Kyiv Counters Disinformation, Disputes Russian Claims of Seizing Key Cities

KYIV: Amid the breakdown of high-level peace talks in Moscow, the information war surrounding the ground conflict escalated significantly on Tuesday, as Ukrainian officials vigorously denied Russian claims of major territorial gains.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence shared a video on Telegram purporting to show its troops holding flags in the strategically important eastern city of Pokrovsk (known as Krasnoarmeysk in Russian), a town Russia has attempted to capture for over a year.

However, the Ukrainian military’s eastern command immediately countered the claims, stating that Russia had attempted a “flag-plant” solely for “propagandists” to declare a capture. “They fled in a hurry, and the mopping up of enemy groups continues,” a statement on social media asserted.

According to Kyiv’s military reports, Ukrainian forces still control the northern part of Pokrovsk, with Russian units reportedly suffering heavy losses in the area. These reports were largely supported by international observers monitoring the front lines, who disputed the completeness of Russia’s capture claims.

The battle for the north-eastern border town of Vovchansk also remains contested. The military in Kyiv dismissed Russia’s parallel claim of capturing the town and further stated that its forces had “significantly improved” their position in Kupyansk, another northeastern city that Russia had claimed to conquer just two weeks ago.

The focus on these specific military claims is seen by some analysts as an attempt to influence the narrative surrounding the stalled peace negotiations. Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s centre for countering disinformation, previously indicated that Moscow’s main aim is to ensure all pressure in the US peace plan is placed squarely on Ukraine.

The ongoing combat contrasts sharply with the diplomatic efforts undertaken by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Even as talks collapsed over key disagreements—such as territorial cessions and security guarantees—the devastating reality of the conflict continues.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, the UN estimates tens of thousands of soldiers have been killed or injured, alongside the destruction of critical civilian infrastructure. As diplomatic efforts falter, the battle for truth and territory rages on the eastern front lines.