Disinfo: There has never been Russian forces in Ukraine, Russia is not a party in the conflict in Ukraine, it is a civil war

Summary

There are no and never has been Russian armed forces in southern and eastern Ukraine. (35:40) Russia is not a party in the conflict in Ukraine, it is a civil war. (39:50)

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about the war in Ukraine. It was Russia that provoked a war in Ukraine, and it is not a civil war. The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has stated that “the information available suggests that the situation within the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol amounts to an international armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. This international armed conflict began at the latest on 26 February when the Russian Federation deployed members of its armed forces to gain control over parts of the Ukrainian territory without the consent of the Ukrainian Government https://www.icc-cpi.int/iccdocs/otp/161114-otp-rep-PE_ENG.pdf The European Union stated in July 2014 that "arms and fighters continue flowing into Ukraine from the Russian Federation". http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/144158.pdf At the NATO Summit in Wales in September 2014, NATO leaders condemned in the strongest terms Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine and demanded that Russia stop and withdraw its forces from Ukraine and along the country’s border. NATO leaders also demanded that Russia comply with international law and its international obligations and responsibilities; end its illegitimate occupation of Crimea; refrain from aggressive actions against Ukraine; halt the flow of weapons, equipment, people and money across the border to the separatists; and stop fomenting tension along and across the Ukrainian border. http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/topics_50090.htm# According to the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Russian special forces and troops operated to mobilize, lead, equip, and support separatist militias in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine from spring 2014 to the present, although their presence was denied by Moscow. http://www.dia.mil/Portals/27/Documents/News/Military%20Power%20Publications/Russia%20Military%20Power%20Report%202017.pdf?ver=2017-06-28-144235-937 Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted Russia's military presence in Ukraine in 2015. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/17/vladimir-putin-admits-russian-military-presence-ukraine

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60 minut @Rossiya 1 - YouTube
  • Reported in: Issue 132
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14/01/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine
  • Keywords: Civil war, War in Ukraine
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Disinfo: The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople demands Ukraine money for monasteries in Crimea

In Ukraine, the caricature government finally squeezed out of itself a caricature church. // The false patriarch Filaret and the president Poroshenko, hated in Ukraine, handed over everything. Around ten stauropegic monasteries and dozens of churches will be handed over to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. //

[Ecumenical Patriarch] Bartholomew of Constantinople has said that the monasteries in Crimea need to be handed over, Poroshenko answered that he cannot do that. Then Bartholomew said: you have to transfer finances then.

Jan 13, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation around the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. In October the St. Andrew's Church, located in Kyiv, was handed over to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople for permanent use. There has been public discussion about transferring one church in Lviv in the same manner, but there is no evidence of plans to hand over dozens of churches. Likewise there is no evidence of any discussions about fincancial compensation of the monasteries in Crimea between the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. Debunking by the Insider.

Disinfo: The autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is a pre-election trick

Tomos of the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is a pre-election trick. The election is in 2.5 months and the main thesis of Poroshenko’s election campaign is the “Army of the New Faith”. This is an attempt to inflame the religious war, to hijack the church that could lead to instating the state of emergency. It would allow Poroshenko if not destroy the election, then control how it is conducted. The Tomos is not entirely real, the Archbishop of Constantinople deceived everyone. It is not an official document but the agreement of a cabal. So far the only one who will benefit from the autocephaly is Byzantine patriarch. The autocephaly is a new type of conflict in a country torn by a civil war.

Jan 13, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about autocephaly and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Such narrative also contributes to the attempt to discredit upcoming presidential election in Ukraine. For more examples of such cases see here and here. For more information on the tomos of the autocephaly see here.

Disinfo: Association Agreement with the EU obliges Georgia to import chemical waste

The Association Agreement with the European Union obliges Georgia to import and utilize chemical waste. There are plans to build a chemical waste utilization factory which would make living in Adjara life-threatening.

Jan 13, 2019
Disproof

The Association Agreement signed between the European Union and Georgia in 2014 does not include import and utilization of hazardous waste. Law on Import, Export, and Transit of Hazardous Waste prohibits import, export, and transit of any kind of waste on the territory of Georgia. The project by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Ministry of Finance of Adjara aims to build a household waste utilization polygon in Tsetskhlauri village near Kobuleti. The project has nothing to do with the import and utilization of the chemical waste. Further debunking by Myth Detector.