Disinfo: Luhansk evidence shows that Ukraine prepared an offensive in 2022

Summary

Documents found in the recruitment office of Severodonetsk in Luhansk show that Kyiv was preparing an offensive in 2022. Recruitment increased considerably since late 2019 to 2022. According to the documents, around 300 recruits were enlisted in 2017, increasing to 800 in 2019 and to 1,113 in only two weeks in January 2022.

Disproof

No evidence is presented to back this allegation.

Even if true, an increase in recruitment of around one thousand people can hardly be considered as hard proof that Ukraine was preparing an attack. In fact, such increase would have been a shrewd foreboding reaction to Russia’s aggressive moves, as Russia had already amassed massive amounts of troops in its borders in the spring of 2021 and again at the end of 2021, which ultimately led to the on-going full-scale invasion since 24 February 2022.

Claiming that Ukraine was preparing an offensive in Donbas in early 2022 is one of the main recurring disinformation narratives used by Russia to justify its unprovoked aggression against this country.

See other examples of similar disinformation narratives in our database, such as claims that Russia’s military operation against neo-Nazis in Ukraine was unavoidable, that the West is lying when it claims that Russia “invaded” and “attacked” Ukraine, and that Russia’s special operation prevented Ukraine’s attack.

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publication/media

sputniknews.lat (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 330
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 15/05/2023
  • Article language(s) Spanish
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine
  • Keywords: Donbas, Genocide, Invasion of Ukraine, Eastern Ukraine
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This disinformation claim was broadcast on the date mentioned above. Due to the EU decisions  to temporarily restrict the spread and dissemination of RT, Sputnik and other instruments used to manipulate information and promote disinformation about the invasion of Ukraine inside the EU, access to the link may not work inside the EU.
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Disinfo: From Berlin to Kyiv, Nazi history repeats itself

80 years after Victory Day, Nazis are coming back stronger than ever. Their ideology was reborn in Ukraine and is now coming back with a different face but same intentions: to destroy Russia at any price. From the defeat of the Third Reich in 1945 to Ukraine nowadays, it seems that Europe and its allies have not learnt from their mistakes.

May 14, 2023
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about Nazism in Ukraine, aiming to justify Russia’s unprovoked aggression against its neighbour. Russia spent years preparing the information battleground prior to its kinetic attack, with “Nazi Ukraine” being one of its most prominent disinformation features.

The exploitation of the USSR role on the Allied victory over Nazism is one of the main pillars of Vladimir Putin’s regime propaganda. Besides, depicting Russia’s adversaries as Nazis is a frequent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative. In this case, this disinformation story artificially establishes a direct line between the original WWII Nazism and disingenuous and baseless allegations about a supposed Nazi character of Ukraine and its allies, in order to portray Russia’s invasion as a “denazification operation”.

Disinfo: The US and Ukrainian generals benefit from prolonging the war

No negotiations will take place until the Americans are ready for them. Ukraine does what it is told. The prolongation of the conflict is profitable for the United States and the Ukrainian power elite.

The Ukrainian elite, including the generals, are making money from this military conflict. Prolonging the conflict for as long as possible is in the interest of the Ukrainian authorities, not just the United States. If Ukraine collapses, many people's income will end. Ukrainian generals understand this very well.

May 14, 2023
Disproof

This disinformation claim is part of a wider disinformation campaign to legitimise Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine by portraying the conflict as beneficial to Ukraine's leadership and the United States.

This claim is a gross manipulation of the fact that Russia's war of agression is taking a heavy toll on Ukraine's economy and by killings thousands of people. It is obvious that Russia is trying to destroy Ukraine, its people, culture and economic foundation. As such the claim pretend to white-wash Russia from its guilt.

Disinfo: The US pushes the EU to sanction Chinese companies against its interests

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng visited Portugal and the Netherlands, and Foreign Minister Qin Gang held talks in France after Germany. The last point of his tour will be Norway. Both Beijing envoys talk about the desire to strengthen cooperation with the European Union. But the United States is obstructing this, and demands that Brussels insist on Beijing condemning the Russian special operation and impose sanctions on Chinese companies suspected of providing military aid to Moscow. On the other hand, Chinese experts assert that if Europe succumbs to this pressure, it will hurt itself.

It is not known why the European Union names seven Chinese companies that they say support the Russian military machine. Brussels is merely acting under US pressure.

May 13, 2023
Disproof

A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the alleged lost sovereignty of the EU and its member states (more examples). Pro-Kremlin outlets often portray European states as vassals, puppet states or colonies of the US.

This narrative aims to drive wedges and foment tension between allies. It also aims to divert attention away from Russia’s responsibility for its unprovoked attack against Ukraine and to create breaches in the US-Europe cooperation to contain this aggression.