Kremlin Claims Capture of Non-Existent Ukrainian Village

If you're the Russian Defense Ministry, the thinking must be that claiming the capture of a non-existent village is arguably better than not claiming capture of a non-existent village. JL

New Voice of Ukraine reports:

The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed its forces captured the non-existent village of Shcherbakovka in Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast on August 12. The village was officially abolished in 1997 after depopulation left the settlement completely empty. As of 2026, the community no longer physically or legally exists within Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defense, General Staff and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov have also repeatedly asserted control over areas that remain securely under Ukrainian control.

The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed its forces captured the non-existent village of Shcherbakovka in Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast, an announcement that Russian propaganda outlets are now actively disseminating, the Center for Countering Disinformation reported on August 12.

The village was officially abolished in 1997 after depopulation left the settlement completely empty. The Center for Countering Disinformation emphasized that as of 2026, the community no longer physically or legally exists within Ukraine.

“This is yet another typical example of Russian disinformation, which propaganda networks use to manufacture the illusion of a continuous, successful offensive across all fronts,” the Center for Countering Disinformation stated. 

The agency recalled that the Russian Ministry of Defense and General Staff have historically issued false battlefield milestones. Specifically, Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov has repeatedly asserted complete control over Kupyansk and Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi, strategic areas that remain securely under Ukrainian control.