Russian intelligence agencies are preparing a disinformation campaign aimed at creating false accusations of illegal arms trading between Ukraine and Turkey, according to Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation (CPD).
The campaign is expected to roll out at the end of October, with the Russian state-controlled media outlet Russia Today set to release the fabricated materials.
The planned disinformation will claim that Ukraine is secretly trading arms with Turkey, bypassing U.S. oversight and acting in the interests of Turkish private companies. Russian media outlets are expected to accuse Ukraine’s Minister of Defense of involvement in these alleged trades.
The fabricated narrative suggests that planes are being used to transport weapons from Turkey to Ukraine, and on return flights, they supposedly carry obsolete or trophy weapons from Ukraine to Turkey.
"Through this campaign, Russian intelligence agencies will attempt to discredit Ukraine's military and political leadership and undermine Ukraine's relationships with its allies," CPD warned.
The CPD has warned the public to be cautious, advising them to verify any information related to this alleged arms trade.
They stressed that the spread of such false narratives could damage international trust and amplify misinformation during a critical period in Ukraine’s defense efforts.
