Russian propaganda about “encirclement” and “mass surrender” of Ukrainian troops in Pokrovsk instantly spread through a network of pro-Russian proxy media outlets across European countries.
In our analysis, we disclose how Russia operates in its aggression: the offensive of Russian troops on the front is backed by strategic communications—statements by Russian officials that are wishful thinking and are coordinated with disinformation attacks, which include reports on official state media and proxy media in various European countries, as well as AI-generated videos on social networks, primarily Telegram channels.
In late October 2025, the Kremlin leader Putin claimed that Russian forces had allegedly encircled Pokrovsk. The Russian Defense Ministry picked up this narrative, adding dramatic details about the “mass surrender” of Ukrainian troops, the “collapse of defenses,” and the near-complete capture of the city. Within days, this version of events appeared in dozens of publications across Slovenia, Spain, France, Germany, Czechia, and Slovakia.
Although the Ukrainian troops in Pokrovsk are in an extremely difficult situation, the reality looks different. Ukrainian leadership denied claims of encirclement, and Ukrainian soldiers put a Ukrainian flag in the town two weeks after the Kremlin stated that Poskrovk is entirely encircled and Ukrainians are surrendering en masse.
The Institute for the Study of War confirmed that Ukrainian troops liberated Rodynske on the northern flank and are conducting counterattacks inside Pokrovsk. In its assessment on November 12, it wrote: “geolocated footage published on November 12 indicates that Ukrainian forces either maintain positions or recently advanced in northern Pokrovsk and Zakhidnyi Microraion (central Myrnohrad), areas where Russian sources previously claimed that Russian forces maintained a presence.”
The independent analytical project DeepState reported that the pace of Russian advancement has slowed, although the situation remained extremely difficult for the Ukrainians. Leading Western media, including the Washington Post and Euronews, acknowledge the intensity of the fighting, but no authoritative media outlet confirms encirclement nor mass surrender.
Pro-Russian proxy media outlets in Europe paint an entirely different picture. In Slovenia, insajder.com copies narratives from the Russian Defense Ministry about “Zelenskyy losing touch with reality” and Ukrainians “surrendering en masse.” Swiss website weltwoche.ch and Spanish outlet geoestrategia.eu talk about a “fortress conquered by Russians” and a “battle lost by Ukrainian NATO.”
Diario-octubre.com, under the headline “Russian Official Destroys Zelenskyy’s Lies,” fully reproduces Kremlin propaganda. French outlets reseauinternationla.net, newsnet.fr, and les7duquebec.net duplicate claims about the “inevitable fall of Pokrovsk” and “mass surrender of the Ukrainian troops” there.
The most powerful network operates in Czechia and Slovakia. Cz24.news publishes articles about “Zelenskyy’s military catastrophe” and “mass surrender.” Czechfreepress.cz writes about the “acknowledged encirclement of Pokrovsk.” Protiproud.info and svobodny-svet.cz promote topics about the “collapse of Ukrainian defense.”
In Slovakia, zemavek.sk, slovanskenoviny.sk, jednotneslovensko.info, hlavnydennik.sk, infovojna.com, oral.sk, and skspravy.sk create an alternative information space where the Russian version of events becomes dominant. Particularly notable is armadnymagazin.sk, with a publication claiming that “residents of Pokrovsk, Myrnograd, and Odesa are waiting for Russian troops,” a classic example of a “liberation” fake.
The mechanism is simple and effective. Propaganda TV channels first broadcast official statements from Putin and the Russian Ministry of Defense. Then proxy media outlets in Europe repackage the narrative for local audiences. A network of Kremlin-biased outlets in various countries publishes nearly identical materials, citing each other to create the illusion of “multiple sources.” The target audience consists of Eurosceptic citizens and opponents of aid to Ukraine.
These claims, posted by outlets that have never had their correspondent on the ground, are backed with AI-generated videos of “Ukrainian soldiers talking about a catastrophic situation.” Russian propaganda has been spreading AI-generated videos on TikTok, where alleged Ukrainian soldiers talk about a “catastrophic situation” in several frontline areas, as revealed by fact-checkers.
The Pokrovsk case demonstrates a well-oiled system for spreading Russian disinformation in the EU. Despite categorical denials from Ukrainian military officials and conclusions from authoritative Western analysts, a network of pro-Russian outlets across nine European countries continues to mass-produce fakes about “encirclement,” “mass surrender,” and “the collapse of Ukrainian defense.”
The reality is far more complex: the situation around Pokrovsk remains difficult for the Ukrainian forces, but even weeks after those claims were published, they are holding positions and conducting counteroffensive operations.
Russia is paying an enormous price for every meter of advancement on the front, and its tactical successes do not lead to strategic breakthrough. This coordinated disinformation campaign aims to weaken support for Ukraine in Europe, create a sense of “inevitable defeat,” and put pressure on both the Ukrainians and the European leaders.
This study is the first in a series of reports on the top 7 Russian narratives targeting Ukraine and the EU in November with the use of proxy media outlets in European countries.
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