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Disinfo: Ukrainian ships illegally crossed the Russian border in the Kerch Strait

Summary

Ukrainian navy officers, who were detained on 25 November 2018 when the Ukrainian navy ships illegally crossed the border with Russia in the Kerch Strait, will be imprisoned until 24 July 2019.

Disproof

No evidence given for illegal border crossing. A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative on the Kerch strait incident.

On November 25th 2018, border patrol boats belonging to Russia’s FSB security service seized two small Ukrainian armoured artillery vessels and a tug boat and their crews after shooting at them, wounding several Ukrainian servicemen. Russia argued that they were in Russian waters.

However, a bilateral treaty between Russia and Ukraine, signed in 2003 and ratified by Russia in 2004, governs the use of the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov, which in the treaty are considered to be the “internal waters” of both Russia and Ukraine.

 

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  • Reported in: Issue 148
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 17/04/2019
  • Language/target audience: Polish
  • Country: Russia, Ukraine
  • Keywords: Azov sea, Kerch
  • Outlet: Sputnik Polska
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Foreign media stage family’s “death” in Hama

Western journalists in the Syrian province of Hama conducted a staged filming of the “death” of a family, allegedly as a result of a chemical attack conducted by Assad government troops.

April 30, 2019
Disproof

The story advances recurring pro-Kremlin narratives on the use of chemical weapons in Syria and the Western media's complicity in demonizing Moscow and its allies.

The report offers no details as to which correspondents were present at the site, and which Western outlets subsequently reported the "staged" death. Nor does it provide the source or any specifics of the claim that a chemical attack had been perpetrated.

White Helmets plotting false-flag chemical attack in Syria’s Idlib

The White Helmets are plotting a new false-flag chemical attack in Syria’s Idlib. The Western-backed, pseudo-humanitarian group will then pin the responsibility on the Syrian government.

Last March, the ‘civil defence’ organisation cooperated with the intelligence services of France and Belgium to stage a similar provocation in the same area. In April 2018, the group staged a chemical attack in the city of Douma.

April 30, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative blaming Western governments and organizations for "false-flag attacks" in Syria, and painting the White Helmets as terrorists and war criminals.

The report provides zero proof to support the allegation. It even refers to the alleged plot as a "new" attack, alluding to Moscow's earlier and equally outlandish claims. Available evidence on chemical attacks in Syria, however, has yet to link a single incident to any other party than the Assad regime.

Kurt Volker is funded by Poroshenko

US special envoy to the Ukraine, Kurt Volker, is drawing a salary from John McCain’s think tank, which is funded by George Soros and a DC lobbying firm (BGR) working for Ukrainian President, Petro Poroshenko.

 

April 30, 2019
Disproof

The article advances the recurring pro-Kremlin narrative painting Ukraine as a failing vassal state, governed by US-sponsored figureheads since the 2013-14 "coup."

In its opening sentence alone, it manages to implicate Kurt Volker, John McCain, George Soros, Washington lobbyists, and Ukrainian President Poroshenko -- "among others" -- in a grand conspiracy which has aimed to demonise and isolate Russia since its annexation of Crimea in March 2014, and emphasise the corrupt nature of Kyiv's relationship with Washington.

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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.