In Nikopol, Ukraine, Russian forces have begun distributing leaflets that contain threats of an impending offensive and urge residents to prepare for occupation. This action is considered a hostile information provocation aimed at sowing fear among the local population.
According to the Center for Strategic Communications, the leaflets advise civilians against using public transport and recommend stockpiling food supplies. They ominously promise a “crossing of the Dnipro River within two weeks.”
Ivan Bazilyuk, the head of the Nikopol District Military Administration, emphasized that these statements are false and are intended to mislead the public and justify future crimes against civilians.
Andriy Kovalенко, the head of the Center for Strategic Communications and an officer in the Defense Forces, noted that the primary objective of the enemy is to instill fear. He pointed out that Russian forces are effectively announcing an increase in terror against civilians.
“Their FPV pilots regularly attack civilians and transportation. Therefore, it is crucial to rely on information from local authorities and military sources regarding the security situation,” Kovalенко stressed.
Nikopol and its surrounding areas have been enduring daily shelling from Russian troops stationed on the temporarily occupied opposite bank of the Dnipro River. Heavy artillery and kamikaze drones are frequently used to target civilian infrastructure.
Just yesterday, on April 4, Russian forces struck a market in Nikopol, resulting in the deaths of five individuals and injuring over 20 others. Additionally, on March 31, an FPV drone attack injured 11 people, including a child in critical condition.
Earlier reports indicated that an artillery strike had damaged a multi-story residential building and a gas pipeline in the city.
Russian forces have escalated their psychological warfare in Nikopol by distributing threatening leaflets, while ongoing attacks on civilians continue to inflict casualties and damage. Local officials urge residents to remain vigilant and rely on official communications for safety updates.