Disinfo: US has pushed Russia to violate the INF Treaty

Summary

The US has pushed Russia to violate the INF Treaty. By deploying the Aegis missile defence system the US has compelled Moscow to develop the 9M729 missile system and violate the INF Treaty. The Aegis missile defence system, deployed by the US in Eastern Europe, violates the INF Treaty because it could also be used offensively, to launch cruise missiles. A Pentagon report states that with only minor modifications the Aegis system can be transformed from a defensive into an offensive system.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about missile defence systems. The Aegis missile defence system (Aegis Ashore Ballistic Missile Defence System) is not in violation of the INF Treaty. The US State Department issued a detailed rebuttal of Russian allegations of US noncompliance with the INF Treaty in 2018. Moreover, in December 2017 NATO affirmed that the US is in full compliance with the INF Treaty, and that Russia possesses a new missile system that aroused “serious concerns”. In 2014 US President Obama accused Russia of testing an intermediate-range missile land-launched missile in violation of the INF Treaty. Since 2014 the US has repeatedly pressed Russia to return to compliance with its obligations under the Treaty. According to the US Department of State, Moscow seeks to deflect US and NATO concerns about the 9M729 by accusing the US of being the party in violation of the INF Treaty. The “Pentagon report” quoted in Sputnik article does not state that “with minor modifications the Aegis system can be transformed from a defensive into an offensive system”. The report deals with ballistic missile defence issues and does not discuss the transformation of defensive into offensive systems. There is no evidence that Russia developed the 9M729 missile system as a response to the US deployment of the Aegis missile defence system. Read more here, here and here.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 134
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 22/01/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Italian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: US, Russia
  • Keywords: Eastern Europe, Missile defence system
see more

Disinfo: Mainstream media hide the truth on migration crisis in Canada

On the morning on January 21 2019, at least 13 people crossed the border illegally into Canada in only two hours. Mainstream media did not report about this; only alternative media dare telling the truth.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation on fluxes of migrants. No evidence provided for the alleged border crossing. The narrative of the "mainstream media hiding the truth" is a popular conspiracy theory consistent with pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives attacking and discrediting Western media, for examples see here and here.

Disinfo: No Evidence of Russians' Involvement in MH17 Disaster

There is no evidence that can prove the involvement of Russians in the MH17 crash.

Disproof

The investigation is not yet concluded, but in a report, published in May 2018, the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) established that the Boeing was shot down by a Russian “Buk” missile launcher from the “53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade of the Russian armed forces.” The same conclusions were drawn by the U.S. State Department and the U.K. Parliament’s Committee on Surveillance and Security. These conclusions were also supported by the independent research group Bellingcat. The JIT made it clear that there are a dozen suspects. In 2018, Bellingcat established that the two people who, with the great certainty, were involved in the MH17 disaster are the two Russian army high-ranking officers: GRU officer Oleh Ivannikov and General-Colonel Nikolai Tkachev. This is one of many competing disinformation narratives around MH17. Read similar debunks here and here.