Vladimir Putin has been criticised as manipulating and purporsefully spreading false information in order to gain more political influence as tensions in Europe have soared since the latest strike on a Ukrainian hospital.
Irina Tuskerman, a human rights and national security lawyer, and CEO of Scarab Rising, told Express.co.uk: “We are seeing another strong disinformation effort from Russia regarding the latest attack on the children’s cancer hospital. Putin has previously showed extreme disdain, like in Tucker Carlson’s interview, for public opinion in the West.
“But I think this is going a tad too far, even for him. He’s been spreading disinformation through official channels, as well as through agents of influence, like Peskov, the spokesman, and assorted Russian agents of influence, like Jackson Hinkle, saying that Ukraine implausibly was responsible for the strike, not a Russian missile, despite evidence to the contrary.”
Two people died in the devastating missile strike on the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital in Kyiv last Monday.
Russia has denied responsbility, stating they had successfully targeted Ukrainian defence plants and military air bases, but hadn’t aimed at any civilian facilities.
However, evidence points the blame to Russia, as Ukraine’s Security Service found wreckage from a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile at the site and has opened proceedings on war crime charges.
Tuskerman said: “The biggest problem is that Europe is ultimately not delivering enough of the ammunition it promised and many of their weapons, only half of what it committed to so far.
“So, we’re going to be seeing a major challenge in that regard and of course the outcome of US elections. Right now it’s very uncertain.
“Trump, who has an increasing opportunity to win, has promised to essentially end the war very quickly, which means ultimately likely conceding to Russia’s demands. He’s grown close to Orban. He’s been reflecting a lot of Orban’s rhetoric in this regard.
“What he will actually do after the elections is hard to tell, because he’s changed his positions quite radically in the past, but Ukraine has to be ready for these unexpected delays in assistance and challenges from both Europe and the United States”, she added.
“Now the European Parliament, while it’s not the decision-making body in Europe, is dominated by far-right parties, which are pro-Russia.
“Some of the elections in Central Europe are being very much funded by Orban, and we’ve already seen a change in power in Slovakia and other places towards a more pro-Russian end.”
The spread of pro-Russia sentiment through Putin’s propaganda-like diplomatic and political strategy is increasing tensions between European countries, as Ukraine suffers terrible blows.
Accroding to Tsukerman, Russia has a broader plan than simply invading Ukraine, aiming to expand its influence across Europe – and it is currently on the path to success.
“I think NATO countries are struggling with this issue of, on the one hand, using Ukraine as this big excuse for Russian aggression, but on the other hand realising that it doesn’t end with Ukraine, and Ukraine is not the only security issue stemming from Russia,” Tsukerman said.
“In fact, it’s become part of a much bigger, more complex geopolitical situation where Russia is seeking to project power in more than one place simultaneously, and giving up on Ukraine is not going to solve other problems at all.”
