DISINFO: US private military contractors are preparing to use chemical weapons in Ukraine
DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS
  • Outlet: oroszhirek.hu (archived)*
  • Date of publication: January 15, 2022
  • Article language(s): Hungarian
  • Reported in: Issue 270
  • Countries / regions discussed: Ukraine, US, Russia
Tags:
Donbas Chemical weapons/attack Foreign mercenaries US presence in Europe Provocation Eastern Ukraine

DISINFO: US private military contractors are preparing to use chemical weapons in Ukraine

SUMMARY

US mercenaries (PMC) are preparing a provocation by using chemical weapons in war-torn Eastern Ukraine. Tanks containing unknown chemical agents have been transported to the cities of Adiyivka (Avgyeevka) and Krasny Lyman to carry out provocations.

RESPONSE

A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation message about an alleged US provocation being planned in Ukraine using chemical weapons.

There is no evidence to substantiate claims about the preparation for chemical weapons attacks. There are also no private foreign armies in Eastern Ukraine that would fight together with Ukrainian troops.

However, it is an established fact that Russian mercenaries fight with Moscow-backed armed formations in Eastern Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin himself admitted that some Russian active-duty servicemen fight in non-government-controlled areas while they are "on holiday". The EU last month imposed sanctions targeting a Russian paramilitary company, Wagner, citing the group’s operations in Eastern Ukraine, Libya, Syria and the Central African Republic.

Russia is launching this kind of fakes to justify its military buildup along Ukraine’s border and to use them as a pretext for a possible invasion of Ukraine.

Read more disinformation narratives alleging that foreign mercenaries are fighting Donbas.

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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.

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