Disinfo: DPR and LPR successfully fight the coronavirus outbreak, while Ukraine will collapse

Summary

Soros may not save Zelenskyy from an upcoming coup d’etat. So far, the coronavirus outbreak saves Ukrainian president from a Maidan and gives him precious time for cleansing among the military. Most likely events in Ukraine will develop along a shocking scenario. The country will not manage the epidemic, socioeconomic and political crisis will disintegrate Ukraine. The Ukrainian army is in catastrophic condition due to the coronavirus epidemic. Soldiers are panicking and defecting. According to some data, during March 2020, 1,305 Ukrainian soldiers were infected, 197 were placed in intensive therapy units, and 30 people died. In sharp contrast with Ukrainian epidemiological catastrophe, the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics undertake systematic measures to fight coronavirus. DPR and LPR reported only a few coronavirus cases and one death. Thanks to Russian support, DPR and LPR successfully fight the epidemic.

Disproof

This is a mix of conspiracies and propaganda narratives aimed to discredit Ukraine. It presents Volodymyr Zelenskyy as George Soros's protege, provides an unrealistic comparison of the coronavirus-related situation in Ukraine and Russian controlled DPR and LPR, and paints Ukraine's disintegration. Thus, the message fits into recurring pro-Kremlin propaganda narratives about Ukraine being under Soros's control and its inevitable disintegration. Ukraine is a sovereign state, not controlled by any foreign government or George Soros. Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected by almost the whole world, including the EU. You can find several disinformation cases on Ukraine being under foreign control in our database. The claims that the Ukrainian army is in the state of panic due to the coronavirus epidemic are unfounded. The publication gives fake statistics concerning the coronavirus cases in the Ukrainian army. According to official data by April 9th, five COVID-19 cases were identified and one confirmed death. See earlier disinformation cases alleging that Ukraine is a colony of the IMF and George Soros, that Soros is linked to the Orange revolution and regime changes in Ukraine, and that coronavirus will cause the collapse of Ukraine.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 192
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 07/04/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, Russia
  • Keywords: coronavirus, Volodymyr Zelensky, fake statistics, Military, George Soros, Ukrainian statehood, LPR, DPR
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Disinfo: Moscow Mayor is connected to neo-liberal circles and supports the hysteria over the COVID-19

[Moscow mayor Sergey] Sobyanin has insisted from the very beginning that strict quarantine must introduced in the capital and has been one of the main supporters of the media hysteria over the COVID-19 threat. Many saw it as a kind of political move to strengthen the power of the circles that include such persons as Moscow major Sergey Sobyanin that includes such controversial persons as Herman Gref (CEO of Sberbank of Russia), Elvira Nabiullina (President of the Central Bank of Russia). This circle is well known for its pro-Western, neo-liberal views and ties with the global elites.

Disproof

An unfounded conspiracy theory, sharing a recurrent pro-Kremlin narrative about "secret elites". The Mayor of Moscow imposed increasingly tighter quarantine measures as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Moscow surpassed 1000, on the 30th of March 2020. As of April 6th, 2020 there were over 6000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Russia.

Disinfo: The campaign predicting hundreds of thousands of deaths by COVID-19 is a lie

Do not let yourself be misled by the fear campaign, pointing to a Worldwide coronavirus calamity with repeated “predictions” that hundreds of thousands of people are going to die.

These are boldface lies. [—]

The unspoken truth is that the novel coronavirus provides a pretext to powerful financial interests and corrupt politicians to trigger the entire World into a spiral of mass unemployment, bankruptcy, extreme poverty and despair.

This is the true picture of what is happening. “Planet Lockdown” is an encroachment on civil liberties. Entire national economies are in jeopardy. In some countries martial law has been declared.

Disproof

An unfounded conspiracy theory, sharing a recurrent pro-Kremlin narrative about "secret elites" controlling world leaders. The number of people, sick with COVID-19 has surpassed 1 million; more than 60.000 people have died (5 April). See latest situation report from the WHO here. See more examples of pro-Kremlin disinformation about coronavirus here.

Disinfo: Ukraine is now a colony of the IMF and George Soros

The IMF, with Comrade Soros and his group, are operating this channel of external control. The fact that they [Ukraine] agreed to a deal with them on the land [reform] and everything else […] is a very obvious illustration of colonial administration [being established].

Disproof

Conspiracy theory. Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative alleging that Ukraine is controlled by the IMF and people like George Soros. The other part of the disinformation is about the law on the land market, which has recently been adopted by the Verkhovna Rada. Ukraine is a sovereign state, not controlled by any foreign government; it is not controlled by the IMF or George Soros. Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected by almost the whole world, including the EU. You can find several disinformation cases on Ukraine being under foreign control. The claim that the adoption of the law on the land market is an illustration of foreign control is false. The law states that only Ukrainian citizens and companies registered in Ukraine and under Ukrainian law will be eligible to buy agricultural land in Ukraine. Other restrictions are prescribed by the law. See previous narratives alleging that George Soros will buy all banks and land in Ukraine.