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Disinfo: The OSCE confirmed that the Ukrainian Army attacks civilians

Summary

The OSCE’s daily report published on 9 November confirmed that the Ukrainian Army considers the peaceful population to be its target in the Donbas. The report says that between 1 January 2017 and 15 September 2020, 75% of the casualties died in non-government-controlled areas. Therefore, it is clear that the Ukrainian Army, the National Guard and the so-called “voluntary armies” are targeting the civilian population deliberately. Kyiv seeks to punish them for not accepting the results of the 2014 coup.

Disproof

A recurring narrative misrepresenting the ceasefire violations in Eastern Ukraine claiming that the Ukrainian Army deliberately targets civilians.

The Euromaidan demonstrations were a result of the Ukrainian people's frustration with former President Yanukovych's last-minute U-turn when, after seven years of negotiation, he refused to sign the EU–Ukraine Association Agreement and halted progress towards Ukraine's closer relationship with the EU.

The OSCE report states that in the observed period, there were 946 civilian casualties, of which 161 were fatalities. 657 of the 946 occurred in non-government-controlled areas, a proportion of just under 70%. However, the report does not state anywhere that the Ukrainian Army deliberately attacked civilians. While shelling accounted for the majority of the casualties, mines, unexploded ordnance and other explosive objects killed 81 and injured 231. The report also notes that 150 of these causalities occurred due to civilians unprofessionally attending unexploded ordnance.

Similar cases also claimed that Ukrainian army uses white phosphorous and fires on OSCE patrol, while OSCE ignored wounding of three children in Donetsk as it is being told by Europe when to ignore shelling in Donbas.

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publication/media

News Front - Hungarian (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 221
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 11/11/2020
  • Language/target audience: Hungarian
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Keywords: Eastern Ukraine, War in Ukraine, Donbas, OSCE

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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