Over the past weeks enemy propagandists have launched several interrelated fakes about the Kherson region. They are trying to create a parallel reality where Russian troops “control the Ostrov microdistrict”, Ukrainian authorities “abandon” local farmers to demining, and Kherson residents are allegedly forced to raise funds for municipal equipment. All these insertions are built on the same principle — to rip an individual fact out of context and change it beyond recognition. In this article we analyze in detail the most common examples of such disinformation.
Everyone to Ostrov!
Periodically Russian fakes grow, intertwine with each other and give rise to new lies. Since mid-October narratives were massively “pushed” into the information space claiming that the Russian army allegedly crossed the Dnipro and even captured one of Kherson’s districts — Korabel, also known as “Ostrov”.
Last week the occupiers tried to refresh these lies and posted online an allegedly “leaked” order from the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, in which he “sends all men” to defend the Korabel district.
“The content of the paper matches the real situation too closely: there are not enough forces to defend Kherson, and Prokudin has effectively approved the involvement of reservists, conscripts and even those who have deferrals in the defense of the Korabel district. Such a decision sharply contradicts the reports he sent to Kyiv about ‘full control’,” — note Kremlin propagandists.
The trigger for this lie was probably a visit by the regional and city authorities to the mentioned microdistrict, which once again confirmed — there are no Russian units, and certainly no occupation of Ostrov.
As for the fake order — Prokudin himself commented on it, stating that he did not sign any such documents. Besides, the head of the military administration does not have such powers, but of course that does not stop Russian scribblers.
Demining fields… by farmer-kamikazes
Because of the Russians the Kherson region remains one of the most mined territories in the world. Of course, this complicates farming, as some arable land is still dangerous to cultivate. Russian propaganda used this fact to create a fake that the right-bank fields of the region are allegedly being demined with the help of farmer-kamikazes.
“Farmers on the right bank of the Kherson region are effectively being turned into suicide victims — quietly, cowardly, without a shadow of conscience. The AFU, unwilling to expend their sappers and risk scarce personnel, have begun openly driving farmers onto minefields under the guise of ‘voluntary assistance’ with a promise of payments,” — say the Russians.
Kherson agricultural producers do sometimes clear their plots themselves or with the involvement of private companies. This is done to speed up the process and return to pre-war production levels faster. No one forces farmers to go into the fields to certain death. On the contrary, the state does everything possible to protect them. On the right bank of the region hundreds of sappers from the AFU, the State Emergency Service and the National Police are working simultaneously.
Note: the corresponding fake was a reaction to recent information that that last week the Humanitarian Demining Center made the first payment under the state program compensating the cost of demining. Compensation was received by the agricultural company “Pershe travnia” in the Kherson region, which cleared more than 1,150 hectares of land by engaging specialists from “Ukroboronservis” in March–April 2023.
Kherson residents forced to buy municipal equipment at their own expense
Russian propaganda continues to produce fakes about life in the liberated territories of Kherson. Enemy Telegram channels convince their readers that Kherson residents are allegedly forced to collect money to purchase equipment for municipal services. But the reality is completely different. Data from open procurements and actual deliveries of equipment prove that all these claims are yet another lie.
“Municipal equipment that should be purchased with state funds was bought by the residents themselves, people collected money because accidents multiplied and there was nothing to work with. At the same time officials spoke of ‘full funding’ and ‘millions for the municipal sector’ which vanished without a trace,” — write contributors from the Telegram channel “Free Kherson”.
Of course, this is complete nonsense. Equipment for Kherson municipal enterprises is purchased with state funds through the “Prozorro” system or provided by donors and international partners.
For example, since the liberation of Kherson from the Russians in autumn 2022, only for the municipal enterprise “Parks of Kherson” a Renault Duster, several trucks, a refuse truck, a LS1004 tractor and a tractor-lawnmower have been purchased. This equipment, as well as its maintenance and upkeep, cost the local budget tens of millions of hryvnias. Could Kherson residents have raised such an amount through “voluntary donations”? Hardly.
The situation is similar in other settlements on the right bank of the region. Recently municipal workers from Kochubeyivka received a brand-new tracked bulldozer purchased for 5.2 million budget hryvnias. Considering the community’s population, each resident would have had to contribute 4 or even 5 thousand hryvnias.
Although in some respects the Russian propagandists were not lying, since the liberated territories of the Kherson region still indeed feel a shortage of municipal equipment. However, this is related to the actions of the occupiers. Thus, in autumn 2022 the invaders stole almost all equipment for winter road maintenance from Kherson. It should also be noted that Kherson municipal workers remain a priority target for Russian artillery and FPV drones.
The material was prepared as part of a project supported by the NGO Institute of Mass Information and CzechAid