Russia intends to use the humanitarian mission in the occupied city of Oleshky to create a propaganda narrative that portrays it as a savior rather than the perpetrator of the disaster. According to journalist Zarina Zabrisky, who has been working in Kherson, Moscow plans to allow only selected American journalists with Kremlin loyalty into the city.
Russia's Propaganda Strategy
According to information published in The Atlantic, Russian authorities are seeking to form a positive image in the context of the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Oleshky. To achieve this, they plan to:
- Allow journalists who support Donald Trump's administration into the city.
- Ignore Ukrainian and independent international journalists.
- Create the impression that Russia is the savior in the current situation.
Humanitarian Disaster in Oleshky
Oleshky, located in the Kherson region, has become the epicenter of a humanitarian crisis resulting from the war. Since the beginning of the conflict, local residents have faced serious issues such as:
- Lack of access to medical services.
- Insufficient supply of food and water.
- High unemployment and economic instability.
Journalist Zarina Zabrisky, who has been covering this situation since February 2026, notes that the true scale of the humanitarian disaster remains unknown to the wider audience due to the control of information by Russian authorities.