Ukraine's Defense Ministry refutes Russian myths about Battle of Bakhmut
Read also: Ukrainian army conducts successful operation near Bakhmut, UK intelligence
According to Maliar, Russian media has three main goals:
to undermine Ukrainians' confidence in the military, especially in the decision-making of Ukrainian command
to demotivate and mentally weaken Ukrainian troops
to provoke Ukraine's military leadership to making false moves.
In these ways, the occupiers are trying to shift the narrative about Bakhmut to negate the narrative that Ukraine’s shrewd Ukrainian military decisions have proven successful in Bakhmut, the deputy minister said.
"The shifted focus is to view Bakhmut as an apocalyptic event and to divide reality into 'before' and 'after' from these battles. The enemy uses this mental trick to instill its ideas and narratives," she wrote.
Read also: Ukraine’s military success has depleted Russian armored vehicle reserves, says Pentagon chief
When the fight for Bakhmut is viewed as decisive over the course of the war, it allows the enemy to promote their scenarios of Ukrainian actions into media field, Maliar said.
Read also: Fiercest fighting taking place for Bakhmut, Avdiyivka and Maryinka, General Staff says
"They want Ukrainian society to put pressure on the military and political leadership to stop the defense by threatening it with the idea of the coming end," her message reads.
Russia is using the three following messages:
it was a political decision to continue the defense of Bakhmut
it makes no sense to hold on to Bakhmut as it has already been encircled
the overblown heroism of Ukrainian defenders by Ukrainian media.
Read also: If Bakhmut fell to Russia, Putin would ‘sell this victory to the West’, says Zelenskyy
Maliar noted that Ukrainians defend every city with as much devotion as Bakhmut. The needs in personnel and equipment are determined by combat tasks to repel the Russian aggression and not by any political considerations.
The defense of Bakhmut is now driven by competent military commanders to fulfil tasks the Ukrainian army is facing now.
Read also: Ukrainian military downs Russian bomber near Bakhmut
"Bakhmut will be defended as long as we need it in terms of fulfilling our military defense tasks. And it is our military command, not the Russian IPSO (psychological operations), that will determine how long Bakhmut will be defended. And this is the most unpleasant information for the enemy. The battle for Bakhmut is not an apocalypse. This is another heroic page of the powerful Ukrainian army in the war against Russia," she emphasized.
We’re bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!
Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
