[In terms of relations with Russia], the Polish authorities came to a peculiar conclusion, saying that a dialogue with Russia is possible, but on condition that Russia shows “goodwill” and stops “breaking international law”. The representatives of the Polish government did not specify where Russia had allegedly broken international law. This claim is an old dogma in Polish domestic politics. The people who do not share this dogma are perceived as “traitors” and “agents” – they should be put in front of a firing squad. The people presenting rational arguments and common-sense questions about the real conflict of interests between Poland and Russia are exposed to total ostracism.
Summary
Western cries and wails about “the build-up of Russian forces on the Ukrainian borders" are heard daily, and the “expected Russian aggression against Ukraine,” and Russian threats that shake the air, without anyone paying attention to the conscious and active activities taking place. They represent a continuous and deep violation of the rights of national minorities, especially linguistic, educational and cultural rights, in conjunction with a tendency to glorify Nazism, falsify history, and the desire to drown out any alternative viewpoints in the media field, including the closure of media outlets that are not in line with that general Western trend.
Disproof
A recurring pro-Kremlin narrative, part of an ongoing disinformation campaign aiming to deflect any Russian responsibility for the escalation of tensions with Ukraine as a result of Russia’s military build-up on the border. Read more about it in our analysis.
There is no ethnocide in Ukraine. The Russian culture - language and literature - (which the article is hinting at) was not touched in Ukraine. Kyiv adopted a Law on ensuring the functioning of the Ukrainian language as a state language, without discriminating against any languages. Read more about it here.
On another note, linking some countries with Nazism is a widespread disinformation tactic used by pro-Kremlin outlets. Nazi and Communist ideologies were banned by Ukrainian law in 2015. Far-right groups had a very limited presence during the protests and obtained abysmal results in the 2014 presidential and 2014 and 2019 parliamentary elections. Read more about it here.
When it comes to the accusation of falsifying history, our database is filled with many cases of pro-Kremlin outlets attempting to engage in "historical revisionism", especially with the history related to Ukraine by calling it Russian land.
As for the closure of some media outlets in 2021, it is not true that Ukraine closed outlets that were "not in line with Western political trends". The move was called by the president as “necessary to counter propaganda financed by the aggressor country”. The EU commented on this move by saying that “Any measures taken should not come at the expense of freedom of media and should be proportional to the aim.”
Read our recent articles on 7 myths of pro-Kremlin disinformation about the Russian military buildup near Ukraine, and Kremlin fabricated pretexts for further invasion to Ukraine.
See also other examples of similar disinformation narratives in our database, such as claims that the West is falsely announcing a Russian invasion to sell weapons to Ukraine; or that the West needs Ukraine for NATO bases as Kyiv prepares for a mythical Russian invasion; or that Ukrainian officials are obsessed with imaginary invasions and inexistent Russian imperial ambition.