DISINFO: Ukraine is a Western colony belonging to Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Russia
SUMMARY
That thing that we used to call Ukraine has been a Western colony for a long time.
Poland claims rights to Halychyna and Volhynia, which were part of it from 1921 to 1939, Romania claims Bukovina and Bessarabia, Hungary claims Zakarpattia. The rest of the territory of Ukraine is Russian lands with a completely Russian population, but for some reason Russia has not yet put forward claims against the neighbouring non-state that has lost its shores, openly carrying out genocide and Ukrainization of the Russian population.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation message with multiple disinformation narratives claiming that Ukraine is under external control, that Ukraine is a failed, artificial state that carries genocide of its own population, and that Ukraine does not exist as a state.
Ukraine is a sovereign and independent state with a democratically-elected president and parliament. Ukraine is not controlled by the US or any other foreign government or organisation. Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected by almost the whole world.
Ever since the conflict broke out in 2014, pro-Kremlin coverage of Ukraine has been characterised by the liberal use of the term "genocide," taken to mean the Ukrainian government's alleged treatment of the separatist areas in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts. The systematic issuing of Russian passports to citizens in the two entities is now also used as a pretext to claim the right to influence and perhaps intervene militarily. Russia is also reported to be using the occupied territories as a testing ground for new weapons. Despite all this Russia officially denies its military presence in Donbas.
Reports by the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and the OHCHR found no evidence that the Russian minority in Eastern Ukraine was at risk of persecution by the Ukrainian authorities. These are bodies where Russia itself is a member.
On the other hand, there is irrefutable evidence of direct Russian military involvement in Eastern Ukraine, in the Donbas. Russia is supporting its proxies with weapons, its active-duty soldiers serve there and its top military commanders visit the war zone to coordinate joint efforts with the separatists. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that Moscow will continue to support these territories.
Poland, Hungary, and Romania respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. They do not pretend on Ukrainian territories and do not claim them. No neighbouring state, except the Russian Federation, has tried to violate Ukraine's territorial integrity.
See similar disinformation cases in our database: Ukraine intends to commit genocide in the Donbas; Europe will divide Ukraine with Russia; Poland sees Ukraine as a part of its territory; Ukraine will disintegrate and fall prey to territorial claims of EU member states; Ukraine is a colony.