Ukraine says Russia plans international propaganda telebridge over Oleshky
Ukraine’s intelligence directorate says Russia is preparing an international propaganda “telebridge” to conceal war crimes in occupied Oleshky, discredit Ukraine’s Defense Forces and weaken foreign support. The Zoom event is planned for October 22, with representatives of 80 countries and international organizations reportedly targeted.
Key points
- The Zoom telebridge is scheduled for 22 October 2026 at 15:00.
- Its announced theme is alleged “crimes of Ukraine’s Defense Forces against the civilian population of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.”
- Organizers plan to involve representatives of 80 countries and target diplomats from UN, OSCE, BRICS and CIS countries.
- Simultaneous interpretation into English, Spanish and French is planned.
- Sanctioned Russian collaborator Rodion Miroshnyk is expected to be the main speaker.
- Staged video appearances by alleged “witnesses and victims of crimes by Ukraine’s Defense Forces” are planned.
- Ukraine’s intelligence says the campaign aims to obscure the humanitarian crisis in Oleshky and weaken Ukraine’s foreign support.
Why it matters
The campaign would target diplomats and international humanitarian organizations with staged testimony presented as evidence of Ukrainian abuses. Ukraine’s intelligence says Moscow aims both to divert attention from the humanitarian crisis in occupied Oleshky and to reduce European support for Ukraine by discrediting the country’s armed forces and EU governments.
What happened
Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate reported that Russia was preparing an information operation called “Telemist.” The international Zoom telebridge was planned for October 22, 2026, at 15:00, under the theme of alleged crimes by Ukraine’s Defense Forces against civilians in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Organizers intended to involve representatives of 80 countries and provide interpretation in English, Spanish and French. Rodion Miroshnyk was named as the main speaker, while Yevhen Balytskyi, Mykola Pukhov and other Russian occupation officials were also expected to appear. The organizers planned staged video appearances by people presented as witnesses and victims of Ukrainian military crimes, with potential participants from Russia Today, Russian diplomatic missions, Russian Houses and branches of Rossotrudnichestvo.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian reporting frames the telebridge as part of a Russian information operation aimed at hiding war crimes and diverting attention from the humanitarian catastrophe in occupied Oleshky. The reporting also emphasizes the planned staged testimony, the involvement of Russian propagandists and occupation officials, and the possible effect on international opinion and European support for Ukraine.
How international sources describe it
The international dimension comes from the planned participation of representatives of 80 countries, diplomatic audiences from UN, OSCE, BRICS and CIS states, international humanitarian organizations and simultaneous interpretation in three languages. Ukrainian intelligence says the operation is intended to discredit Ukraine’s Defense Forces and reduce Ukraine’s foreign support, while international coverage of Oleshky has focused on food shortages, dangerous conditions for civilians and possible evacuation.
Where reporting differs
The supplied reports differ in how they spell the names of some planned speakers. Mykola Pukhov is also identified as Mykhailo Pukhov, and Yevhen Balytskyi appears as Yevgen Balytskyi.
Background
Oleshky has been under Russian occupation since 2022. Food deliveries stopped at the end of May 2025, leaving residents in severe survival conditions complicated by mined roads and recurring drone attacks on civilians. A Ukrainian drone operation delivered food in September 2025, but reports said Russian forces took some supplies. Ukraine later proposed evacuation options, and Russia reportedly began considering them on October 19. The humanitarian situation was raised in contacts involving Pope Leo XIV, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.