BBC or not, truth or fantasy, the fact is that Russians need to hate something. Usually they hate everything non-Russian, but sometimes make exceptions, to be compensated by double-hate towards the chosen few.
Bottom line, the story is believable and could actually happen.
Well, BBC as another govt owned news agency usually has an agenda, and not only regarding Russia. It can act as an agitator. — “the fact is that Russians need to hate something. Usually they hate everything non-Russian,” — that’s quite a generalization in my view & experience. Am curious, why do you say it’s a fact?