Language:

See all Disinfo Cases - Detail

Disinfo: Ukraine gave a “clear signal” that the country is exclusively for Ukrainians

Summary

Ukrainian authorities gave a “clear signal” to the whole world that Ukraine is exclusively for Ukrainians when they prohibited the Russian language and the languages of national minorities.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation message about the Russian language in Ukraine. The claim that Ukraine is discriminating against the Russian language and Russian-speakers is false.

The claim was made as a reaction to the recent announcement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, stating that Ukraine has approved the Strategy for Deoccupation & Reintegration of Crimea. The disinformation message falls in line with the Kremlin’s favourite rhetorical device of “whataboutism” aiming to deflect attention from the upcoming seventh anniversary of Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea.

The claim about Ukraine discriminating against the Russian language has been shaped since the Ukrainian Law on ensuring the functioning of the Ukrainian language as a state language has been passed in 2019. The law, per se, does not discriminate against any languages. Russian, as well as other languages, can be used in private communication and religious ceremonies, book publishing, the press, including radio and television, education and the service sector. The law allows the use of other languages in the healthcare system and in law enforcement.

Similarly, Ukraine’s legislation on education does not cut any rights of national minorities. The law on the use of the Ukrainian language does not infringe on their rights either. These laws only aim to strengthen the position of the Ukrainian language in Ukrainian society, as well as ensuring the minorities’ rights.

Read similar cases, incl. descriptions of the language law, debunking claims that Ukraine and the Baltic States discriminate against the Russian language, that citizens of Ukraine are extremely negative about the law that bans the Russian language, or that Ukrainisation is about political terror and Russophobia in Ukraine.

Go to search

publication/media

ria.ru (Archived)
jpgazeta.ru (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 235
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 12/03/2021
  • Article language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, Russia
  • Keywords: Crimea, Russian language, Russophobia
see more

Russia is being sanctioned for its sole existence

The West’s maniacal desire to impose sanctions on Russia is explained by the mere fact of Russia’s existence. The reason for these restrictive measures is that Moscow is protecting its national interests.

Mar 11, 2021
Disproof

This is a recurring narrative by pro-Kremlin media claiming that the anti-Russian sanctions are groundless and illegal.

In reality, the sanctions were imposed on Russia for its aggressive policy and violation of international law. The first round of restrictive measures was imposed in March 2014 in the wake of Russia’s illegal annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. More action against Moscow was taken in the following months, the reason being its support of the pro-Kremlin separatists in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas. Some sanctions were only political, such as the suspension of Russia’s voting rights in the Council of Europe. However, its voting rights were restored in 2019. In addition, bans were also imposed on transactions with some Russian businessmen and officials.

The UK uses an anti-Russian rhetoric as a cover, it aims at weakening the EU

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab recently visited the Baltic states and expressed his support to them in the face of the Russian threat. In fact, London uses an anti-Russian rhetoric as a cover-up in its foreign policy doctrine known as “Global Britain”. It wants to use the Baltic states and Ukraine as expendables to weaken the EU and, in particular, the German-French alliance.

Mar 11, 2021
Disproof

Disinformation aimed to discredit UK foreign policy and portray it as insidious and anti-EU as well as to question solidarity between the UK and EU member states.

Global Britain is a foreign policy concept used by UK officials. The September 2019 article, authored by UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, reads:

Kyiv ready to launch offensive in Donbas with Biden’s approval

Kyiv is ready to launch an offensive in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas with US President Joe Biden’s approval. Sources in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office say that the White House has already approved the military scenario, although it has ordered to wait for a signal.

Mar 11, 2021
Disproof

A recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin media outlets aiming at deflecting attention away from Russia's direct engagement in the conflict in Ukraine.

The US provides Ukraine with military equipment and trains its soldiers, but does not issue military orders. Since the outbreak of Moscow’s aggression against Kyiv in 2014, the US has supported Ukraine, but there is no direct military US involvement in the Donbas war. The European Union also supports Ukraine, with no direct military assistance.