COVID-19 has killed millions around the world and has caused significant damage to nearly every part of the world where humanity has left its mark. However, it seems Ukraine has found a way to weaponize the fear against it to stop Russia from taking over a hospital.

Staff at a hospital in Kherson, Ukraine, went to great lengths to prevent a Russian takeover during the eight months the city was occupied — including faking a COVID-19 outbreak to stave off troops. …

Within days of the Russian forces invading the city, soldiers showed up to the hospital with the intention of converting it into a military hospital.

Remiga told them the hospital was dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak. He donned full protective gear, such as a body suit and foot covers, and the staff had put warning signs up on the hospital walls about COVID-19.

Believing there was an active outbreak, the troops left and the hospital remained in Ukrainian hands.

[To answer the question in the headline, the Ukrainian word for psyche is ‘Psykhika’, but it’s probably not the right word for the colloquial meaning in English of ‘psyche-out’. — Pedant Version of Ed]