The Russian military is threatening to kill the family members of Ukrainian soldiers who refuse to surrender, the US State Department has shared.
According to the Department of State, the threat comes as Russia seemed to be carrying out campaigns of disinformation that would suggest large numbers of Ukrainian soldiers have surrendered.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also said that there’s a possibility of human rights abuses against the Ukrainians by the Russian soldiers.
“All evidence suggests that Russia intends to encircle and threaten Kyiv, and we believe Moscow has developed plans to inflict widespread human rights abuses – and potentially worse – on the Ukrainian people,” Blinken said on Thursday.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also said that there may be Russian false flag operations that would depict the Ukrainian soldiers as the ‘aggressors.’
Kuleba took to Twitter and wrote: “According to intelligence, Russia plans a massive false flag operation to ‘dehumanize’ Ukrainians and accuse Ukraine of alleged inhuman actions. Don’t trust fakes. Ukraine defends its land in a just and defensive war. Unlike Russia, we don’t target kindergartens and civilians.”
A U.S. source also said to CNN that Moscow was carrying campaigns of false information suggesting Ukrainian soldiers have conceded defeat to Russian military.
“We commend the Ukrainian people for showing strength and determination in response to an unprovoked attack by a significantly larger military,” the source said.
“We are concerned, however, that Russia plans to discourage them and induce surrender through disinformation,” the official continued.
“Our information indicates Russia is creating a disinformation campaign by publicizing false reports about the widespread surrender of Ukrainian troops.”
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky shared how 137 Ukrainians have died during the first day of invasion. He described them as ‘heroes’ as they defended their nation.
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