Disinfo: Ukrainian soldiers in civilian clothes were seen laying mines near the dividing line in Donbas

Summary

Ukrainian soldiers in civilian clothes were seen laying mines near the dividing line in Donbas. The fact was also observed by OSCE.

Disproof

No proof is given. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) regularly releases reports on ceasefire violations. The official website of OSCE SMM does not confirm any information about Ukrainian soldiers laying mines in Donbas. The article also provides a screenshot from a video which in fact, is a screenshot from a video uploaded in 2015. The video was created by the Turkish company Haci Productions for the Ukrainian Armed Forces as a thank you for the video created by the Ukrainians for the Turkish Air Force. The Kremlin has long been spreading this type of disinformation. See similar disinformation case here. Unconfirmed information about Ukrainian soldiers seen laying mines was also spread in 2018. More information can be found here.

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tvalsazrisi.ge (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 157
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 29/06/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Georgian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine
  • Keywords: Donbas
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Disinfo: Ukrainian troops leave their positions on the demarcation line due to poor provision and living conditions

Ukrainian military began to leave positions at the demarcation line with the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic, due to poor provision and living conditions. The Ukrainian generals are trying to reason with the officers, but they still don’t want to fight in Donbas.

Jun 28, 2019
Disproof

The withdrawal of troops from the line of demarcation in the Luhansk region is not related to reasons mentioned by the representative of "LPR". The Ukrainian army is implementing the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group on the disengagement of forces and military hardware in the Donbas, which was signed in 2016. According to the OSCE, the situation is calm and stable. Yashar Halit Chevik, head of the OSCE SMM in Ukraine, welcomed the willingness of the parties, expressed at the recent meeting of the Tripartite Contact Group, to begin the disengagement of forces and equipment at the agreed site in the Stanitsa Luhanskaya area. You can find more disinformation cases about Ukrainian army here.

Disinfo: Ukraine denies all peaceful means of Donbas conflict solution

[…] The Ukrainian authorities do not wish to talk with or to listen to anyone. They deny all peaceful means of Donbas conflict solution without being able to solve the issue by military means.

Jun 28, 2019
Disproof

This message contains common pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives concerning the war in Ukraine. It disregards a multitude of factual evidence of Russian military presence in Donbas. Consult the evidence database and publications with further evidence here and here. It is untrue that the Ukrainian authorities purposefully block any attempts to resolve the Donbas conflict. During Zelenskyy's recent visits to Germany and France, the sides have discussed the need to restart peace efforts, including the so-called Normandy format, which brings together Ukraine, Russia, Germany, and France. On 27 June Zelenskyy called on Putin to release Ukrainian seamen from detention in Russia. In late April Ukrainian president also called for an exchange of prisoners in "all-to-all" format. See an earlier disinformation case alleging that the rumours about Russian military presence in Donbas come from linguistic misunderstanding.

Disinfo: The West's vision of the world politics has been built on Russophobia

Western bodies – perhaps except the US Congress – are all tired of this all-encompassing Russophobia. The West’s vision of world politics has been built on Russophobia at least for the last five years.

Jun 28, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russophobia. The message implies that the West's policy on Russia, including introduction of sanctions, were a result of a fundamental dislike of Russia or Russians rather than of blatant violations of international law by Russia, foremost when it comes to the annexation of Crimea and substantial support to separatists in the east of Ukraine. See earlier disinformation cases alleging that the US and EU countries are russophobic, fascist and Nazi regimes, and that the US and the UK are using Skripal case to start a crusade against Russia. For background, see EUvsDisinfo analysis "The “Russophobia” Myth: Appealing to the Lowest Feelings" here.