Disinfo: Russia forced into a conflict in "historical Russia"

Summary

Russia did not willingly enter into a conflict in "historical Russia", but it was forced to because many people want to eliminate Russia, since it is a "thorn in the eye" for them.

Disproof

This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin media denying Ukrainian statehood by claiming that it is part of "historical Russia". This claim was neither counterbalanced nor critically challenged in the article.

In reality, the territory of present-day Ukraine had been divided between the Russian Empire and the Austrian-Hungarian Empire for centuries. Many new countries appeared in Europe in the wake of Russia’s Bolshevik revolution in 1917 and World War One (1914-1918), the Ukrainian People’s republic (aka the Ukrainian National Republic) being one of these. It was later occupied by Communist Russia and forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union. Ukraine assumed its internationally recognised borders in 1991 when the USSR broke up.

It is true that Ukrainians and Russians share a common history, have similar languages and are mostly Orthodox Christian believers. Many neighbouring European nations have a common history, linguistic similarity and religious affinity as well. Although some of them were parts of other, bigger states at some point in history, all modern European nations are now equal and independent states.

Moreover, Russia was not forced to invade Ukraine. This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets to justify the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. It was Putin’s personal decision to invade Ukraine and start the largest military conflict in Europe since WWII.

Read more disinformation cases about Ukrainian statehood.

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publication/media

arabic.rt.com (Archived)
pressbee.news (Archived)
tayyar.org (Archived)
nabd.com (Archived)
rtarabic.com (Archived)
sho3la.com (Archived)
ru4arab.ru (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 314
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 23/10/2022
  • Article language(s) Arabic
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Russia
  • Keywords: War in Ukraine, Invasion of Ukraine
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Disinfo: The EU, not Russia, is behind the energy, food and economic crises

The EU continues to falsely accuse Russia of being responsible for provoking the food and energy crises, and now also the economic crisis. The EU purpose for spreading misinformation is clear - to obscure the facts that the energy, food and economic problems facing the world, especially developing countries, are primarily caused by the bad EU policies. These policies are deeply rooted in the Western mentality of merciless exploitation of natural and human resources in Africa, Asia and Latin America, as well as waging trade and economic wars against Russia, including the imposition of unilateral sanctions unprecedented in its scope and consequences for the global economy.

Oct 22, 2022
Disproof

This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about sanctions in the context of the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The claim was neither counterbalanced nor critically challenged in the article.

The claim that sanctions are the cause of economic crisis is an attempt to deflect Russia's responsibility for the global food and energy crisis. In fact, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has destabilised global food markets and is driving food prices up due to increased cost of production, transport and freight insurance. Russia has also destroyed substantial food stocks, production, as well as processing and transport capacities in Ukraine.

Disinfo: Accusations of Russia "shelling the civilian infrastructure of Ukraine" are hypocrisy

The Union is pursuing a confrontational policy, and all accusations of Russia of shelling the civilian infrastructure of Ukraine are hypocrisy.

We consider it the height of hypocrisy to accuse Russia of “shelling the civilian infrastructure of Ukraine”. The European Union has lost the moral right to say anything about war crimes, since for 8 years it has turned a blind eye to the killings of civilians, women and children as a result of shelling of the Donbas territories by the Kyiv regime.

Oct 22, 2022
Disproof

A recurring disinformation narrative claiming that Russian troops do not hit civilian objects during Moscow’s war of aggression in Ukraine. Recurring narrative presenting the eight-year-long conflict in Eastern Ukraine as a one-sided genocide, perpetrated by Ukraine.

There is rich evidence that Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine, such as the shelling of hospitals, churches, shopping malls, killing civilians, raping, as well as using imprecise weapons.

Disinfo: Ukraine wants to blow up the Kakhovka dam to block water supply to Crimea

Ukraine wants to blow Kakhovka dam in Ukraine. Such an event would cause the river to flood, sweeping away some 80 settlements and cutting off freshwater supply lines to Crimea for years to come.

Oct 22, 2022
Disproof

No evidence given. Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about false flag operations. Such claims are a part of a broader pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign accompanying the full scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, trying to place the blame on Ukraine.

Ukrainian military intelligence said on the 21st of October that Russia had conducted the main mining works of the dam back in April, but warned that the floodgates and supports of the dam were further primed in the past week. Two military vehicles full of explosives were placed on the road that crosses the dam, the agency added.