Disinfo: Ukraine will become a springboard for a US nuclear strike on Russia

Summary

Two American B-52 bombers, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, flew in close proximity to Crimea. US aircraft have previously appeared over the Black Sea, but for the first time they approached Crimea from land – from the territory of Ukraine. Experts are confident that the bombers in the Ukrainian sky not only studied the potential theatre of military operations but also practised the tactics of an air attack. Two American strategic bombers, B-52H Stratofortress, took off from the English base Fairford, flew over Holland, Germany and Poland, then entered the airspace of Ukraine and headed for Crimea. Kyiv is a vassal of Washington, and the Americans are using Ukrainian airspace to solve their own military tasks. Of course, they are working out some of their military tasks, but the main thing for them is to show that since 2014, they now have the right to fly over Ukraine – their satellite.

Disproof

This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative alleging that Ukraine has been under external control since the 2013-14 Euromaidan revolution. The visit to Ukrainian airspace was carried out as part of the U.S. Air Force’s now-regular strategic observation missions in the areas of the Black and the Baltic seas. In late May, Ukrainian fighters also accompanied another two U.S. strategic bombers, Rockwell B-1 Lancer, in their observation mission across Ukrainian airspace and the Black Sea. The United States established diplomatic relations with Ukraine in 1991, following its independence from the Soviet Union. See similar disinformation cases alleging that Ukraine is an anti-Russian project of the CIA, or that Ukraine is under foreign control since independence, and the US has taken Ukraine under external control.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 211
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 04/09/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: US, Ukraine, Russia
  • Keywords: Nuclear issues, Anti-Russian, Puppets, US presence in Europe, Ukrainian statehood, Crimea
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Disinfo: The Baltic States and Poland are blowing Belarus up from the inside

The Baltic States and Poland are blowing Belarus up from the inside. The West loudly reproaches Russia for “interfering in the affairs of Belarus” – and this is at the very moment a number of Western countries brazenly put pressure on Belarusian society and the state. Vilnius faces two challenges. Firstly, position themselves as the main fighters against the Russian world (of which Lukashenka is considered a part, as well as the way the Belarusian president communicates with his people). Secondly, to actively make money on this positioning – given the deplorable state of the Lithuanian economy, the country really needs money. Warsaw needs an obedient (or better yet, a puppet) regime in Minsk to create an image of Poland as a regional power, thereby increasing its influence and opportunities within the European Union.

Disproof

This is part of a Russian disinformation campaign about Belarus based on recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives alleging that the West is destabilising the situation in Minsk and provoking military actions on the Belarusian borders. There is no evidence that that the West, nor Poland and Lithuania in particular, are trying to destabilise the situation in Belarus. Poland and Lithuania support the independence and territorial integrity of Belarus and they do not have any territorial claims against their neighbour. According to Reuters, Lithuania declared it does not pose a threat to Belarus. “The Belarus crisis is a political one, and any allegations by the Belarus leadership about foreign countries’ interference or about any threats they pose are an attempt to shift blame and justify its own actions,” said Lithuanian Defence Minister Raimundas Karoblis. The Foreign Minister of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius said Lukashenko’s statement about a military buildup “is a lie” and is meant to create an excuse to call for help from Russia. Lithuania hosted military manoeuvres on August 2-14, which included 1,100 of its own troops and 200 U.S. soldiers and 10 U.S. military helicopters arriving from Poland. Poland refutes accusations about alleged military provocations towards Belarus and attempts to destabilise the neighbouring country. An aide to Poland's president, Krzysztof Szczerski stated that such accusations were unacceptable and that no one in Poland would take advantage of the political turmoil in Belarus. The countries of the European Union have nothing to do with the mass protests in Belarus: rallies of thousands broke out after Aleksandr Lukashenko, who has ruled for 26 years, declared that he had “won a convincing victory” in the elections. The current protests in Belarus began on the evening of August 9; to disperse the protesters, the security forces are using rubber bullets, flash grenades, tear gas, shockers and water cannons. On the day of voting, the centre of Minsk was blocked by security forces, whilst communications and the Internet were jammed in the city. Read similar cases: "Lublin Triangle" - the organiser of the coup in Belarus and Poland is openly leading a coup in Belarus.

Disinfo: Navalny case is a project to build up opposition against Nord Stream 2

In the case of Navalny, you have to ask yourself, who benefits from this? We can say one thing for certain. There is a big problem that NATO wants to stop the completion of the “Nord Stream 2” project and in the corona times, they [NATO] have almost no chance of finding anything against Russia that they can use in the media and even cover up the corona hysteria to oppose the Nord Stream 2 project. The most important question is who benefits from the “Navalny case”. According to experts, NATO could prevent the completion of the Nord Stream 2 project.

Disproof

An unsupported conspiracy theory that the poisoning of Aleksey Navalny was a secret project to prevent Nord Stream 2. There is no ground for connecting the Navalny case with the construction of Nord Stream 2. A prominent Russian opposition figure, Aleksey Navalny fell ill during a flight and the plane had to make an emergency landing in Omsk, where doctors said he was in a coma and they were trying to save his life. Since then, he has been transferred to Berlin and is receiving treatment at Berlin's Charité Hospital. The German federal government said that toxicological tests provided “unequivocal evidence of a chemical nerve agent of the Novichok group” in the blood samples of Aleksey Navalny. The European Union condemned the poisoning of Aleksey Navalny in the strongest possible terms. See related disinformation cases alleging that the US hopes that the Navalny case will lead to the cancellation of Nord Stream 2; the West will falsely accuse Russia of poisoning Navalny as with Skripal and Litvinenko; the West has an interest in the death of Navalny to launch a new wave of sanctions against Russia.

Disinfo: Charité clinic is a political dump that is used in a special operation against Russia

The Charité Clinic has confirmed its status as a political dump. There is no doubt that the German Charité clinic would give Navalny the diagnosis they need. There is no doubt that this is the most politically engaged clinic in the world. But the Federal Republic of Germany will not be able to prove Russia’s involvement in the poisoning [of Aleksey Navalny], because the evidence does not exist in nature. The only benefit is a new informational wave that will be used by all Western media and the opposition in Russia. It was the main task of this “special operation”; it is another attempt to defame the government of the Russian Federation in the eyes of the world community.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative on the poisoning of Russian oppositional politician and anti-corruption activist Aleksei Navalny. A specialised laboratory of the German armed forces proved that Aleksei Navalny was poisoned by a military-grade chemical nerve agent of the "Novichok" group. After Aleksey Navalny was admitted to the Charité clinic, its doctors confirmed, after a careful investigation, that the Russian politician was poisoned by a substance from the group of cholinesterase inhibitors:

"Clinical findings indicate poisoning with a substance from the group of cholinesterase inhibitors. The specific substance involved remains unknown, and a further series of comprehensive testing has been initiated. The effect of the poison – namely, the inhibition of cholinesterase in the body – was confirmed by multiple tests in independent laboratories."

See similar disinformation messages alleging that the West has an interest in the death of Navalny to launch a new wave of sanctions against Russia, that only traces of alcohol and caffeine were found in Navalny's blood, and that the West will falsely accuse Russia of poisoning Navalny, as with Skripal and Litvinenko.