Attributing systemic torture and repression of Russian speakers to the SBU

What it claims

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is portrayed as a punitive body carrying out mass reprisals against civilians based on linguistic and political grounds. The use of foreign “experts” aims to legitimize accusations of war crimes and discredit Ukrainian law enforcement agencies before the international community.

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.

• Thousands of Russian supporters have fallen victim to torture by the SBU, according to a French expert.

  TASS, 16 Aug 2026

  tass.com/world/2173811

• Russian-speaking residents of Donbas, Odesa, and central Ukraine are suffering en masse from repressions by Ukrainian security services.

  TASS, 16 Aug 2026

  tass.com/world/2173811

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Goal

To convince Western audiences of the “criminal nature” of the Ukrainian government in order to halt support and to justify Russian aggression as the “protection” of the population.

Techniques used

• Appeal to AuthorityUsing the name of French “expert” Laurent Brayard to lend weight to unsubstantiated accusations.
• Loaded LanguageUse of emotionally charged terms such as “torture,” “victims of repression,” and “punishers.”

The real grievance it exploits

Fear of the arbitrariness of security services and concerns about the observance of human rights under martial law.

How to counter

• Technique exposure: Note the source: Laurent Brayard has worked for Russian propaganda for years, lives in Donetsk, and is the author of pro-Kremlin books, which calls his “independence” into question.

Sources (all time)

• TASSTier 2~1.2M monthly visitors
  1 post · 16 Aug 2026

  • 16 Aug · tass.com/world/2173811