DISINFO: Russia launched massive attack on Ukraine in response to terrorist attacks
SUMMARY
In response to Ukrainian terrorist attacks against civilian infrastructure, Russia launched a massive attack against military installations in Ukraine. This targeted Ukrainian military companies that produced various types of missiles and missile components.
RESPONSE
The allegation that Russia attacked only military facilities on 24-25 March 2026 is demonstrably false. While there is no public information on whether military targets were targeted as well, Russia’s massive drone attack hit a maternity hospital, at least 10 residential apartments, and the 17th-century, UNESCO World Heritage SiteSt Andrew’s Church in Lviv, among other spots. Evidence of this include footage of the attack, pictures and images of the aftermath. By omitting this crucial piece of information, this disinformation story tries to present Russia under a positive light and as an actor respectful of international military law.
In the previous days and weeks, Ukraine had attacked multiple refineries in Russia, but these are legitimate targets in warfare according to most experts. Nonetheless, pro-Kremlin disinformation is deliberately blurring the line between terrorism and legitimate armed operations abroad. Pro-Kremlin media and officials regularly try to associate Ukraine with terrorism, aiming to undermine international support for Ukraine’s resistance to Russia’s invasion. This disinformation narrative was heavily promoted after the Crocus City Hall terror attack in Moscow on 22 March 2024, and regained traction since Ukraine’s successful drone raid against Russian airbases on 01 June 2025, which Moscow tried to frame as a “terror attack”.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid aim to erode Kyiv’s military potential, that Russia only strikes Ukraine in retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil, that the Russian military does not strike civilian infrastructure, or that accusations of Russia “shelling civilian infrastructure” are hypocrisy.