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Disinfo: Ukraine responsible for clash in Kerch sea

Summary

Kiev wants to make the Sea of Azov accessible to NATO forces and Ukraine could be responsible for the naval incident in the Straits of Kerch. Russia’s actions were entirely legitimate. According to the data of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the Ukrainian ships had approached the Straits without any warning, had not waited for the Russian pilot and had not complied with the indications of the border guards, thus violating the legislation. The provocations may have continued throughout the day, leading the Russian side to open fire, injuring three Ukrainians and stopping the ships.

Disproof

The article is a complication of evidence provided by the Russian security services FSB. The story has been published here also.

According to the research group Bellingcat, data, based on geolocated video footage, confirms that Ukrainian ships did enter Russian-claimed territorial waters (They are, in fact, only Russian-claimed territorial waters, rather than internationally recognised boundaries), both that of Crimea and mainland Russia in the Kerch Strait. Ukraine, nonetheless, argues this was legally permissible due to the 2003 agreement between the two countries. Secondly, we can say that the Ukrainian tug ‘Yani Kapu’ was intentionally rammed at least four times over a period of at least an hour. Thirdly, based on information provided by the Russian FSB which appears to incriminate themselves, the shooting of the ‘Berdyansk’ most likely took place in international waters.

For details on the incident: see Bellingcat.

See more disinfo cases on "The Ukrainian navy violated Russian borders" and debunk by Deutsche Welle

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  • Reported in: Issue 136
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 09/02/2019
  • Language/target audience: French
  • Country: Russia, Ukraine, Sweden
  • Keywords: Ukraine, Kerch, FSB
  • Outlet: Sputnik news FR
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Debates on Russian TV are free unlike in France

Although Russia is always accused of being authoritarian and crushing opponents, debate in media is much freer. In the “Poedinok” (“The Duel”) talkshow different opinions are debated and even though the anchor is known to be pro-Putin, he still invites people with different views to the show and is extremely polite to them. For example, Ukrainian fanatics were invited to the show, saying Russians are barbarians.

In France everything is controlled. People who are against the European Union are not invited to TV shows and that is a very bad sign for the regime. We can hardly speak of pluralism in France.

February 11, 2019
Disproof

Regarding freedom of speech, Russia is ranked 148th and France 33rd by Reporters without borders. Freedom House agrees stating the press in Russia is not free, unlike the French press.

Ukrainians have indeed participated in the "Poedinok" show. Their treatment by the host was not polite and respectful. An example from the show from October 29, 2018: one of the Ukrainian guests is asked: “What is the name of the station in Kiev, from which trains go to Moscow?” - “Central station.” - “It is not closed yet?” - “No.” - “So you have a way out!” (Laughter, applause.) Presenter: “I want to remind you that the Crimea was annexed by Russia completely legally. Who was the president of Ukraine then? Yanukovych! But he did not express any objections.” Ukrainian guest: “My grandfather died at the front!” Presenter: “Yes, your grandfather would have risen from the grave and would have driven you to his grave with his tibial bone!” The presenter is literally yelling: "Germans don't try to whitewash their criminals. They don't make them national heroes (like Ukraine)."

The Czech Republic will deploy an American military base, just as Poland did

Czech Defence Minister Lubomir Metnar, in an interview to the newspaper Právo, did not exclude the possibility of talks in NATO on the possible deployment of new military bases in Europe, also in the Czech Republic, in case of the deterioration of the international relations following the disintegration of the INF.

Previously, Czech Premier Andrej Babiš, commenting on the withdrawal of both the US and Russia from the INF, stated that he would not like to return to the cold war times.

February 11, 2019
Disproof

The title of the original article is misleading, manipulative and does not reflect the content of the interview with the minister adequately by turning a possibility in to a certainty.

In fact, in his interview the Defence Minister of the Czech Republic said the following: "We'll see what will happen in six months, after it becomes possible to return to the [INF] treaty. It's possible that the situation will deteriorate then and I do not exclude the option that the Alliance [NATO] will have such a discussion [to deploy a missile defence system or missiles in the Czech Republic]".

Financial oligarchs tied to US put Macron in the seat of the President of France

In the span of the 4 months financial oligarchs put Macron in the seat of the President.The Yellow vests protests are happening because he was enforced on France, as these financial oligarchs are directly linked to the US. American financial elites played a big role in the current political troubles of Macron.

February 11, 2019
Disproof

Conspiracy theory with no evidence given.

Emmanuel Macron is the democratically elected President of France.

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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.