Russian propaganda has launched a large-scale disinformation campaign aimed at justifying massive strikes against civilian and cultural sites in Kyiv.

This was reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation under Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (NSDC).

Enemy information resources are following a classic playbook: they attempt to disguise outright terror against the civilian population as “strikes on military targets” or shift the blame onto Ukraine itself.

In particular, propagandists are describing the large fire at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) as a “Ukrainian provocation” and “self-arson”. Likewise, the enemy is spreading conspiracy theories alleging the involvement of the Ukrainian authorities in the strike on the building of the High Anti-Corruption Court.

The Dovzhenko Film Studio has been declared a “legitimate military target” because it is allegedly a “breeding ground for propaganda”. Russian propagandists are also spreading claims that Kyiv is filled with weapons-production facilities disguised as civilian sites — in their narrative, virtually every building is considered a “military facility”.

As usual, they have also resorted to the familiar accusation that “Ukrainian air defense” is responsible for damage to civilian buildings.

“Russia bears sole responsibility for the deaths and injuries of peaceful Kyiv residents and for the destruction of historic and civilian buildings, and it must be held accountable. No manipulation, conspiracy theories, or attempts to assign a ‘military status’ to civilian sites will help the aggressor conceal yet another war crime”, — the Center for Countering Disinformation of the NSDC emphasized.