Ukraine Accuses Kremlin of Planting Rumors of Putin's Death to Gauge Public Response

Claims of Kremlin's disinformation strategy emerge amidst unverified posts by the notorious General SVR Telegram channel; no authoritative link yet between channel and Moscow.

• Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman, Andrii Yusov, claims that the Kremlin spread rumors of Russian President Vladimir Putin's death as a ploy to test his popularity and tighten control over domestic affairs.
• The rumors were reported by General SVR, a notorious Telegram channel known for posting sensational, unverified information about Putin, including regular claims that the president has died.
• Yusov argues that such disinformation helps the Kremlin assess societal reactions and manipulate domestic perception. It also forces Putin and his spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, to respond publicly, thereby putting them in a specific narrative control.
• Despite the Ukrainian claim of Moscow using General SVR to gauge public opinion about Putin, there has been no definitive analysis linking the Kremlin to the channel.
• Along with rumors of Putin's death, claims emerged suggesting Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Russia's Security Council and a Putin loyalist, could be Putin's successor. Patrushev is seen as an advocate of Kremlin's hardline policies.

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