Since 9 June 2025, Russia has launched a targeted disinformation campaign aimed at undermining Ukraine’s image in the international information space. This operation falsely accuses Ukraine of refusing to exchange the bodies of fallen soldiers, using emotionally manipulative content to fuel distrust both domestically and abroad.
Russia’s Goal: Sow Distrust and Demoralise
The purpose of this information-psychological operation is clear: provoke conflict between Ukrainian authorities and the families of fallen soldiers, and intensify the emotional strain on Ukrainian society and international partners.
This orchestrated effort is being disseminated through a series of pro-Russian or fringe media outlets, including Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and Francophone sources. These articles appeared within a narrow time window — a strong indicator of centralised coordination. Russia’s messages are built around emotionally charged headlines, misleading numbers, and manipulative narratives.
The Reality: Russia Is Blocking Body Exchanges
Contrary to these claims, it is Russia itself that delays or blocks the repatriation of bodies. The exchange of fallen soldiers is a legally, ethically, and technically complex process that requires bilateral cooperation. Ukraine has not refused such exchanges — in fact, it continues to initiate and support them under challenging war conditions.
Russia, however, deliberately uses the bodies as tools of pressure, refusing cooperation or dragging out negotiations to manufacture delays. This cynical tactic violates the core tenets of international humanitarian law.
Ukraine’s Systematic and Humane Approach
Ukraine remains committed to returning every fallen defender home. The process involves the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the Office of the Commissioner for Missing Persons, and international partners. Each body undergoes careful DNA identification before families are notified — a sign of respect and responsibility.
Despite Russia’s accusations, Ukrainian families receive full support and transparency throughout the process. In contrast, Russia often withholds information about Ukrainian soldiers it captures or kills, making identification and return extremely difficult.
Fake Numbers and Manipulative Narratives
Russian propaganda also pushes unverified death tolls, often wildly exaggerated and unsupported by any official or independent sources. Ukraine does not publish real-time casualty statistics for ethical and security reasons — a standard wartime practice.
Meanwhile, Russia buries its own soldiers in mass graves, uses mobile crematoriums, or leaves bodies uncollected to obscure true losses. Many Russian families are kept in the dark, and Russian commanders openly state they avoid retrieving bodies to keep death counts low.
Coordinated Disinformation — Not Journalism
The latest articles follow a familiar pattern — synchronised dates, identical language, and repetitive talking points — that indicate a Kremlin-led disinformation campaign, not genuine journalism. Outlets spreading this content have a documented history of pro-Russian bias and are not considered reliable sources in the global media landscape.
Authoritative international outlets are not participating in this narrative, which further exposes the campaign’s illegitimacy. These fake stories are designed to fracture the unity between Ukraine’s government, army, and citizens — a unity that has been critical to the country’s resilience.
Russia’s weaponisation of grief and loss is not just an attack on Ukraine — it’s a direct assault on human dignity and truth. The best defence is awareness, solidarity, and a commitment to seeing through the fog of war with facts, not fear.
