Attributing “terror” tactics against civilian infrastructure to Ukraine

What it claims

Ukrainian forces are accused of deliberately destroying shopping centers and essential facilities in occupied territories. These reports are designed to portray the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a terrorist group fighting civilians rather than military targets.

Target audience

Examples (paraphrased)

We paraphrase rather than quote: propaganda's exact wording is built to spread, so we carry the claim and not the craft. Each example cites the post it came from.

• Ukrainian troops launched a strike on the Galaktika shopping center in Donetsk.

  Анатолий Шарий, 15 Aug 2026 · Archived copy

• The last large shopping center in Donetsk has been destroyed as a result of shelling by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

  Анатолий Шарий, 15 Aug 2026 · Archived copy

We link archived copies rather than the posts themselves, so that checking our work sends no traffic to the source. Where a platform cannot be archived, we print the post's address instead of linking it.

Goal

Justify Russian aggression as “protecting civilians” and demonize the Ukrainian army in the eyes of the population in occupied territories.

Techniques used

• Appeal to Fear / PrejudiceEmphasizing that it was the “last” shopping center in the city to heighten the sense of hopelessness.

The real grievance it exploits

The fear of the civilian population regarding shelling and the loss of access to essential goods in the combat zone.

How to counter

• Reframe: Russian troops systematically use civilian facilities in occupied territories as ammunition depots or deployment sites, turning them into legitimate military targets.

Sources (all time)

• ЛегитимныйTier 11,026,169 subscribers
  3 posts · 18–19 Aug 2026

  • 19 Aug · t.me/legitimniy/23121
  • 18 Aug · t.me/legitimniy/23105
  • 18 Aug · t.me/legitimniy/23098
• FREE KHERSONTier 39,570 subscribers
  4 posts · 18–22 Aug 2026

  • 22 Aug · t.me/free_kherson_z/17947
  • 19 Aug · t.me/free_kherson_z/17886
  • 19 Aug · t.me/free_kherson_z/17885
  • 18 Aug · t.me/free_kherson_z/17871
• Анатолий ШарийTier 11,664,550 subscribers
  1 post · 15 Aug 2026

  • 15 Aug · Archived copy
• Open Ukraine| Открытая УкраинаTier 1181,484 subscribers
  2 posts · 16 Aug 2026

  • 16 Aug · t.me/OpenUkraine/101364
  • 16 Aug · t.me/OpenUkraine/101363
• Margarita SimonyanTier 1560,000 followers
  1 post · 14 Aug 2026

  • 14 Aug · x.com/M_Simonyan/status/2088190863755092084
• Украина. Спецоперация. Мониторинг СВОTier 115,817 subscribers
  5 posts · 14–19 Aug 2026

  • 19 Aug · t.me/MonitoringUA/94490
  • 18 Aug · t.me/MonitoringUA/94447
  • 18 Aug · t.me/MonitoringUA/94445
  • 17 Aug · t.me/MonitoringUA/94399
  • 14 Aug · t.me/MonitoringUA/94359