Language:

See all Disinfo Cases - Detail

Disinfo: Ukrainian government is de-Christianising the people under the guise of decommunisation

Summary

The Bethlehem star on the biggest Christmas tree in Kyiv was capped with a witch’s hat. The witch’s hat worn on the main New Year’s tree of Ukraine instead of the Christmas star is the evidence of attempts to de-Christianise the population of this country.

Disproof

The decision to put a 'hat' on the top of the main Christmas tree in Kyiv was criticised, and the hat was later taken off. However, this has nothing to do with "de-Christianising the people" in Ukraine. The organisers explained that they put the hat on the top of the tree instead of the Christmas star because the main theme of the holiday decorations was the "Fairy Forest".

Similar cases have claimed: "Sweden cancelled Christmas TV concert not to irritate migrants", "France is banning Christmas symbols", or "In order not to aggravate people of other religions, there was no Christmas tree in Brussels".

Go to search

publication/media

novoross.info (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 225
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 15/12/2020
  • Language/target audience: Russian
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Keywords: Christmas, Christianity, Ukrainian statehood

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.

see more

Ukraine’s refusal of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine is a crime against their own people

The Ukrainian authorities’ refusal of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, which in the near future could have been used to vaccinate Ukrainians against coronavirus, is simply a crime against their own people.

Mass vaccination has begun with the Sputnik V vaccine, which has effectiveness in the range of 91-95%. Moreover, yesterday there was a report from the institute of the developer of this vaccine, the Gamalei Centre, that in the case of severe coronavirus diseases, this vaccine has the effectiveness of 100%.

December 16, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation on coronavirus aiming to promote the Sputnik V vaccine.

According to Ukrainian Healthcare Minister Maksym Stepanov, the Ukrainian government is not planning to acquire the Russian vaccine, "given that the latter has not yet gone through the third stage of clinical trials." On the same note, the Ukrainian Health ministry state that the country is already set to receive a COVID-19 vaccine via the COVAX mechanism, an international initiative launched by the World Health Organization, the European Commission, and the government of France to ensure efficient access to COVID-19 vaccines once they are ready.

No evidence to link the amateur “Fancy Bear” group to the Russian government

The accusations of the so-called “Fancy Bear” being linked to the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service or the Russian government is baseless and the Americans failed to provide any clue to support these allegations.

The “Fancy Bear” group might well be just a group of amateurs operating on Russian soils.

December 16, 2020
Disproof

Recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative denying any involvement of the Russian government in hacker attacks and cyber-crime.

Russian intelligence services have long been accused of targeting computer systems in the US and elsewhere, with a dozen of substantiated allegations made in the last few years alone. An analysis of high-profile cyber incidents since 2006 designates Russia as an "offender" in 98 cyberattacks globally, against 16 incidents where the country appears as a "victim."

Conflict in Southeast Ukraine began between the federal government and Donetsk and Luhansk

The conflict in southeast Ukraine began in April 2014 between the federal government and the self-proclaimed Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, after the political crisis that resulted in the overthrow of the government of President Viktor Yanukovych.

December 16, 2020
Disproof

A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the war in Ukraine, claiming that Russia is not part of the conflict in Donbas, that Russia has nothing to do with the war in eastern Ukraine and presenting the conflict as a “civil war” in Donbas.

The European Union stated in July 2014 that "arms and fighters continue flowing into Ukraine from the Russian Federation". At the NATO Summit in Wales in September 2014, NATO leaders condemned in the strongest terms Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine and demanded Russia to stop and withdraw its forces from Ukraine and from the country’s border. NATO leaders also demanded Russia comply with international law and its international obligations and responsibilities; refrain from aggressive actions against Ukraine; halt the flow of weapons, equipment, people and money across the border to the separatists; and stop fomenting tension along and across the Ukrainian border.