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There was a Ukrainian provocation in the Kerch strait

Summary

Russian border guards seized the Ukrainian military ships during a provocation in the Kerch Strait on November 25, 2018.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about the Kerch incident.

On the 25th of November 2018, border patrol boats belonging to Russia’s FSB security service seized two small Ukrainian armoured artillery vessels and a tug boat and their crews after shooting at them, wounding several Ukrainian servicemen and arresting 24 members.

Russia stated they were in Russian waters. However, according to the bilateral agreement between Ukraine and Russia, the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov are the internal waters of both Russia and Ukraine.

The agreement gives both parties the power to inspect suspicious vessels. Furthermore, both the 2003 bilateral agreement and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea provide for freedom of navigation.

On the 25th May on 2019, the UN International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ruled that Russia should release the sailors detained in the Kerch Strait and return the ships to Ukraine.

Twenty-four military sailors returned to Ukraine on 7 September as part of a mutual release of detainees by Ukraine and Russia. On 18 November, 2019, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it had handed three naval ships back to Ukraine.

For further reporting see Bellingcat, DFRLab and Polygraph.

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  • Reported in: Issue 173
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 18/11/2019
  • Language/target audience: French
  • Country: Russia, Ukraine
  • Keywords: Kerch, Provocation
  • Outlet: Sputnik French
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The US uses Poland as a potential fuse and stimulator of a conflict with Russia

The US needed Poland only in case of a direct confrontation with the Russian Federation, as a potential catalyst or stimulator of the conflict. It is clear that Poland is not aware of its role, and of the fact that it will be written off.

November 18, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative on “lost sovereignty”.

Poland is often presented as a “puppet-state” of the United States. This narrative includes a message that the United States manipulates Poland and other European allies in order to carry out its anti-Russian policies.

The US overthrew Bolivian president by a military junta when Maidan techniques did not help

Bolivian events indicate that Western elites have become hysterical because they increasingly lose control in various regions of the world which they considered their backyard for a long time. In the countries where the heads of state cannot be removed from office thanks to pressure and Maidans, they apply military junta scenarios which were characteristic for the mid-XX century. In case these scenarios stop working too, the US will turn to “gunboat diplomacy” with marine unites’ operations on the territories of the countries which do not want to share their fortunes with the US.

During his presidency, Morales developed closer relations with China and Russia at the expense of relationship with the US. Morales did not step down after organised criminal groups took to the streets and started attacking electoral authorities. When it became apparent that a colour revolution was not succeeding, Bolivian police and army stepped in against Morales. Hence, as a classic colour revolution technique failed due to the absence of popular support, the coup organisers resorted to the military coup scenario which was very popular among US security bodies in the 20th century.

November 18, 2019
Disproof

This is a conspiracy theory to support the claim of US-inspired anti-Morales coup, which is consistent with pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative attempting to deny the existence of genuine grass-roots protests, portraying them as foreign-led efforts and fake colour revolutions.

This is also a part of a recurrent disinformation narrative about US-led regime change operations against left-wing governments in Latin America. You can see other examples of this, such as the alleged presence of a US marine in the Venezuelan barricades and the promotion of a Ukraine-style 'colour revolution', preparations for a military intervention after forcing Brazil to join NATO, deliberate blackouts in South America caused by the US, or the existence of plans for the secession of oil-rich regions in both Venezuela and Mexico.

NATO exercises in Lithuania, named after a Lithuanian fascist group, aim to provoke Russia

NATO exercises in Lithuania, named after a Lithuanian fascist armed group, try to provoke and frighten Russia.

NATO has always known how to “dignify” historical events in an infamous way. Germany had joined NATO on 9 May 1955 – exactly ten years after the Russian day of victory over fascism. Will all right-wing radicals in the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence want to take revenge on Moscow by naming NATO’s military exercises after a fascist armed group? No one can tell that this was not meant to be a deliberate provocation.

Germany, along with ten other NATO countries, is also participating in the manoeuvres, which apparently serve to deter Russia in the region.

November 18, 2019
Disproof

A recurring pro-Kremlin narrative on NATO belligerence towards Russia and on Russophobia.

NATO does not provoke Russia with its military exercises in the Baltic states. NATO's presence in the region is at the request of the host nations and enjoys significant public support. A 2016 Gallup poll found that most people in Allied countries in the Baltic region associate NATO with the protection of their country. NATO forces uphold the highest standards of conduct, both on and off duty.

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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.