Kremlin lies about front-line successes to distract Russians - ISW

ISW analysts claim that the Russian Ministry of Defense is publishing false maps showing the encirclement of Dobropillya to divert attention from Ukrainian Armed Forces' successes on other fronts. The nearest confirmed Russian positions are 10.2 km from the city.

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assert that the Russian Ministry of Defense is disseminating false information about the encirclement of Dobropillya in the Donetsk region. On September 24, the Russian Ministry of Defense published a map purportedly showing the encirclement of Ukrainian units by the 'Center' group of forces. However, according to ISW's assessment, the published data does not reflect the actual situation. Analysts found no visual or other confirmation of Russian forces advancing toward the city. The nearest confirmed Russian positions are approximately 10.2 km from the southeastern outskirts of Dobropillya. ISW believes that Russian statements serve an informational purpose—to create an impression of a serious deterioration in the position of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and to divert attention from successful actions by Ukrainian forces, which in recent months have eliminated the Russian salient north of Lyman. Earlier, the 'Azov' unit of the Ukrainian National Guard stated that Ukrainian troops had managed to thwart Russian plans to encircle Dobropillya and Druzhkivka.