Ukrainian intelligence: Separatists blocked television signals in Mariupol
Separatists of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic have blocked the signal of Ukrainian TV channels "1+1" and "Novy Kanal" in the occupied territory of the Donetsk region in Mariupol, as reported by the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine on its Facebook page.
"Russian military propagandists from the Southern military district of the Russian armed forces have been observing the gradual change in the sentiments of the local people in the temporarily occupied territories in eastern Ukraine and among the Russian forces stationed in the Donbas regarding the continuation of the war against Ukraine and the implementation of the Kremlin project "Novorossiya". They are aware of the dominant role of Ukrainian channels such as ICTV, "5 Channel", "1+1", STB and others in influencing these changes," the statement reads.
According to the intelligence, the Ukrainian media has a big influence on to the moral and psychological condition of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation; servicemen "infected with Ukrainian patriotism" is of special concern to the Russian Command.
Since September 2nd the signal of Ukrainian TV channels "1+1" and "Novy Kanal" received in the temporarily occupied territories of eastern Ukraine around Mariupol has been jammed with the help of special equipment. It is reported that the equipment was purchased after the "personal intervention" of the advisor to Vladimir Putin, Vladislav Surkov.
"The equipment is serviced exclusively by professionals, and the selection of the Russian TV shows “post-mainstream journalism” with “alternative information” is being made by officers of the Southern military district of the Russian armed forces," the statement reads.
Separatists began shutting down Ukrainian TV channels and radio in the occupied zone in the Spring of 2014.
The Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine is implementing a program to provide signal coverage of Ukrainian radio and television for the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including the occupied areas.
In March 2015, Ukrainian broadcasts in the occupied territory of the Donetsk region were restored. In October last year the broadcasts were restored in the occupied territories of the Luhansk region. In February 2016, the Ukrainian Ministry of Information Policy announced a restoration of television broadcasting in Krasnoarmiisk and Volnovakha. In May, Shchastya, a town in the Donbas, was provided with full access to Ukrainian television.