Russian State Media Bolster Putin’s Narrative for Ukraine Invasion

MOSCOW—Russian authorities and state-controlled media outlets have issued disinformation that seeks to support President Vladimir Putin’s claims that Moscow was compelled to invade Ukraine to protect Russia’s own security.

State broadcasters, lawmakers and pro-Kremlin pundits have sought to advance Mr. Putin’s narrative that Ukraine is an aggressor that threatens Russia and the Russian-controlled territories in the Donbas, in eastern Ukraine.

“The Armed Forces of Ukraine don’t stop shooting at settlements of Donbas,” Russia’s Channel One reported Friday.

Earlier this week, Mr. Putin ordered an invasion of its smaller neighbor and, on Friday, Russian forces had entered Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, with fierce fighting threatening the government of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.