Residents of Izyum receive fake ‘capitulation’ messages

Kateryna Tyschenko — Saturday, 5 March 2022, 19:39

Residents of the city of Izyum in the Kharkiv Region, which is currently surrounded by Russian troops, received fake reports regarding agreements made between Russian occupiers and city administration.

Source: Suspilne Kharkiv 

Quote: "Residents of Izyum received messages in messaging apps demanding that they ‘expel the nationalist criminals, ensure the proper functioning of the city infrastructure, and prevent roadblocks.

The message claimed that city authorities had taken it upon themselves to facilitate the arrival of the Russian troops."

Details: Izyum Deputy Mayor Volodymyr Matsokin called the message a fake, sent to sow panic. 

"It was also sent to me personally, to my mobile phone via WhatsApp from a Russian number. This is a fake message, it is not true at all. Especially since we are well aware that local authorities are not authorised to make this kind of decision and cannot be authorised to do so in the context of martial law, when all power belongs to the Armed Forces of Ukraine," he said. 

"Local authorities have not considered or made, and cannot make, such a decision. Izyum remains a Ukrainian city under the Ukrainian Flag, and these are all fake messages that are made only to increase tension and mislead the population," said the deputy mayor. 

Matsokin also noted that Russian occupying forces were not seen in the city. 

According to local authorities they are in nearby villages.