Massacre Missions (Enemy Faction) - What Am I Missing?

[Bannor]

I took a massacre mission, to destroy some ships from an enemy faction (in the same system) - just to see how these missions work, having never tried to complete one before. The mission text tells me that my targets will be found in the local Conflict Zones - it didn't mention any other places.
So off I go - I drop into the nearest CZ, and start scanning all the ships. About half of them show up as mission targets. Then I notice that (unlike other CZ's that I've been in), no-one is shooting anyone; they're all just flying slowly around. Also, I cannot choose a faction - it says only 'Ceasefire' where one usually selects the faction to support, there are no options to choose from.
I selected a small ship (a mission target) to start off with, and kill it quickly - and **instantly** all the other mission targets turn red (hostile) and open fire on me simultaneously. I beat a very hasty retreat and jump out of the instance.
I let my shields recharge, then I jumped back in. They've all forgotten about me, so I start scanning them all again. I choose another small mission target and eliminate it, and then boost away from all the other (now hostile) mission targets who have opened fire on me (again) - but I stay in the instance. I still can't choose a faction to support, and the other ships (non mission targets) are still just slowly flying around. minding their own business. Luckily, I chose the smallest, easiest mission I could find, with the least amount of targets to eliminate, for my 1st attempt at this kind of mission.
Am I **really** expected to destroy 6 (or more) mission targets, ranging from Anacondas to Eagles, either at or above my combat rank, **simultaneously**???
Am I doing it wrong? And if so - what?? How are we supposed to even try to complete them? Should I just abandon this mission and forget about doing them?

[Zi]

Dont do massacres. Since they got nerfed lately - they are ♥♥♥♥ tier missions. Too much hussle overall. We are doing em only in it helps with our BGS missions.

Anyway.
After u jump in cz - you must pick a side in the right panel, last tab.
No scanning ships needed.

But if you have 'Ceasefire' - then the war is ended. And mission u got obsolete now. Dump it.
(personally I consider this is a bug whats needs fixing, its pretty old one)

[the smoking mค็็็็็n]

not really a bug per se, you have to wait for the server "tick" each day for them to be cleaned up, but yeah, Zi has it down