Disinfo: Neo-Nazis have an outsized influence in Ukrainian politics

Summary

Neo-Nazis have an outsized influence in Ukrainian politics.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative casting Ukraine as a Nazi country. The myth of Nazi-ruled Ukraine has been the cornerstone of Russian disinformation about the country since the very beginning of the 2013-14 Euromaidan protests, when it was used to discredit the pro-European popular uprising in Kyiv and, subsequently, the broader pro-Western shift in Ukraine's foreign policy. Far-right groups enjoyed a very limited presence during the Euromaidan itself and obtained abysmal results in the 2014 presidential and parliamentary elections. During the 2019 election cycle, the far right managed to sustain an even more tremendous failure; the highest-rated nationalist candidate, Ruslan Koshulynskyy, won 1.62% of the vote whereas Svoboda, one of the Kremlin's favourite bogeymen, won 2.16% of the national vote, falling far short of the 5% minimum guaranteeing entry into parliament.

Go to search

publication/media

RT English (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 169
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 21/10/2019
  • Outlet language(s) English
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine
  • Keywords: Ukraine, Ukrainian statehood, Nazi/Fascist
see more

Disinfo: Kyiv is sabotaging the peace settlement in Donbas

Kyiv does not want to fulfill all it’s obligations [ to the Minsk accords and the Steinmeier Formula] and, in particular, to withdraw their forces.

Oct 20, 2019
Disproof

One of the pro-Kremlin messages about the Kyiv government sabotaging peace in the Donbas region. See previous cases about the Minsk agreements and the war in Ukraine. According to the daily report by the SMM OSCE, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, but those violations came from both sides. It is the same situation concerning the withdrawal of forces. The SMM OSCE observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas of Donetsk region and in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region. Steinmeier's Formula calls for elections to be held in the separatist-held territories under Ukrainian legislation and the supervision of the OSCE. The withdrawal of forces is the other step that should be done before the planned elections. "There won't be any elections there if the troops are still there," said the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Disinfo: The West is aiming to destroy Russia

They will use them [ISIS] against us. The task of the West, America, Europe is to destroy our state. They have already tried to do this through the Chechen Republic, through Ossetia, Georgia, and Ukraine.

Oct 20, 2019
Disproof

This is a conspiracy consistent with recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives on Western belligerence towards Russia and it is also in line with the previous narratives accusing the US and other Western countries in supporting and using jihadist groups to advance geopolitical goals. The US-led military campaign in Syria has been fighting against ISIS and other Islamic terrorist groups along with the Global Coalition Against Daesh. Background and a similar case can be seen here and here. The policy of the US or the EU is not directed against Russia or any other country. See similar narratives here, here, and here.

Disinfo: The West is behind terrorist organisations in the Middle East

In fact, as long as the West, Europe and their policies exist, terrorist organisations will also exist, like Al-Qaeda in the past or these shaitans [devils] now. This is not just a gang or a group of bandits or some kind of Islamists. These are trained people who were provided with help from Western intelligence and who know very well what they should do.

Oct 20, 2019
Disproof

No evidence given to support this claim and a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative that either the US or the West is behind the creation of ISIS/Daesh. This message is part of a broader conspiracy theory alleging that the United States and its NATO partners have established many terrorist organisations and control global terrorism. In reality, the US is committed to fighting terrorist organisations, such as Daesh and Al-Qaeda.

See similar messages about the US being behind terrorist organisations here, here and here.