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Ukraine Intelligence Warns of Russian Fake Casualty Lists Ahead of POW Exchanges
Russia plans to step up disinformation around prisoner exchanges by releasing fabricated lists of Ukrainian casualties, Ukraine’s Security Service and the Main Directorate of Intelligence warned on June 16.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SZRU) and the Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) announced that President Vladimir Putin has ordered a campaign to undermine public confidence in the ongoing prisoner swaps. The operation is coordinated by the First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration, responsible for mobilizing state media assets to spread hostile narratives and exploit any procedural delays in the exchange process as was reported on June 16.
“The aim of the campaign is clear – to provoke outrage among Ukrainian society (military and their families) by the actions of Ukrainian authorities, demoralize the public, while discrediting Ukraine before the international community as a party that does not fulfill its obligations,” the SZRU stated.
Moscow plans to release these false casualty lists in the final days of the exchanges, likely around June 20, falsely asserting that nearly 6,000 soldiers and civilians have died and their remains are being withheld by Kyiv. The objective is to incite panic and blame Ukrainian authorities for war crimes.
Ukraine’s SZRU and HUR say they will verify all exchange documentation with partner services and urge citizens and media outlets to rely solely on official channels for accurate information.
Earlier, Moscow repeatedly stalled transfers of Ukrainian POW lists, providing partial and outdated rosters months late, omitting critical categories such as the wounded, minors, and those under 30. Kyiv had to verify and supplement data before exchanges could proceed, prolonging uncertainty for families and complicating diplomatic efforts to complete swaps.
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
