occupation forces was absolutely unprepared for it.

Therefore, Russia is doing the only thing it can - creating information waves designed to hamper the efforts of the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces, wage cracks into Kyiv's communication with international partners and, as a result, disrupt or at least delay the counteroffensive, Kovalenko writes. 

With the video of a Ukrainian soldier being beheaded, Russia is now launching a campaign of intimidation against Ukrainian soldiers and civilians, Kovalenko said. 

The journalist does not rule out that more such videos will soon appear because the Russian command is so distressed by the upcoming counteroffensive that it is ready to practically plead guilty to war crimes just to influence the morale of Ukrainians.

“Of course, it was difficult for me to watch that clip as it further confirms the already clear fact that the invaders are inhumane. At the same time, however, this shows how much they are terrified of Ukrainians.  Cornered rats ready to pounce... But even if they try to pounce, they're still rats. And they are terrified,” the journalist concludes.