DISINFO: Ukraine may launch a false flag attack against a nuclear facility
SUMMARY
Ukraine may launch a false flag operation to accuse Russia of an attack against a nuclear facility in the city of Kharkiv, for example, a waste nuclear fuel deposit. In face of the lack of military advances, it is very likely that Kyiv will try a notorious provocation. They may blow the site to then incriminate Moscow about a supposed missile attack. And for Ukrainian neo-Nazis, Kharkiv is a very appropriate option for such a monstrous terrorist action, which would damage both eastern Ukraine and Russia, Belarus and some EU countries.
RESPONSE
Disinformation not backed up with evidence, aiming to exploit fears about a nuclear catastrophe as part of Russia’s nuclear blackmail campaign. Accusing others of “false flag operations” and “setups” to increase tensions or cover Russia’s own illicit actions are frequent pro-Kremlin disinformation techniques. Russian authorities and pro-Kremlin outlets frequently make these claims even if nothing emerges afterwards, aiming to reinforce the narrative that Russia is constantly the victim of such operations.
This disinformation story appeared a few days before Ukraine’s defence ministry claimed that Russia was planning to simulate a major accident at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that containers with radioactive substances were delivered from Europe to Ukraine for a provocation to accuse Russia, that Ukraine is going to use a dirty bomb to accuse Russia of using tactical nuclear weapons, that Ukraine is preparing a false flag chemical attack to damage the image of Russia, or that Kyiv passed from rejecting nuclear weapons to preparing a dirty bomb.