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.

Disproof

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.

Go to search

publication/media

oroszhirek.hu (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 271
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 31/01/2022
  • Article language(s) Hungarian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Russia, Ukraine
  • Keywords: War in Ukraine, War preparation, Minsk agreements, Donbas, Eastern Ukraine
see more

Disinfo: Ukraine uses videos of gay couples to improve their fighting spirit

Videos circulating around show Ukraine wants to strengthen the fighting spirit using gay couples. It is surprising. If they [Ukraine] want to win the war with such videos, may God help them.

Jan 30, 2022
Disproof

Pro-Kremlin disinformation about the war in Ukraine attempting to denigrate the Armed Forces of Ukraine but playing with a sensitive topic. The claim is part of an ongoing disinformation campaign about Russia’s military buildup on the border with Ukraine.

The claim is false. The anchor of the pro-Kremlin TV channel aired an altered video allegedly depicting a young Ukrainian gay soldier returning home and proposing to his boyfriend and commented that Ukraine wants to increase the fighting spirit using such videos.

Disinfo: Anglo-Saxons want to involve Ukraine in a war against Slavs

The Western countries want to involve Ukraine in a bloody war against Russia. Anglo-Saxons systemically set upon Slavs. The puppet government in Kyiv supports this plan.

Jan 30, 2022
Disproof

A recurring narrative about the Western powers pushing for war in Ukraine while presenting Kyiv as a puppet of Anglo-Saxons.

The West has no interest in the war between Ukraine and Russia. On the other hand, the war in Ukraine is an ongoing conflict. It is a well-documented act of aggression by Russian armed forces, ongoing since February 2014. There is irrefutable evidence of direct Russian military involvement in Eastern Ukraine, in the Donbas. Russia is supporting its proxies with weapons, its active-duty soldiers serve there and its top military commanders visit the war zone to coordinate joint efforts with the separatists. Despite all this Russia officially denies its military presence in Donbas.

Disinfo: NATO is not a defensive alliance

NATO lost its defensive character after the end of the Cold War. Moreover, NATO can hardly be called a defence alliance, given its operations in Yugoslavia, Libya, and Afghanistan.

Jan 30, 2022
Disproof

This is part of a recurring Pro-Kremlin disinformation claim that NATO is aggressive. Contrary to the claim, NATO is indeed a defensive alliance, whose purpose is to protect its member states. NATO's exercises and military deployments are not directed against Russia – or any other country.

The former Yugoslavia did not break up because of NATO. The Alliance did not use military force to change borders in the former Yugoslavia. From 1992 to 1995, NATO conducted several military operations in Bosnia, including enforcing a no-fly zone and providing air support for UN peacekeepers. These activities were mandated by the United Nations Security Council, of which Russia is a member too.