Russian propaganda has portrayed Kherson as a "ghost town" in its own reports

While Russia shells Kherson, Kremlin propaganda has for years been spreading false claims about alleged deadly epidemics in the liberated city. Over the past three years, Russian media have fabricated outbreaks of cholera, the plague, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, anthrax, AIDS, rabies, and other dangerous diseases.

This was reported by the Center for Public Investigations, citing a story by the Center for Journalistic Investigations (CJIR).

Russian propaganda launched its first large-scale campaign after the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant was blown up. At the time, they claimed that cholera had spread throughout Kherson due to flooding, reported dozens of deaths, and accused the Ukrainian authorities of covering up the tragedy. However, Ukrainian medical professionals have not recorded a single case of cholera or other dangerous intestinal infections.

Despite this, the fake news began to be actively used in Russia itself: they conducted drills to combat the fictitious “Kherson cholera,” created mobile anti-epidemic brigades, and claimed there was a threat to Crimea. After the World Health Organization reported that there had been no cases of cholera in Kherson for decades, propagandists accused the WHO of covering up information.

Subsequently, new fabrications emerged about “NATO biolabs,” the plague, and the widespread spread of tuberculosis, AIDS, and other infections. Separately, Russian media outlets speculated on isolated cases of rabies among animals, fabricating stories about contaminated meat and the alleged burning of entire villages by Ukrainian troops.

In early 2025, propaganda spread a false story about an outbreak of anthrax on the right bank of the Kherson region, describing fictitious quarantines and mass infections. At the same time, the institutions mentioned in these reports have long been out of operation due to Russian aggression.

The authors of the investigation note that all these campaigns have a single goal—to sow panic, discredit the Ukrainian healthcare system, and create the illusion of a humanitarian catastrophe. In reality, none of the stories about “mass epidemics” has been officially confirmed.

Also in June, propagandists spread a false claim about alleged restrictions on purchasing goods in Ukrainian stores due to food shortages.

Анна Літман