Disinfo: UN says only Kyiv and Donbas are parties to conflict in Eastern Ukraine

Summary

The Package of Measures that was endorsed by the UN Security Council clearly says that the parties to the conflict in Eastern Ukraine are Kyiv and Donbas. Therefore, if Ukraine continues to seek other interlocutors or call on third parties to settle the conflict, it will be regarded as a withdrawal from the Minsk process.

Disproof

This is a recurring narrative from pro-Kremlin media outlets. It claims that Kyiv and the Moscow-backed separatists are the only parties to the conflict in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas, while Moscow is a mediator, together with France, Germany and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Article 2 of the Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements, signed on 17 February 2015 in Minsk, says the following:

“Withdrawal of heavy weapons by both sides on equal distances in order to create a security zone at least 50 km wide from each other for the artillery systems with caliber greater than 100mm and more, a security zone of 70 km wide for MLRS and 140 km wide for MLRS “Tornado-C”, “Uragan”, “Smerch” and Tactical missile systems “Tochka” (“Tochka U”):
- for the Ukrainian troops: from the de facto line of contact.
- for the armed formations from certain areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk oblast of Ukraine from the line of contact according to the Minsk memorandum of September 19, 2014”.

This document does not specify who “the armed formations from certain areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk oblast of Ukraine'' are. Since hostilities broke out in eastern Ukraine in 2014, Moscow has been trying to portray Kyiv as the aggressor who is killing civilians, the breakaway region of Donbas as the victim of Ukrainian aggression, and itself as a mediator trying to help them strike a deal.

In reality, there is irrefutable evidence of direct Russian military involvement in Eastern Ukraine. Besides, Moscow provides its proxies with vast information coverage. That is why Russia can also be considered as a party to the conflict, which has sided with the separatists against legitimate Ukrainian authorities.

The UN Security Council Resolution 2202 (2015), which endorsed the Package of Measures, does not say that Kyiv and the pro-Russian separatists are the only parties to the conflict in Donbas. Article 3 of the resolution says that the Security Council calls on “all parties to fully implement the ‘Package of measures’, including a comprehensive ceasefire as provided for therein”.

Read more disinformation narratives alleging that Ukraine, not Russia, is the aggressor in Donbas.

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rusvesna.su (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 242
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 22/04/2021
  • Article language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, Russia
  • Keywords: DNR, Donbas, War in Ukraine, UN, Minsk agreements
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Disinfo: Russia is committed to cooperation not confrontation, while the US conducts aggressive foreign policy

Russia's foreign policy is notable for its firmness, while Moscow is doing everything possible to reduce the international tension.

Individual states, and primarily the US, allow themselves to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, whether by organising colour revolutions or distributing arrogant instructions on what and how. Any reaction to this, in Russia, is always manifested in the form of retaliatory actions, that is, it is actually a matter of self-defence. If Russia imposes sanctions, these are always retaliatory measures, counter-sanctions. Russia’s external agenda is set on the development of cooperation, not on confrontation, and Putin has once again confirmed this in his address speech.

Apr 21, 2021
Disproof

This is a mix of several recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about encircling Russia, popular protests as the result of Western-led colour revolutions, sanctions and belligerent West.

The disinformation narrative of colour revolutions has been applied, among others, to the Arab Spring revolts, Euromaidan in Ukraine, protests in Catalonia, Venezuela, Georgia, and Belarus.

Disinfo: Vrebitce explosion: Czech investigation meant to deflect attention from Lukashenko assassination attempt

Lukashenko and his children were to be assassinated and they were saved by Putin. Russian special services have opened a case, based on video and audio evidence, arrested an American citizen who entered from Poland (also having a Belarusian citizenship) and his affiliates.

Half an hour later, in order to cover up [the attempted assassination of Lukashenko and his family] the Czech Republic allegedly concluded the investigation into the 2014 terrorist attacks and named two Russian nationals as perpetrators.

Apr 21, 2021
Disproof

This is part of a disinformation campaign about the events surrounding the Vrbetice explosion in 2014 and the expulsion of Russian diplomats from the Czech Republic in 2021 after the involvement of Russian state actors was established by Czech authorities. This campaign follows a similar pattern to others launched after notorious incidents, such as the downing of the MH17 flight or the poisonings of Sergei Skripal and Alexei Navalny, including official denials despite compelling evidence, spreading of multiple and often contradictory versions and speculation about dark motives behind the accusations. Through these campaigns, the disinformation narratives aim to deflect any Russian responsibility for the incident and portray Russia as innocent of any misdeed.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and the temporary Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Hamáček announced on 17 April 2021 that the Czech intelligence services collected evidence demonstrating Russian involvement in the 2014 Vrbětice explosion. More specifically, it implicates Unit 29155, a division of Russia's GRU agency previously linked to "assassination attempts and other subversive actions across Europe."

Disinfo: Czech-Russian diplomatic row was staged to target Rosatom and deflect attention from a coup attempt in Belarus

There are three rationales behind the story about the alleged Russian involvement in the depot explosion in the Czech Republic in 2014. First, it is meant to deflect attention from the coup attempt in Belarus and accusations against the US of an assassination attempt against Alexander Lukashenko.

Second, it has to do with the Czech intention to purchase Sputnik V vaccines, which already resulted in the dismissal of the Czech government.

Third, to interrupt the participation of Rosatom in the Czech nuclear tender. As a successful and reputable Russian company, Rosatom has been the target of [Western] attacks.

Apr 21, 2021
Disproof

The claim is part of an emerging pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative surrounding the 2014 fatal explosion at an ammo depot in Vrbetice, Czechia and the suspected role of Russia's GRU agency in the incident.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and the temporary Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Hamáček announced on 17 April 2021 that the Czech intelligence services collected evidence demonstrating Russian involvement in the 2014 Vrbětice explosion. More specifically, it implicates Unit 29155, a division of Russia's GRU agency previously linked to "assassination attempts and other subversive actions across Europe."