UKRAINE, KUPIANSK-VUZLOVYI, Feb. 3 — A Russian sabotage and reconnaissance group tried to make a fake video for Russian propagandistic Telegram channels and social media, bringing the Russian flag to Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi settlement, located 4 kilometers (2,5 miles) from Kupiansk. Ukrainian forces killed the group, said Mykhailo Hryshko, a soldier of the 43rd Mechanized Brigade, to ArmyInform.

“Russians want to show control and presence even where actual control is questionable, because this increases the morale in their own media and among personnel,” said Hryshko.

Such “performances” aim to sow doubt and demoralize the local population and Ukrainian military by showing Russia having “free passage” in the area, he said. He added that it is a way to distract attention from real losses in the Russian army or failures on the frontline.

“Our task is to record such staged scenes, expose their falseness, and provide truthful information about the real situation,” said Hryshko.

Ukrainian soldiers identified the sabotage group as belonging to the 153rd Tank Regiment, which they wrote on the flag they brought to Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi. Hryshko also noted that the group made a mistake in the name of the regiment, missing one letter.

The soldier confirmed that the 153rd Tank Regiment is located opposite Ukrainian positions in the area. He explained that Russians don’t use “special units” to save resources. So, they forced the tank regiment to carry out unusual tasks like this.

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