Disinfo: Bloodshed loomed in Crimea, but Russia didn't allow it.

Summary

Was there bloodshed in Crimea? No, [Russia] didn’t allow it! Did [Russia] allow a conflict to evolve in Syria? No, we didn’t allow it!

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about "good Russia" and how there were no killings in Crimea during the illegal annexation. The first victim of Russian aggression in Crimea was a Ukrainian soldier Sergey Kokurin. He was killed by Russian special forces in March 2014.

The other murder during the annexation of Crimea was the killing of the Major of the 10th Saki naval aviation brigade, Stanislav Karachevsky. This soldier died around midnight on 6 April 2014 from two shots in the back from an AK-74 assault rifle. The Crimean garrison military court created by Russia in Simferopol stated that a Russian, Yevgeny Zaitsev, from the Fleet of the Marines of the Black Sea, was guilty of this killing.

Following the covert invasion by “little green men”, the referendum in Crimea was conducted hastily and at gunpoint, barring impartial observers from entering the peninsula. Therefore, no international body recognises the so-called referendum, announced on the 27th of February 2014, and held on 16th of March 2014.

It's not right to claim that Russia saved Syria either. There is ample evidence that the Syrian leadership (supported by Russia) is responsible for numerous massacres, bombings and chemical attacks on civilians in Syria. Russian airstrikes on hospitals, water treatment plants and mosques [causing hundreds of civilian deaths] have also been documented. Both militaries have denied the allegation. Amnesty International has also gathered evidence, including photos and video footage, suggesting the Russians have used unguided bombs in densely populated civilian areas, as well as internationally banned deadly cluster munitions.

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Pervyi Kanal (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 171
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 24/10/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, Russia
  • Keywords: illegal annexation, Occupation, Crimea
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Disinfo: It was clear from the very beginning that Ukraine was not going to fulfill the Minsk agreements

The “Minsk agreements” demonstrated to European partners that Russia did not mind helping Ukraine to somehow survive. But Ukraine itself is not able to use the opportunities.The fact that Ukraine is not going to fulfill the Minsk agreements was clear […] from the very beginning.

Oct 23, 2019
Disproof

Recurring disinformation narrative about the Minsk agreements, portraying Ukraine as a primary violator of the cease-fire. See previous cases about the Minsk agreements and the war in Ukraine. Overview of the implementation of the Minsk II agreement shows that both parts failed to fulfill the plan. The analysis of the Atlantic Council shows that the majority of violations can be attributed to Russia-backed armed formations. France and Germany expressed the regret on selective interpretation of the Minsk agreements by Russia. In a joint press conference to the United Nations, the ambassadors of France and Germany stated that there's an urgent need to "a renewed commitment by Russia and all sides to the Minsk Agreements and the Normandy Process.” According to the reports by the OSCE Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, there are violations of the Minsk agreement on both sides of the conflict. The analysis of the Atlantic Council shows that the majority of violations can be attributed to Russia-backed armed formations. The claim that Russia wants to help Ukraine does not present the real situation, since it was Russia that provoked a war in Ukraine. For background see here. See another case claiming that the government sabotaging peace in the Donbas region.

Disinfo: Wherever Russia goes, wars stop

Wherever Russia goes, wars stop.

Oct 23, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative claiming that Russia is a peaceful country. Since 1991 Russia was involved in several international conflicts, including intervention in neighboring states, such as Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014.

Many international organisations condemned the Russian occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia; e.g. the OSCE statement and European Parliament's declaration.

Disinfo: Neither Turkey, nor the US has any interest in building peace in Syria

About the war. Can you tell me which is the only country interested in (peace), I do not mean the regional players, building peace in Syria? Maybe Turkey? Of course not. The United States? Of course not. Russia. Only the Russian Federation is interested in peace.

Oct 23, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Syrian war. In fact, Russia saved a leader, not a nation. There is ample evidence that the Syrian leadership (supported by Russia) is responsible for numerous massacres, bombings and chemical attacks on civilians in Syria. Russian airstrikes on hospitals, water treatment plants and mosques [causing hundreds of civilian deaths] have also been documented. Both militaries have denied the allegation. Amnesty International has also gathered evidence, including photos and video footage, suggesting the Russians have used unguided bombs in densely populated civilian areas, as well as internationally banned deadly cluster munitions. See similar cases here.