Disinfo: The US wants to push Russia into the conflict in Afghanistan

Summary

The US behaviour in Afghanistan intensifies destabilisation in the region, strengthens social crises and increases the threat of terrorism. It is a well-calculated tactic. The aim is to fuel conflict in the region. The US and other Western countries want to push Russia and its allies into this conflict. It could eliminate Russia from foreign affairs. Caught up in the conflict in Afghanistan, Russia will not disturb Western countries in running the world.

Disproof

Conspiracy theory portraying the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan as an action against Russia which is the ultimate target of current events. Contrary to the claim, the US decision to leave Afghanistan is culmination of attempts of successive US President administrations to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan. For a comprehensive timeline of war in Afghanistan click here. For a timeline of more recent events and decisions made by Trump and Biden administrations, click here.

See other examples of disinformation about the US purposes in Afghanistan: The US seeded chaos in Afghanistan to undermine China and Russia; Afghanistan shows that the US is failing in achieving its foreign goals; Afghanistan’s case proves the flaws of Western liberalism.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 256
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 30/08/2021
  • Article language(s) Lithuanian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Russia, Afghanistan, US
  • Keywords: Conspiracy theory, West, Anti-Russian
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Disinfo: Ukrainian soldiers are ready to fight for Donbas against Kyiv

If Kyiv attacks, the majority of Ukrainian soldiers will be ready to rush to help the Donbas republics.

Disproof

This is a recurring disinformation narrative aimed at undermining the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, as well as the integrity and cohesion of Ukraine's armed forces. The aim of the so-called abandoned Ukraine narrative is to discredit the efforts of Kyiv and the international community.

There has been no substantial evidence nor any indication that the Ukrainian army would take the side of the Kremlin-supported separatist forces in Donetsk and Luhansk.

Disinfo: The Eastern European “limitrophes” are geopolitical scum unable to protect their borders

[...] There are real states, which are capable of implementing all state functions, and then there is geopolitical scum or fictional countries that have formal attributes of statehood but which are not real states.

These countries include the post-Soviet limitrophe states separating Russia from the West. The pseudo-elites of these countries are not able to respond to any serious historical challenge such as overcoming the migration crisis, protecting the border and fighting the epidemic. They keep asking Western Europe and the United States for help because they cannot cope on their own. These countries are ruled by puppets – they are able only to speak about “stopping Russia” and vote for anti-Russian resolutions in the EU and UN.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about countries bordering Russia, in particular the Baltic States , Poland and Ukraine, as well as the EU and US presence in Europe.

Often presented as Western vassals or puppet states, the Baltic states, Ukraine and Poland are independent states, which shape their own foreign and domestic policies.
In terms of the current “migration crisis” orchestrated by the Belarusian authorities, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia actively defend their borders from hostile actions of Lukashenka, who decided to use migrants in order to undermine the security of the EU countries.

Disinfo: Ukraine is a quasi-state, a pro-Western appendage that cannot decide its own fate

Ukraine celebrated its Independence Day on 24 August [2021]. It was the 30th anniversary of the country's sovereignty.

It is a quasi-state entity, a pro-Western appendage that will neither become a full member of the EU nor an independent state that can decide its own fate. Because neither the US nor Europe simply need an independent Ukraine. They need a weak, kneeling country on the border with Russia, ready for anything. And Ukraine, unfortunately, is only now mastering this function.

Disproof

Recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative undermining Ukrainian statehood.

Ukraine is a sovereign and independent state with a democratically-elected president and parliament. The decisions are taken by the Ukrainian authorities: the President, the Verkhovna Rada, and the judiciary. Ukraine, as an independent country, has a functioning government and economy, it is a member of many international organisations, such as the United Nations and the Council of Europe, and a party to international agreements. Ukraine has bilateral diplomatic relations with the majority of countries.