Disinfo: Ukraine will disintegrate and fall prey to territorial claims of EU member states

Summary

Russia is not going to threaten the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the former territories of the Soviet Union. No one can exclude the possibility that Ukraine will start disintegrating itself, as the regional elites no longer need Kyiv. Poles, Hungarians, and Romanians have their eye on the Ukrainian territories, which historically were part of Poland, Hungary, and Romania. As the situation deteriorates in Ukraine, protection of national minorities will become in issue. Furthermore Nazi structures, prominent in Ukraine, may push the government to attack Donbas.

Disproof

Conspiracy theory perpetuating several recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about disintegration of Ukraine, war in East Ukraine, as well as Nazism and Russophobia. Russia is, in fact, violating territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine with continuous acts of aggression by the Russian armed forces, ongoing since February 2014. Poland, Hungary, and Romania adhere to international law regarding state borders and have no territorial claims upon Ukraine.

See earlier disinformation cases alleging that Neo-Nazis have an outsized influence in Ukrainian politics, that Poles are stoking nationalist sentiment in Ukraine in order to annex Lviv, that Kharkiv, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia are willing to be part of Russia, and that real Ukrainian patriots fought for DPR/LPR.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 170
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 23/10/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Romania, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, Russia
  • Keywords: Ukrainian disintegration, Ukrainian statehood, Conspiracy theory, Donbas, War in Ukraine, Nazi/Fascist
see more

Disinfo: Crimea chose to be part of Russia

Crimea became part of Russia, once again, after the March 2014 referendum, with 96,77 percent of the Crimean electorate and 95.6 percent of Sevastopol’s population voting in favour of joining Russia. This came after the toppling of the regime in Ukraine, in February 2014.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the illegal annexation of Crimea.

No international body has recognised the so-called referendum, announced on 27 February 2014, and held on 16 March 2014.

Disinfo: Mueller report provided no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow

Last April, a report by former US Attorney General Robert Mueller on “Russian intervention” in the 2016 US presidential election concluded that there was no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow during the elections.

Disproof

A recurring pro-Kremlin narrative on the Robert Mueller report connected also with the recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative on Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election.

Robert Mueller's investigation did conclude that Russia interfered in the 2016 election. Mueller's report determined that there were "two main Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election". It led to US senators' proposals to extend sanctions on Russia to deter it from further election meddling.

Disinfo: The West sends third rate officials to Serbia

Western countries cannot resent the way Serbia welcomed Putin and Medvedev. The West sends officials of a third rate category, deputies of deputies, to visit Serbia. When Western politicians come to visit, Serbia immediately gets orders. On the contrary, Russia does not give conditions to Serbia.

Disproof

Recurring narrative painting the West as unreliable in comparison to Russia. Serbia is a sovereign state and not subservient to the EU and NATO, and many high officials from the West have visited it. The last visit happened just a week ago (22nd October 2019) when German Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Peter Altmaier, visited Belgrade. The President of the Czech Republic, Miloš Zeman, made a two-day visit to Belgrade in September 2019. French President Emmanuel Macron visited Serbia in July 2019 and an official visit of the Hungarian President, János Áder, also took place in July 2019. Earlier in 2018, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker visited Serbia. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also visited Serbia during 2018. Read a similar disinformation case about Serbia only having visits from low ranking officials here.