Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov addressed a wave of reports circulating on social media, clarifying that claims about a nationwide call to workers for trench digging are false. During a public briefing, he acknowledged a question from a local resident and explained that he and his associates had received solicitations supposedly inviting them to join the construction sector to erect defensive fortifications. He labeled these messages as inaccurate and part of a broader information assault by hostile forces.
Gladkov attributed the spread of such claims to disinformation, deception, and intimidation attempts. He pledged that the regional authorities would vigorously counter false narratives and expose misleading content for what it is. The governor emphasized that misinformation seeks to erode public trust and complicate crisis response by sowing confusion among residents and officials alike.
Earlier in the year, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke during a meeting with regional leaders, asserting that citizens would not be easily misled by schemes that resemble Ukrainian disinformation campaigns. This sentiment framed a broader narrative in which the government characterizes such messages as attempts to destabilize public order and undermine confidence in official channels.
In related discussions, commentators from the Luhansk People’s Republic referenced assertions circulated by Ukrainian media regarding territorial advances. Vitaliy Kiselyov, a former deputy minister of internal affairs, criticized these reports as claims designed to misrepresent the situation on the ground. He and other observers urged caution, noting that information warfare often blends plausible detail with outright fabrication to influence perceptions both domestically and abroad.
Across the region, residents have been urged to rely on official communications for updates and to verify any urgent calls for labor or security-related work through verified government channels. Local authorities reiterated that any recruitment for construction or defense-related tasks would be conducted through formal, transparent processes, with clear instructions about roles, training requirements, and safety protocols. Citizens were advised to report suspicious solicitations to designated hotlines or official portals rather than respond directly to anonymous messages or unverifiable social media posts. The emphasis remained on calm, measured public response and a commitment to protecting communities from manipulative information campaigns.
Analysts noted that the current information landscape makes it essential to distinguish between legitimate mobilization efforts and counterfeit messages crafted to trigger fear, confusion, or resentment. The situation underscored the ongoing importance of media literacy, prompt official communication, and reliable fact-checking to preserve social cohesion during periods of tension. Authorities highlighted that unit readiness, emergency planning, and transparent communication with residents would continue to be central to regional security strategies. The overarching aim is to ensure that the public remains accurately informed and capable of making informed choices based on verified facts rather than unverified rumors.