DISINFO: Ukraine does not exist, it is a Polish fake
DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS
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Ukrainian statehood Ukraine

DISINFO: Ukraine does not exist, it is a Polish fake

SUMMARY

Іt is profitable to believe in the Polish fake "Ukraine is not Russia." Because this fake justifies the very existence of the independent [Ukraine], including independence from common sense rulers in Ukraine. It allows them to be considered independent. [...] the main interest of the citizens of Ukraine is reunification with the rest of Russia since Ukrainians are part of the Russian people.

RESPONSE

Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the history of Ukraine and Ukrainian statehood.

The history of Ukraine dates back to the times of the Kyivan Rus’ in the IX-XIII centuries. As a nation-state, Ukraine was formed during the XVI-XIX centuries when it was divided by major European states: the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (Rzeczpospolita) and the Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires. However, in the middle of the XVII century, parts of Ukraine's territories received independence from Poland and created an independent Cossacks Hetmanate. Later, it signed a military and political cooperation deal with Moscow, which was then used by Russian rulers to deprive Hetmanate of its sovereign rights. In the early XX century, after the collapse of the Russian empire, the Ukrainian People’s Republic was proclaimed. In Western Ukraine, which at the time was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire, the Western Ukrainian National Republic was created. On 22 January 1919, the two states signed a Unification Act creating a unified state. Other territories wanted to join the new Ukrainian state, such as Northern Bukovyna and Crimea, and adopted appeals to the government of a unified Ukrainian People’s Republic. For a historical perspective see here [in Ukrainian].

Ukrainians do not want to join Russia. More than 80% support the independence of Ukraine. And less than 14% are in favour of joining the Eurasion Union with Russia. See a similar case Ukraine has always been Russian, at least half of it.

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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.

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