DISINFO: Zelenskyy being pushed to attack the Zaporizhzhia NPP
SUMMARY
Information leaked from Zelenskyy's entourage that last week the British gave him a report on the assessment of the consequences of a possible storming of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The conclusions of this report, in fact, provoke Zelenskyy into making the decision to storm the station.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about false flag operations, not backed up with evidence, and aiming to exploit fears about a nuclear catastrophe as part of Russia’s nuclear blackmail campaign.
There is no evidence that Ukraine is preparing any provocations or attacks on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, nor is there any evidence of the involvement of foreign services.
Accusing others of “false flag operations” and “setups” to increase tensions or cover Russia’s own illicit actions are frequent pro-Kremlin disinformation techniques. Russian authorities and pro-Kremlin outlets frequently make these claims even if nothing emerges afterwards, aiming to reinforce the narrative that Russia is constantly the victim of such operations.
This is not the first time the Kremlin’s manipulation and disinformation machine has used a deep-seated and reasonable fear of a nuclear disaster to advance its political and military goals in Ukraine. Pro-Kremlin sources have previously accused Ukraine of constructing a dirty nuclear bomb or carrying out a provocation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
In fact, Russia has adopted many reckless actions regarding this facility, including placing military equipment and troops inside its premises, using its surroundings as a base for rocket and missile attacks, and interrupting its power line. Besides, Russia rejected UN proposals to demilitarise the areas surrounding the plant, as it was deliberately waging a fear campaign about the risks of a nuclear disaster in order to advance its goals in Ukraine.
See similar disinformation cases claiming that the UK is supervising the preparation of a provocation at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant by Kyiv, that Ukraine may blow the Zaporizhzhia nuclear site up to cover up the failure of the counter-offensive, that the US wants to prepare the world for a provocation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP, that Ukraine will carry out a nuclear attack with British help to involve NATO in war, that Kyiv prepares to carry out an attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, or that Ukraine will blackmail Russia with setting up a second Chernobyl nuclear disaster.