At a briefing on July 12, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the Ukrainian authorities of a “provocation” aimed at destruction of the dams of the Kyiv Hydroelectric Power Plant and the Kaniv Reservoir on the Dnieper River. What does this statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry mean?

First, it could be a part of a psychological operation (PSYOP) on intimidation the Ukrainian population, to force the Ukrainian leadership to peace talks on Russia’s terms, and undermining the Ukrainian Peace Formula of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the international information space. Second, it could be an attempt to justify future Russian attacks on Ukraine’s civilian and critical infrastructure.

So, what is the essence of such a Russian PSYOP? The disinformation campaign is aimed at spreading a narrative about a certain threat, danger for Ukrainians (the flooding of Ukrainian territories, an environmental, man-made disaster, which would resulted in the migration and flight of Ukrainians) in order to force the population to agree to “peace at any cost” in the war with Russia. The goal of this information operation is to undermine the Ukrainian Peace Formula in the West, the Global South and Ukraine itself. According to the strategy of Russia, peace with the Russian Federation is the only way to end the war, despite potential concessions and capitulation. The goal is to weaken the Ukrainians and the international community’s determination to support Ukraine, thereby reducing the pressure on Russia. Russia seeks to change public opinion and influence political decisions that could lead to favorable conditions for Moscow to end the war. The Russian disinformation campaign has intensified after the successful results of the NATO Summit on Ukraine in Washington and the adoption of the Resolution on Ukraine’s nuclear safety by the UN General Assembly. To promote its so-called “peace rhetoric,” the Kremlin uses not only propagandists, but also pro-Russian foreign politicians. The best example of such “peaceful” rhetoric is the statement by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who during his recent visit to Kyiv called on Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to stop fighting and to begin peace talks. He also stated that “Kyiv must cease fire and sit down at the negotiating table.” Such statements support Russia’s strategy of putting pressure on Ukraine.

Ukraine stands firm and is not going to make peace concessions on Moscow’s terms or give up its territories. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has repeatedly emphasized that Ukraine would defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty. In response to threats and disinformation, Ukraine continues to strengthen its defenses and seek support from international partners.

And what if Zakharova’s statement about the destruction of the dams of the Kyiv HPP and the Kaniv Reservoir can be used by Russian special services as an excuse to carry out attacks on critical and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine? Moreover, as the Russian-Ukrainian war shows, such provocative statements have repeatedly used as a cover for sabotage and terrorist acts. The Kremlin’s rhetoric and actions do not change, the whole world knows its crimes against civilians. So, on the night of June 6, 2023, Russian troops blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station, which they had controlled for more than a year, simultaneously destroying the Kakhovka Reservoir and putting the lives of tens of thousands of people at risk. More than 75 people died in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine as a result of the destruction of the dam. The exact number of victims is still unknown. However, according to the Associated Press investigation, about 200-300 people have drowned in the flooded city of Oleshky in the Kherson region. As a result of the disaster, 180 settlements in the Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv regions, where almost 900 thousand people lived, were affected by the flood. Almost 700 thousand Ukrainians were left without access to drinking water.

Such a Russian terrorist act, in particular the blowing up of the hydroelectric power plant, has signs of a war crime and violates several articles of the Geneva Conventions, according to which the shelling of civilian infrastructure and the population, as well as exposing the civilian population to man-made and environmental disasters that may be caused by the destruction of high-risk objects, are strictly prohibited (Protocol Additional to the Geneva Convention on the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts). Does the Kremlin want to repeat this crime again? This is normal for the Russians, as the occupiers systematically violate the Geneva Conventions and all international rules of war. This shows that Russia is carrying out a policy of overt genocide in Ukraine, resembling the terrorist tactics of Hitler, Stalin, ISIS, leaving nothing but scorched earth… The blowing up of the Kakhovka HPP by the Russians has many historical parallels. The first one is a terrorist act committed on August 18, 1941, when the Soviet army blew up the Dnieper Hydroelectric Station dam, trying to stop the advance of German troops. According to historians, about 20,000-100,000 Soviet civilians and soldiers died. Then and now, the Russian army fulfills orders of its Kremlin dictators in order to satisfy their imperial ambitions.

Such Kremlin’s terrorist acts lead to the large-scale ecological and man-made disasters, demonstrating the Russians’ nature. It is a powerful signal to all who advocate peace talks with terrorists on their terms.

Zakharova’s statement is a logical continuation of the threats made by Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Dmitriy Medvedev about the need to completely destroy Ukraine. These words emphasize the aggressive rhetoric and intentions of the Russian leadership, aimed at escalating the conflict and undermining the world order. The same could be said of the main Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov, who recently called on to blow up the dam of the Kyiv HPP in order to flood the capital of Ukraine. This was said after Putin’s statement on his readiness to end the war according to his “peace plan”. “Sorry, I really don’t understand why the Kyiv dam is still standing. I believe we should move to a position of the harshest punishment…”, Solovyov said. Such statements highlight the increasing aggression and cruelty of Russian propaganda. Such rhetoric and threats from Russian officials contradict the principles of international law and the UN Charter, which prohibit aggression and require respect for the sovereignty and independence of all states, emphasizing the need to strengthen support for Ukraine and take more decisive measures against Russia. The civilized international community must seriously think about the existence of the Russian political regime, which has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world. All this indicates that the Russian regime is ready to take extreme measures, putting the lives of millions of people at risk and violating international norms and laws.