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Disinfo: Ukraine’s Russian speakers revolted against nationalist coup in Kyiv

Summary

In 2014, pro-Western ultra-nationalists led a coup d’etat in Kyiv, which precipitated a revolt by Russian-speaking provinces in the country’s east and south.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative painting the 2013-14 Euromaidan protests as a coup d'etat, Russia's armed aggression in the Donbas as an internal Ukrainian conflict, and the war as a result of the alleged discrimination which Russian speakers are facing in Ukraine. The Euromaidan was not a coup but a nationwide popular uprising stemming from the government's last-minute decision not to sign the EU Association Agreement. See the full debunk here. Regarding the protests led by ultra-nationalists - the latter had a very limited presence throughout the Euromaidan and have consistently failed to win any parliamentary mandates since 2014. The war in Eastern Ukraine was provoked by the pro-Russian separatists and mercenaries funded and supported directly by Russia. There is irrefutable evidence of direct Russian military involvement in Eastern Ukraine. The international community, including the European Union, recognises and condemns clear violations of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity by acts of aggression by the Russian armed forces since February 2014 when Russia intervened in Crimea and annexed the Ukrainian peninsula on March 16, 2014. The war was not provoked by language issues. On the contrary, many Ukrainian citizens from the predominantly Russian speaking Southern and Eastern oblasts actively participated in the events in the Euromaidan and supported the European integration of Ukraine. According to a survey, 27% of Euromaidan participants were Russian speakers and 18% were bilinguals.

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publication/media

Sputnik English (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 177
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 04/12/2019
  • Language/target audience: English
  • Country: Russia, Ukraine
  • Keywords: West, Anti-Russian, Russian language, War in Ukraine, Coup, Euromaidan, Nazi/Fascist

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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Neo-Banderas’ Ukraine is under the US and NATO control

Verbal “fights” between neo-Banderas’ Ukraine and Russia are usual. The Banderas crossed all lines of decency. So, Ukraine continues to play the role of “Russia’s irritant”. This role was assigned to Ukraine by its masters, the US leaders and NATO commanders.

December 10, 2019
Disproof

Recurrent pro-Kremlin narrative, challenging Ukrainian statehood, painting Ukraine as a geopolitical hostage of the United States, claiming that the United States and NATO control Ukraine’s foreign and domestic policies.

Ukraine is a sovereign state. Neither the US nor NATO controls Ukraine. The United States recognised Ukraine as an independent state on December 25, 1991. Since then, Washington has been working closely with Ukraine, directing its assistance to support the development of a safe, democratic and free Ukraine, fully integrated into the Euro-Atlantic community. The European Union also supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Ukraine is a priority partner for the EU. In June 2014, the EU and Ukraine signed an Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, which promotes deeper political ties, stronger economic links and the respect for common values.

NATO prepares for big war with Russia, attack directions are similar to Hitler’s Barbarossa plan

On the margins of NATO summit in London, Donald Trump discussed a plan of big war with a number of heads of state. A military conflict between the West and Russia does not seem unlikely. The US and US-led NATO have been dreaming to deal with Moscow since long ago. Given that economic sanctions do not help, only war remains as an option. It can be started during or following the Defender Europe 2020 military exercises. The West will attempt to destroy Russian nuclear component and military forces control system in the first place. Attacks on the remaining Russian military potential and critical infrastructure will follow. NATO’s main strategic attack directions can be similar to Hitler’s Barbarossa plan. Saint Petersburg and Pskov will be attacked through Estonia, Velikiye Luki and Smolensk will be attacked from Latvia. NATO generals plan to eliminate Russian military grouping in Kaliningrad region within two days, the region will afterwards be given to Poland. Simultaneously Belarus will be attacked from Poland and Lithuania and Minsk will be taken over within five days. A quick occupation of Belarus (within 8-10 days) is explained by activation of “fifth column” which will overthrow existing authorities and install a person loyal to Washington. A rapid attack on Moscow will follow, few pockets of resistance will be brutally suppressed with missile and aviation strikes. Ukraine will avoid direct participation in the war with Russia but will allow NATO aviation to use its airfields and airspace. In this scenario, military operation will take not more than three weeks, then loyal Russia will emerge.

December 10, 2019
Disproof

This claim is a conspiracy theory aimed at discrediting Poland and the Baltic states and the West/ NATO as a whole. It is consistent with recurring pro-Kremlin narratives about alleged Western aggressiveness towards Belarus and Russia and its anti-Russian activities. The publication also intentionally creates West-Nazi link by alleging that NATO has a plan similar to Hitler's in 1941. The accusation of Nazism/ Fascism and building a link to Nazi Germany is one of the favourite techniques of pro-Kremlin outlets, read our past analysis Nazi east, Nazi west, Nazi over the cuckoo's nest. The claim about Trump's discussions of plans to wage a big war against Russia at the recent NATO summit is groundless. The allegation about NATO's plans to wage a war against Russia was addressed on NATO's official website: "Any claims that NATO is preparing an attack on Russia are absurd." NATO is a defensive alliance and does not pose a threat to Russia. Its purpose is to protect its member states. Every country that joins NATO undertakes to uphold its principles and policies, and this includes the commitment that "the Alliance does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to Russia," as reaffirmed at the Brussels Summit. For more information about NATO-Russia relations and disinformation narratives about NATO, see here and here. See earlier disinformation cases claiming that the West has approved a new ‘Barbarossa’ plan to attack Russia, that West always dreams of splitting Russia and about waging a war against Russia from Belarusian territory, that Poland and the Baltic countries are the Western world’s jackals who can produce a global catastrophe, and that Western media campaign supports the preparations of the US and NATO for nuclear war.

Zelenskyy does not want to establish peace in Donbas

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy is simply mocking. See the frequency of some used words. It is special rhetoric when the words “occupied territories” are said so many times. The one who says this does it on purpose. This bastard is the same as Poroshenko or maybe even worse.

December 10, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about the Minsk agreements and the War in Ukraine and the recent discussions in the “Normandy Four” format held in Paris. During “Normandy Four” summit in Paris on 9 December 2019, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated that achieving peace in Donbas is the strategic priority of the Ukrainian government. In the communique that was signed by Ukraine, Germany, France, and the Russian Federation, the next security steps have been agreed, such as the “full and comprehensive implementation of the ceasefire”, “exchange of detainees […] based on the principle 'all for all'”, establishing “three additional disengagement areas”, establishing “new crossing points along the line of contact”, “the development and implementation of an updated de-mining plan”. President Zelenskyy has been stressing on numerous occasions that his main strategic goal and the first and foremost task as the President is to achieve a peaceful settlement of the war in Donbas as soon as possible. For instance, on 13 October 2019, he underlined that “ending the war in Donbas” is a priority for the Ukrainian government. To accomplish this task, Ukraine has fulfilled all preparatory steps, such as the withdrawal of troops on three sites, necessary to hold the meeting in the “Normandy format”. Moreover, in September Ukraine and Russia conducted the prisoner swap and agreed to exchange soon all prisoners. Ukraine had also agreed to sign the so-called Steinmeier formula which was again confirmed by President Zelenskyy on the “Normandy Four” summit.