Disinfo: Russian forces did not fire at civilian objects in Odessa region

Summary

Russian forces do not fire at civilian objects. The comment was given on the allegations that Russian forces had shelled residential buildings in Odessa.

Earlier, the Odessa prosecutor's office had said that 19 people had been killed in a missile attack on a residential building.

It was reminded that Russian troops do not attack civilian targets during a special operation, but target Army depots of the Ukrainian army, military enterprises and places where fighters gather.

Russian forces do not target civilian targets and civilian infrastructure during the special military operation. At the same time, they work on warehouses, military ammunition, enterprises where military equipment is trained and repaired, ammunition is stored, places where mercenaries, including foreign mercenaries and nationalist elements, are concentrated and trained.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in order to deflect Russian responsibility. This claim was made in the context of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Numerous photos and videos from the scene of the shelling in Odessa region, as well as eyewitness accounts, refute the claim that the targetted residential buildings were "military targets".

In the Odessa region, a missile attack was carried out overnight on the Belgorod-Dnistrovskiy district by Russian aviation Tu-22 aircraft, with three X-22 missiles hitting a residential building and two holiday resorts. There were at least 19 confirmed fatalities, including two children. Thirty-eight people were hospitalised, including six children and a pregnant woman. The first reports of Russian missiles hitting civilian targets in the Odessa region were published at around at 1 July at 2:00 AM. Later, as early as 6.20 AM, the first photos of the accident site were released by Ukraine's State Emergency Service. The photo shows a high-rise building significantly damaged on one side, with the ceilings of the floors destroyed. Videos that emerged later clearly show that one of the entrances to the building has been destroyed, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. Amateur video that emerged on the morning of 1 July also shows that the apartment building was punctured by a missile strike.

The high-rise building that was hit by a Russian missile is a civilian residential complex. According to Odessa Oblast Administration spokesman Serhiy Bratchuk, 150-160 people lived in the nine-storey building. A video from the scene of the tragedy, taken after the body search was completed, shows the surviving residents of the building. Full debunk at StopFake (German); (Russian)

The International Criminal Court has launched war crimes investigation over Russian invasion of Ukraine.

According to multiple international media reports, Russian troops are regularly shelling and bombing residential areas, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, orphanages, churches and other civilian objects. They are also planting mines in cities. The Eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv has been the most damaged city in Ukraine.

Russian troops are reportedly also using cluster bombs which are prohibited by the Convention on Cluster Munition, as well as thermobaric weapons, which may be subject to prohibition by the Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons if used against civilian targets.

See the EU's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine here along with EU vs Disinfo's Guide to Deciphering Pro-Kremlin disinformation around Putin's War.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 298
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 01/07/2022
  • Article language(s) German
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine
  • Keywords: Invasion of Ukraine
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Disinfo: The USA is raising imperialistic Poland as a new hyena for Europe

The Americans are ready to fight not only against the Ukrainians – they persistently put pressure on the "young NATO members" such as Poland to push them towards direct involvement in the developments in Ukraine. The USA approves the absurd Polish fantasies about the new Rzeczpospolita [the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth], turning a blind eye to the inhuman and racist statements of the Polish elite and the spread of nationalist sentiments. In fact, the US is raising a new hyena for Europe.

Disproof

This message is a part of the Kremlin’s widespread narrative about the US presence in Europe, alleging that the United States controls the foreign policy of EU member states, pushing them to a conflict with Russia.

Poland, the USA and the other NATO members do not have any hostile plans toward Russia.

Disinfo: Poland wants to create a puppet proxy-state in Western Ukraine

In the emerging "critical" circumstances, Warsaw wants to go beyond the previously planned deployment of the Polish "peacekeepers" in Western Ukraine. Warsaw considers the creation of a Polish-controlled proxy state in the eastern borderlands, which will stay “under protection" of the Polish armed forces. It is possible that Warsaw also considers the creation of a “buffer zone” in central regions of Ukraine in order to avoid the undesirable direct clash with Russia.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative presenting Poland as a state with imperial ambitions.

This is part of a pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about denying Ukraine's statehood and the disintegration of Ukraine. The claim is consistent with the recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative painting the post-2014 Ukrainian leadership as a Nazi/Fascist "junta," which allegedly came to power following a violent coup d'etat.