DISINFO: The war against Ukraine lasts longer than expected because Russia greatly cares about civilians
SUMMARY
Forecasts about Russia’s short victorious war in Ukraine failed to materialise because of Russia's unprecedented order to care about civilians as greatly as possible. Five out of six Ukrainian nationals are Russians. Given this, the Russian authorities could not act differently, otherwise they would have stopped being Russians and equated themselves to Anglo-Saxons.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets justifying the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and Russia’s military failures and large losses in this case as well. By falsely and absurdly claiming that five out of six Ukrainians are Russians, it also promotes the classic disinformation narrative about the Russian world. The term “Anglo-Saxons” usually stands for the US and UK and often means “evil”, “belligerent” and “morally corrupt” Westerners, as explained in our earlier analysis.
Russia’s initial plans to take control of Ukraine in the course of a few days failed and Ukraine has been resisting Russia’s large-scale invasion for over 8 months as of now thanks to bravery and decisiveness of the Ukrainian Army, volunteers, and the Ukrainian people as a whole, Western assistance to Ukraine, Russia’s underestimation of Ukraine’s preparedness for aggression, etc. Yet the failed Russia’s plans of quick victory certainly do not have to do with alleged Russia’s care about civilians.
During its nvasion of Ukraine, Russian troops have been heavily shelling and bombing civilian facilities such as residential areas, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, orphanages and churches. Evidence of Russian atrocities in Bucha and other Ukrainian localities is overwhelming. From 24 February to 2 October 2022, the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) recorded 15,246 civilian casualties in Ukraine: 6,114 killed and 9,132 injured. OHCHR believes that the actual figures are considerably higher, as the receipt of information from some locations where intense hostilities have been going on has been delayed and many reports are still pending corroboration.
Technical remark: This disinformation was broadcast via Sputnik on 25 October 2022. Due to the EU decision to restrict the spread and dissemination of RT and Sputnik inside the EU, access to the link may not work inside the EU.