russian intelligence services have launched yet another disinformation episode in Syria, this time pushing a new "black box" on the region's illicit arms market. The device allegedly contains two capsules filled with hazardous "chemicals."

The labels on the capsules read: "PU.9424 U" and "HG25 P307 9,99 U92."

Alongside the fabricated plutonium reference (Pu), the kremlin is now reviving the notorious Cold War hoax of "red mercury" (Hg), a non-existent substance long used by Soviet intelligence to spread nuclear scare stories across the Middle East in the 1980s and '90s.

The original myth, invented in moscow, suggested that "red mercury" could serve as a component for creating a terrifying bomb. In this new twist, russian operatives claim the container was allegedly purchased from "corrupt officials in Ukraine's Ministry of Defense" for immediate resale.

The package also includes ten capsules supposedly containing unknown toxic gases, which are reagents from an old Soviet-era chemical reconnaissance device. russian agents have previously attempted to pass off this obsolete gear as proof of Ukrainian nuclear activity in similar disinformation campaigns.

"There's nothing new or original here. The kremlin's security services are copying the same outdated playbook from the 20th century," said Andrii Yusov, spokesperson for the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU).

"This tired mythology about 'red mercury' only exposes the creative dead end of kremlin propaganda. russia is desperately clinging to conspiracy theories to discredit Ukraine and destabilize the Middle East, particularly Syria, where the criminal regime of putin's ally, Bashar al-Assad, has collapsed. Ukraine is actively working, including through military intelligence channels, to dismantle these hybrid operations."