Disinfo: Poroshenko instigated the provocation in Kerch Strait to extend his power

Summary

Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine’s ex-president and the author of the provocation in the Kerch Strait, used the conflict to impose martial law in the country and extend his powers.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation on Ukraine and Azov Sea. On November 25, border patrol boats belonging to Russia’s FSB security service seized two small Ukrainian armoured artillery vessels and their crews after shooting at them, wounding several Ukrainian servicemen. Russia argued that they were in Russian waters. However, a bilateral treaty between Russia and Ukraine, signed in 2003 and ratified by Russia in 2004 governs the use of the Kerch strait and the Sea of Azov. The agreement states this stretch to be the “internal waters” of both Russia and Ukraine.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 151
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 25/05/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, Russia
  • Keywords: Ukraine, Kerch, War in Ukraine
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Disinfo: Poroshenko's corruption hampered the West's Russophobic programme

Ukraine’s new president Zelenskiy will continue the program, imposed by the West in 2014. This programme is designed to be against Russia. Poroshenko’s policies, the corruption he created, hampered the realisation of the West’s programme, set upon a Russophobic position.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the statehood of Ukraine, portraying it as a failed state under foreign control. Ukraine is a sovereign state. Neither the US, nor the EU control Ukraine. Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected by most of the free world, but were violated by Russia in 2014. Also consistent with a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russophobia.

Disinfo: Business interests behind protests in Yekaterinburg

The protests against the construction of an Orthodox church in Yekaterinburg follow the same pattern as the Maidan movement in Ukraine. What is described as “popular protests” and the “voice of the people,” is nothing but the voice of the big business. The protests have nothing to do with the protection of ecology and the protection of democratic freedoms in Russia: pure commerce, nothing personal.

Disproof

Conspiracy theory without any evidence. A recurrent pro-Kremlin narrative, describing non-governmental organisations as a tool of industry and foreign intervention. Similar cases here and here. For more information about protests in Yekaterinburg, see here and here.

Disinfo: Europeans start grasping Russia's evidence for Ukraine's responsibility for the MH17-disaster

More and more Europeans have begun to understand Ukraine’s role in the MH17-disaster. Europeans experts and public figures raise questions on why Ukraine’s guilt is ignored. Still, officials from the investigative team in the Netherlands refuse to comment the evidence, provided by Russian experts.

Disproof

A recurring pro-Kremlin narrative on Flight MH17. Many competing and contradictory stories promulgated by Russian state-controlled media on MH17. The Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team has concluded that flight MH17 was shot down on 17 July 2014 by a missile of the 9M38 series, launched by a BUK-TELAR, from farmland in the vicinity of Pervomaiskiy (or: Pervomaiskyi). At that time, the area was controlled by pro-Russian fighters. The BUK-TELAR was brought in from the territory of the Russian Federation and subsequently, after having shot down flight MH-17, was taken back to the Russian Federation.