Russia is trying to use journalists for information provocation

Putin allowed foreign journalists to enter the battle zone near Kupyansk - a Russian provocation?

The Russian Ministry of Defence stated that Vladimir Putin ordered to ensure unhindered passage of foreign journalists to areas of active hostilities - in particular, in Krasnoarmeysk, Dimitrov and Kupyansk.

The Russian side said that «the command is ready to stop hostilities for 5-6 hours» to organise «safe access corridors» for journalists, including representatives of the Ukrainian media.

«Ukrainian journalists will be able to visit these areas when they appeal to the command of the Armed Forces,» the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement.

The likely goal is to create a provocation

Ukrainian analysts note that Moscow's initiative may be an element of information warfare. It is intended to create a picture for propaganda - for example, «the shelling of journalists by Ukrainian troops».

«It is possible that during such “visits”, the Russians will stage staged attacks to accuse the Ukrainian Armed Forces of “killing peaceful journalists”,» observers say.

Context.

Russia's announcement of «humanitarian corridors» in the areas of active hostilities has been repeatedly used as a cover for operations to discredit Ukraine or for intelligence gathering.

Previously, similar initiatives were completed by staged shelling or filming propaganda stories demonstrating the «cruelty of the Ukrainian military».

The Ukrainian side has not officially confirmed its intention to send its journalists to the above-mentioned zones.