August M
Ukrainian military officials say Russian forces fighting for control of the strategic eastern town of Pokrovsk are increasingly resorting to civilian disguises, a tactic they warn is making frontline identification far more dangerous.
According to Digi24.ro, citing The Independent, Russian units have been instructed to remove their uniforms, blend in with local residents and ambush Ukrainian positions.
A commander from Ukraine’s 68th Mountain Rangers Brigade, known by the call sign “Liutîi,” told the public broadcaster Suspilne that some Russian troops even receive clothing and specific guidance on how to pass as non-combatants.
According to Digi24.ro, he said, “The most difficult thing is that they disguise themselves as civilians. Sometimes we can only identify the enemy once the shooting begins, because civilians would not fire on our units.”
International humanitarian law forbids combatants from posing as civilians or wearing the uniforms of adversary forces for the purpose of deception. Under the laws of armed conflict, doing so is considered a war crime.
Kremlin denies secret U.S. talks
While conditions around Pokrovsk deteriorate, Moscow is also pushing back against reports of covert diplomacy.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday rejected an Axios report alleging that U.S. officials had drafted a 28-point proposal to end the war.
The reported framework was said to involve security guarantees, the broader European security landscape, and future U.S. relations with both Ukraine and Russia.
Disguises in warfare: a banned tactic
Under the laws of armed conflict, fighters are permitted to use camouflage, decoys and other forms of deception — but not to pose as civilians.
The distinction is a long-established rule meant to protect non-combatants: when soldiers hide among people who are not taking part in hostilities, it makes every civilian appear suspect and dramatically increases the risk of wrongful targeting.
For this reason, deliberately feigning civilian status has been prohibited for decades under international humanitarian law and is widely recognised as a form of perfidy — a tactic designed to betray the enemy’s trust by exploiting protected status.
Sources: Digi24, The Independent, Axios
