Disinfo: After 2014 pro-American coup in Kyiv, NATO tripled Rapid Reaction Force on "eastern flank"

Summary

Washington has been recklessly pushing the North Atlantic Alliance for 30 years to expand to the east and to develop militarily the post-Soviet space, including Ukraine. After the pro-American coup d'état in Kyiv in 2014, NATO tripled the size of the Rapid Reaction Force on the "eastern flank".

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives painting the 2013-14 protests in Kyiv as a coup d'état, as well as presenting NATO as an aggressive alliance.

There was no 'pro-American' coup d’état in Kyiv in 2014; this is a longstanding pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Ukraine's Euromaidan. The spontaneous onset of the Euromaidan protests was a reaction by numerous segments of the Ukrainian population to former president Viktor Yanukovych’s sudden departure from the promised (and negotiated for years) Association Agreement with the European Union in November 2013.

NATO-Russian cooperation has been suspended since 2014 in response to Russia’s military aggression in East Ukraine. In direct response to Russia's use of military force against its neighbours, NATO allies deployed four multinational battlegroups to the Baltic States and Poland in 2016. These forces are rotational, defensive and proportionate limited in size; thus non-offensive.

Since Russia began its aggressive actions against Ukraine, Russian officials have accused NATO of a series of threats and hostile actions. Read more about myths and disinformation about NATO.

Discover also the seven recurring myths about the current Russia-Ukraine conflict here.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 270
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 12/01/2022
  • Article language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Europe, US, Ukraine, Russia
  • Keywords: Coup, NATO, EU/NATO enlargement
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Disinfo: Russophobes from Poland and the Baltic states agitate Kazakhstan to "kill the Russians"

The entry of the peacekeeping forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) into Kazakhstan is accompanied by a massive disinformation campaign, the purpose of which is to provoke the Kazakhs into armed resistance against "Russian occupiers". The most active in this field is the Polish Telegram channel NEXTA Live, but it is not the only one. The efforts of the provocateurs are supported by both Ukrainian nationalists and Russian "liberals" - regulars of the Free Russia Forum in Lithuania.

A letter from a certain subscriber from Ukraine, who tells the Kazakhs how to properly deal with the regime, acquired a special resonance. “ Arm yourself to the maximum... " How do you order an ordinary Kazakhstani, who came to a rally against a sharp rise in the cost of liquefied gas, to react to this? It turns out that he needs to participate in hostilities, throw grenades, steal police cars ... A little later, NEXTA points out a new “enemy” to the Kazakhs: “Russian soldiers flew to Kazakhstan. If they think that they will be greeted there empty-handed, they are mistaken. Kazakhs are hospitable people, there is enough room for everyone in the steppe. " Can such a statement be regarded as a call to kill Russian servicemen? Of course.

Disproof

Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russophobic Poland and the Baltic States, which appeared in the context of 2022 protests in Kazakhstan.

No appeals to "kill the Russians" can be found on the Nexta Telegram Channel. In fact, the channel is not Polish but a Belarusian channel, founded by Belarus' opposition blogger Stsiapan Putsila. This channel covers various issues from Brasil to Kazakhstan in the light of corruption and the lack of freedom across the world and has been a prominent target of pro-Kremlin and pro-Lukashenka disinformation.

Disinfo: Poland starts an unnecessary conflict with Russia using its Russophobic rhetoric

Poland deliberately uses Russophobic rhetoric instead of drawing specific conclusions, observing the international situation and holding back its official comments. As a consequence, this country is entering into a completely unnecessary conflict with Russia instead of a dialogue.

Disproof

This message is a part of the Kremlin’s narrative about Russophobic and anti-Russian Poland. The pro-Kremlin outlets regularly accuse the Polish authorities of Russophobia and inspiration of the anti-Russian sentiments in order to reach particular domestic goals.

The Polish authorities perceive Russia as a security threat because of the aggressive Russian actions, in particular in Crimea, Donbas and Eastern Europe.

Disinfo: Protests in Kazakhstan are sponsored by MI6 to create a new Maidan

Protests in Kazakhstan are sponsored by MI6 to create a new Maidan just ahead of the Russia-US/NATO talks in Geneva and Brussels, to prevent any kind of deal.

Disproof

Emerging pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative alleging that the January 2022 antigovernmental protests in Kazakhstan are part of a Western policy of staging “colour revolutions” worldwide with the aim of destabilising Russia and preventing any deal at the Russia-US/NATO negotiations.

Pro-Kremlin media frequently falsely portray popular protests around the world as instigated from abroad, often by the US and the West, with the aim of portraying protest movements as aggressive actors supported by foreign powers who constantly prepare new coups.