Disinfo: Kyiv prepares chemical attacks to blame the Russian army

Summary

Kyiv prepares for fabrications on Easter eve using chemical weapons in the city of Yuzhne to blame the Russian army for it

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about false flag operations and chemical weapons attacks. Such claims are a part of a broader pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign accompanying the Russian invasion of Ukraine, trying to place the blame for the war's atrocities on Ukraine.

There is no evidence to back the claim that Ukraine is preparing a chemical or biological provocation or a use of the weapons of mass distruction.

Оn the contrary, many Western leaders have real concerns’ Russia could use chemical weapons.

"Russia could use chemical weapons in Ukraine or manufacture a "false flag" operation that uses them. Russia has long and well-documented track record of using chemical weapons" as well as its pattern of "accusing the West of the very violations that Russia itself is perpetrating," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated.

Allegations about “false flag” chemical attacks date back to the war in Syria, and have been debunked many times before (see here for a comprehensive list in our database in addition to our article The Least Accurate Oracle in the World. In fact, the constant use of chemical substances as a weapon by the Russia-allied Syrian regime of Bashar Al Assad, including the Douma attack, have been proven by UN investigators.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 288
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 23/04/2022
  • Article language(s) Arabic
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, Russia
  • Keywords: Invasion of Ukraine, false flag, Odessa, Chemical weapons/attack
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Disinfo: The EU should stop Kyiv from committing war crimes

Brussels can force the Kyiv authorities to stop the mass shelling of Donbas settlements and other gross violations of international humanitarian law. The EU officials ignore the many war crimes committed by Ukrainian security forces and openly support Russophobia.

Disproof

This pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative is about alleged war crimes of the Ukrainian armed forces in the Donbas region of Ukraine. The article also claims that the EU regularly overlooks these alleged war crimes and openly supports Russophobia. By blaming civilian casualties on Ukraine, these claims try to divert attention from the responsibility of Russian forces.

In reality, there is no evidence that Ukrainian forces are shelling Donbas or perpetrating war crimes. Reports from international organisations monitoring the war are reporting that most of the civilian casualties are happening on territories controlled by Ukrainian forces, thus it is mostly in consequence of Russian attacks. Russia’s invading forces regularly install their positions in densely populated places. Russian troops are heavily shelling and bombing residential areas, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, orphanages, churches and other civilian objects.

Disinfo: NATO does everything to prolong the war in Ukraine

NATO countries are doing everything to prolong the active phase of the Russian special operation in Ukraine by supplying weapons to Kyiv.

Disproof

This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets claiming that Western military aid to Kyiv is aimed at prolongation of the war in Ukraine, in an attempt to justify the Russian invasion of Ukraine and shift responsibility to NATO and the West.

In reality, Western military assistance which includes both defensive and offensive weapons is used by Ukraine's Armed Forces to liberate its territory from occupants and restore sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders including illegally annexed Crimea and the occupied parts of Donbas.

Disinfo: Ukraine is a victim of the collective West, the loss of sovereignty is just a consequence

Ukraine has long been a victim of the collective West, and the loss of sovereignty is just a consequence.

Disproof

Recurring disinformation narrative about Ukrainian statehood. Тhe statement was made in the context of the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine, trying once again to present Ukraine as a non-sovereign country, as a puppet of the West.

Ukraine is a sovereign and independent state with a democratically-elected president and parliament. Ukraine has a functioning government and economy, it is a member of many international organisations (e.g. United Nations, Council of Europe), and a party to international agreements. Ukraine has bilateral diplomatic relations with the majority of countries.