Disinfo: DNR and LNR gained independence from Ukraine

Summary

The DNR and LNR gained independence from Ukraine and are now fighting a civil war against the Ukrainian armed forces controlled by Kyiv, which are supported by the West.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the war in Ukraine. Donetsk and Luhansk are part of Ukraine and controlled by Russia-backed armed formations. Not a single country has recognised them as independent. The war in Ukraine was provoked by Russia - it is not a civil war.

The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has stated that “the information available suggests that the situation within the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol amounts to an international armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation." This international armed conflict began at the latest on 26 February when the Russian Federation deployed members of its armed forces to gain control over parts of Ukrainian territory without the consent of the Ukrainian Government. Further debunk here. MV-lehti's editor-in-chief resided for years in occupied Donetsk and founded another media outlet there. In the "About" section of the website the war in Ukraine is described as a "civil war", which is recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation. See the archived version of the web page here.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 154
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 12/06/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Finnish
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine
  • Keywords: DNR, Civil war, LNR
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Disinfo: Kyiv has repeatedly deceived Moscow and violated bilateral agreements

Kyiv has repeatedly deceived Moscow and violated bilateral agreements, which significantly affected Russian-Ukrainian relations.

Disproof

No evidence given. It's Russia who violated several bilateral agreements signed with Ukraine, along with other international agreements. The violations of international law and agreements of Russia have been confirmed by the international community. This regards not only the annexation of the Crimea, but also non-compliance with the provisions of the Minsk agreements, the continued fire from the separatists in the Donbas, supported by Russia, Ukrainian political prisoners, the continuing arrests of the Crimean Tatars in Crimea, among others. The extension of sanctions against Russia has been supported by the member states of the European Union, the United States and a number of other countries, as one of the measures in response to Russia's violation of international law. Back in 2015, the Robert Schuman Institute listed a number of agreements that Russia violated. Since then, this list only increases. “By annexing Crimea, Vladimir Putin violated the basic UN documents, the statutes of the Council of Europe, of which Russia is a member, at least two regional treaties that established peace in Europe and two bilateral treaties that were signed with Ukraine, as well as the Constitution of Ukraine and Crimea” noted the document. Similar disinformation cases can be found here.

Disinfo: The Russian language is changing the world

Germans have started to give their newborn Russian names – Dimitri and Olga being the most popular – and US suggests to declare Russian the second most important language. The Russian language is changing the world.

Disproof

A misrepresentation of quotes. The German article referred to by Tsargrad presents a short list of ''the prettiest Russian names''. Neither Dmitri, nor Olga or any other distinctly Russian name is anywhere near the most popular names in Germany, according to German statistics. The claim that the US suggests Russian to be declared "the second most important language" is also a misrepresentation of a quote of a representative of NAFSA, the US National Association for Foreign Student Affairs, suggesting means of attracting US students to learn Russian.

Disinfo: US military leaders believed in a direct threat against America and the Western world from organised Jewry

U.S. military leaders in the first half of the 20th century widely believed that the world faced a direct threat from organised Jewry, which had seized control of Russia and similarly sought to subvert and gain mastery over America and the rest of Western civilization. In these military circles, there was an overwhelming belief that powerful Jewish elements had financed and led Russia’s Bolshevik Revolution, and were organizing similar Communist movements elsewhere aimed at destroying all existing Gentile elites and imposing Jewish supremacy throughout America and the rest of the Western world.

Disproof

Anti-Semitic hate speech.The News Front article is full of age-old, unfounded, anti-Semitic tropes. See here for other examples of anti-Semitic disinformation narratives. For information about EU-policies to combat anti-Semitism - see here.