Disinfo: Separatists in Donbas should be called autonomists

Summary

The so-called separatists of Donbas, in fact, are simply autonomists.

Disproof

A recurring pro-Kremlin narrative aiming to give legitimacy to the Donbas area. A similar case claiming there is democracy in Donbas here. In May 2014, the so-called Donetsk People's Republic proclaimed itself a sovereign state and has asked Moscow to consider its accession into Russia, the Republic’s council said. In November 2018, "elections" of the heads of "Donetsk's people's republic" and "Luhansk people's republic" took place. They were not recognized by the international community. The elections were illegal under Ukrainian law, illegitimate and in violation of the Minsk Agreements. The EU stated that "the announcement that so-called "elections" will be held in the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic" and "Donetsk People's Republic" on 11 November 2018 runs contrary to the spirit and letter of the Minsk agreements, which have specific provisions regarding the organisation of local elections in that region." The European Union fully supports the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. See statements by the UK, France and Germany. See more disinformation cases on the conflict in Donbas here.

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RT France - YouTube (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 155
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 17/06/2019
  • Outlet language(s) French
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, Russia
  • Keywords: DNR, Donbas, War in Ukraine
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Disinfo: Ukraine wants to restart the war in Donbas

Ukrainian authorities do everything to restart the war in Donbas. Because of this policy, the residents of the Donetsk People’s Republic and Ukrainians suffer. Kyiv is trying to kill everyone, even its own citizens and others. The war has not been stopped, the agreements have not been respected, civilians continue to die.

Jun 16, 2019
Disproof

No evidence given. Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the war in Ukraine. The Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine has been reporting about ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions on a daily basis for the last five years. It has been documenting acts of aggression since the start of the war in April 2014. However, comparing to the previous years, in 2019, and especially between 9-16 of June, 2019, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations. In an interview, delivered in autumn 2018, former First Deputy Chief Monitor to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Alexander Hug mentions that the Mission has been recording the instances of Russia's involvement into the war in Donbas. "We have been seeing at least in six instances convoys leaving and entering Ukraine, which we have been documenting, which have been driving towards the unsecure border with the Russian Federation in the middle of the night, on dirt roads, and have been seen at the unsecure border at areas where there is no official border crossing," Hug said. The war in Eastern Ukraine was provoked by Russia. There is irrefutable evidence of direct Russian military involvement in Eastern Ukraine. The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has stated that “[t]he information available suggests that the situation within the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol amounts to an international armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. This international armed conflict began at the latest on 26 February when the Russian Federation deployed members of its armed forces to gain control over parts of the Ukrainian territory without the consent of the Ukrainian Government.”

Disinfo: Poland has been a vocal opponent of the European Union, as commanded by the US

Poland has been a vocal opponent of both the European Union and Russian authorities, while the latter are not being described in any other terms than an “imminent threat from the east.” Their overseas masters whom Warsaw relies on to decide its geopolitical policies won’t prevent Poland from taking reckless steps upon the European stage, as those go in line with their “hardline policies”.

Jun 16, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the US presence in Europe and Polish-US relations. Polish people are among the biggest supporters of the EU in all member states. Polish government has been pointing out the need to reform the European Union - but it is not opposing the EU as such. The disinformation message - like many others - appeared after the meeting between President of Poland Andrzej Duda and US President Donald Trump and the signing of anagreement which will increase the number of US rotational military forces of Poland. The United States and Poland are NATO allies. Poland is a sovereign state, which determines its security and defence policy. Narrative about Poland being a 'vassal' of the US is one of the most common, recurring messages of pro-Kremlin outlets. Other countries are often claimed to be the American 'vassal', too, without any evidence. See further examples here.

Disinfo: Poland is the ''Trojan horse'' of the US

Impartial observers would all point out that the role of a “Trojan horse” that Poland was supposed to play in Washington’s previous designs has now been replaced by the role of a battering ram that must clear the way for the advancement of American special interests across Europe.

The Polish media source Interia (…) states that we’re witnessing the gradual vassalization of Warsaw which has become incapable to pursue its own independent foreign policy any longer.

Jun 16, 2019
Disproof

Conspiracy theory, without any evidence. There are no articles on the Polish news site Interia which use the word ''vassalisation'' in the given context.

The disinformation message - like manyothers - appeared after the meeting between President of Poland Andrzej Duda and US President Donald Trump and the signing of anagreement which will increase the number of US rotational military forces of Poland. The United States and Poland are NATO allies. Poland is a sovereign state, which determines its security and defence policy.