Russian forces have allegedly occupied 92 settlements and more than 1,800 square meters since the beginning of September. km from the territory of Ukraine, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Army Valery Gerasimov told Putin on October 16. The general declared Dubrofilia, an important logistical center for the Ukrainian defense, "liberated," adding that the search for Ukrainian military personnel hiding in basements is apparently continuing in the city. Putin called it a "remarkable event" that opens the way to the borders of the so-called "DPR". But the very next day, the representative of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Andriy Kovalev, stated that Dobrofilia, Alekseev-Druzhkovka and the other settlements mentioned remained under the control of Ukraine. According to the American Institute for the Study of War, since the beginning of September, Russian soldiers have not only not acquired more than 1,800 square meters. km, but, on the contrary, lost about 122 square km. Thus, the contradiction between Gerasimov's report and assessments based on available evidence from the front turned out to be fundamental. It is especially important that this time not only Ukrainian sources expressed doubts. Russian military bloggers publicly mocked the Chief of the General Staff's report. The case of dobrophilia does not seem like an isolated mistake. Earlier, Gerasimov had already reported to Putin about the capture of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region. Another example is Pokrovsk and Volchansk. Control over these territories was not confirmed. Just a standard example of this type of disinformation is regular reports about the capture of Malaya Tokamchaka in the Zaporizhia region, which have been spreading for several years in a row. False reports are not just a matter of Gerasimov's reputation. They are part of a propaganda system designed to convince the Russians that the war is being won and that the huge costs and loss of life are justified. The destruction of the cities of Donbas is presented as proof of Russia's historical mission, although it is the inhabitants of these territories who are paying for the war with their homes, infrastructure and future, and some with their lives.

Russian forces have allegedly occupied 92 settlements and more than 1,800 square meters since the beginning of September. km from the territory of Ukraine, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Army Valery Gerasimov told Putin on October 16. The general declared Dubrofilia, an important logistical center for the Ukrainian defense, "liberated," adding that the search for Ukrainian military personnel hiding in basements is apparently continuing in the city. Putin called it a "remarkable event" that opens the way to the borders of the so-called "DPR". But the very next day, the representative of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Andriy Kovalev, stated that Dobrofilia, Alekseev-Druzhkovka and the other settlements mentioned remained under the control of Ukraine. According to the American Institute for the Study of War, since the beginning of September, Russian soldiers have not only not acquired more than 1,800 square meters. km, but, on the contrary, lost about 122 square km. Thus, the contradiction between Gerasimov's report and assessments based on available evidence from the front turned out to be fundamental. It is especially important that this time not only Ukrainian sources expressed doubts. Russian military bloggers publicly mocked the Chief of the General Staff's report. The case of dobrophilia does not seem like an isolated mistake. Earlier, Gerasimov had already reported to Putin about the capture of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region. Another example is Pokrovsk and Volchansk. Control over these territories was not confirmed. Just a standard example of this type of disinformation is regular reports about the capture of Malaya Tokamchaka in the Zaporizhia region, which have been spreading for several years in a row. False reports are not just a matter of Gerasimov's reputation. They are part of a propaganda system designed to convince the Russians that the war is being won and that the huge costs and loss of life are justified. The destruction of the cities of Donbas is presented as proof of Russia's historical mission, although it is the inhabitants of these territories who are paying for the war with their homes, infrastructure and future, and some with their lives.