DISINFO: Security situation in Donbas is worse thanks to Ukraine
SUMMARY
The situation in Donbas deteriorated dramatically on 9 January, when Ukrainian troops resumed shelling along the entire contact line after a long ceasefire. Now, the Ukrainian army has deployed special operations forces to the Donbas contact line and is conducting reconnaissance operations, despite the fact that this is prohibited by the agreements.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the war in Ukraine, claiming that Ukraine refuses to implement the Minsk agreements.
These claims are part of an ongoing disinformation campaign about Russia’s military build-up on the border with Ukraine. By blaming Ukraine for the escalation of tensions, this disinformation story aims to deny any Russian responsibility for the situation.
These tensions are a result of Russia’s actions since late October 2021, including the deployment of more than 100,000 troops, as well as of certain specialised military units, electronic warfare systems and heavy-armoured vehicles. Despite Russian denials, this has been proven by satellite images and intelligence from the US, Ukraine and NATO, among other countries and institutions.
Contrary to the claim, Ukraine generally adheres to the ceasefire agreement, signed on 27 July 2020, as well as to the Minsk agreement. Pro-Kremlin disinformation portals regularly leave out information on their own breaches of the Minsk agreement or the ceasefire deal. According to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, there was no sign of the claimed activity as of 29 January 2022.
See similar disinformation narratives about the war in Ukraine: Ukraine Continues To Gather Military Equipment In Donbas, In 2014, Ukraine launched a military operation against DPR and LPR, Zelenskyy backs Nazism in Ukraine and does not support ceasefire in Donbas.