Russia manipulates Ukraine’s and allies’ “eyes”. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has explained that Russia manipulates information from DELTA, a military situational awareness system, UkrInform reports.
The DELTA system, enhanced with an AI platform, collects data from satellites, drones, radars, and cyberspace. It is used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and its partners. The system allows commanders and the president to monitor the front in real time, while a cloud reportedly outside Ukraine protects the data from cyberattacks.
How the false perception of occupation arises
DELTA shows where enemy forces have entered but does not indicate sabotage or reconnaissance groups or enemy losses. As a result, it can create a false impression of full occupation, even though fighting continues and territorial control remains unstable, Zelenskyy has noted.
Ukraine’s AI war room just got real — DELTA now scales across the entire military
Consequences for front analysis
Based on such data, Western partners may misjudge the frontline situation and make decisions based on distorted information. Russian propaganda exploits this to discredit the Ukrainian authorities and Armed Forces.
Russia aims to create the impression of an undeniable victory, sowing doubts about Ukraine’s ability to continue resisting and thereby weakening international support.
For example, in an interview with The Telegraph by Keith Kellogg, Special Representative for Ukraine under the US President, said Ukraine may have to accept the reality that Russia controls much of Donbas.
He emphasized that US President Donald Trump is not trading Ukrainian land, and on territorial matters, the final decision rests with Kyiv. However, Kellogg urged realism.
“Donetsk is occupied to 65%. Luhansk to 98%. We must accept reality,” said Trump’s special representative.
However, Russia has been trying to occupy Donetsk since 2014, yet Ukraine has maintained control for all 11 years.