Disinfo: The 2014 coup in Ukraine led to 10,000 casualties in Donbas

Summary

In April 2014 the Ukrainian authorities initiated a military operation against the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic and Donetsk People’s Republic who proclaimed their independence following the February 2014 coup in Ukraine. According to the recent UN data, more than ten thousand people became victims of the conflict.

Disproof

No coup took place in Ukraine in 2014. The demonstrations which emerged in November 2013 were the result of the frustration with then the Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych to refuse to sign the EU-Association Agreement. Please see a previous debunk on that here. It was Russia that provoked a war in Ukraine. The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has stated that “the 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 https://www.icc-cpi.int/iccdocs/otp/161114-otp-rep-PE_ENG.pdf Moreover, the UN Human Rights Officer of High Commissioner (OHCHR ) estimates a much larger number than 10,000 of the casualties: the total number of conflict-related casualties in Ukraine (from 14 April 2014 to 15 February 2019) at 40,000–43,000: 12,800–13,000 killed (at least 3,321 civilians and est. 9,500 combatants), and 27,500–30,000 injured (est. 7,000–9,000 civilians and est. 21,000-24,000 combatants) (See p. 6 of the report). More on war in Ukraine here.

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pl.sputniknews.com (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 141
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 12/03/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Polish
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, Russia
  • Keywords: Euromaidan, Donbas, Coup, War in Ukraine
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Disinfo: Non-transparent report of OPCW on Douma attack is biased

The OPCW report on the alleged use of toxic chemicals as a weapon in Douma is full of gaps, discrepancies, and inconsistencies. The OPCW, which announced the use of chlorine in Douma in April 2018, did not take into account elements presented by Russia, Syria and even by British journalists, in particular the recent statement by the British journalist Riam Dalati. After 6 months of investigation, according to this journalist, he could prove, without any doubt that the scene in the hospital of Douma was staged and no death occurred in the hospital. The investigation conducted by OPCW was not transparent enough.

Mar 11, 2019
Disproof

Recurring disinformation narrative on the chemical attack in Douma and the OPCW report covering it. OPCW's investigations of the use of chemical weapons are technical in nature and are designed to establish whether or not chemical weapons have been used, not to identify who used them. The methodological considerations, activities and timeline are an integral part OPCW's final report on Douma. It does not leave any doubts on the detection of chlorine on Douma: "based on the levels of chlorinated organic derivatives, detected in several environmental samples gathered at the sites of alleged use of toxic chemicals, which are not naturally present in the environment, the FFM concludes that the objects from which the samples were taken at both locations had been in contact with one or more substances containing reactive chlorine" (page 3 of the report). The tweet of BBC's producer Riam Dalati, mentioned in the claim, doesn't deny the chemical attack; "The producer was expressing his personal opinions about some of the video footage that emerged after the attack but has not claimed that the attack did not happen", the BBC spokesperson told Sputnik.

Disinfo: A Swedish film about an attack from Russia prepares the Swedes for joining NATO

In Sweden, a film about a Russian military attack on the country has premiered. A film like that has only one objective: to scare the Swedes and convince them that Russia is a monster, prepared to use chemical and biological weapons. Swedes are supposed to feel the threat from Russia. All this is to prepare the Swedes for a NATO membership.

Mar 11, 2019
Disproof

Sweden is maintaining a policy of non-alignment and has no plans to join the NATO. The film, Den blomstertid nu kommer, is a thriller about an attack from an unknown enemy force. The film never mentions any country as an aggressor. See here for another disinformation case on Sweden and NATO.

Disinfo: No proof of Russian interference in elections in the US and Europe

The European Parliament analysed the influence of Russia on elections in foreign countries. The authors of the study wrongly accuse Moscow of interfering in the affairs of the United States, Great Britain, France and other states. By doing so, Brussels is preparing for the possibility for anti-systemic parties to get more votes. If it happens, it will blame Russia for interference again. Accusing Russia of everything has become a kind of fashion trend in the West.

Mar 11, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about the West blaming Russia for everything, and trying to divert attention from the real problems by doing so. There are numerous reports investigating meddling in elections across Europe in the US, which have already proven Kremlin's participation in meddling. See here for the list of the reports and here for the US Senate report outlining various meddling attempts in different countries.