Doesn’t even work as shock and awe -
Kremlin is not just calling war crimes fake but now promoting the accused. Putin has now awarded the 64th motor rifle brigade the title of “Guards.” It was among the units that was reported to be operating in Bucha.
src: click
Text of the decree translated using deepl.com:
DECREE
OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
On awarding the honorary title of the 64th Independent Motorized Rifle BrigadeFor total heroism and valor, fortitude and courage, shown by the personnel of the brigade in combat actions to defend the homeland and state interests during the armed conflicts, I hereby decree:
1. To award the 64th separate motorized rifle brigade the honorary title “Guards” and henceforth to call it: 64th separate Guards motorized rifle brigade.
2. This Decree shall enter into force on the date of its signing.
It’s also not the case that those promotions would be a regular occurrence since the war started, kremlin.ru lists four given out in total.
edit: Preemptive action to soften the blow of the the ICJ examination results being published?
edit2: Russian forces have started the battle for Donbas, Zelensky says
edit3: Here is another possibility. Russian internal propaganda messaging. (Soldiers came to ‘liberate Butscha’, now so many dead people - what happened? Yes - but (as so often with Propaganda) it was all the enemy (doing it to themselves). ‘Brave russian soldiers endured it, they’ve been through hell’.) Otherwise old ladies might be confused, where the bodys came from. see: click
