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.

Disproof

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.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 270
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 15/01/2022
  • Article language(s) Hungarian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, US, Russia
  • Keywords: Donbas, Chemical weapons/attack, Foreign mercenaries, US presence in Europe, Provocation, Eastern Ukraine
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Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about NATO and NATO enlargement.

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Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the migration issues on the EU-Belarus borders.

The situation on the border was manufactured by Belarus as a response to EU sanctions imposed on Minsk for its oppressive measures against the political opposition. There is plenty of evidence that the Belarusian authorities have instigated the ongoing irregular migration flows to the EU borders via Belarus.

Disinfo: RT and Sputnik are censored only because of their funding

With the pretext to counter disinformation and misinformation, Western governments and some private companies linked to US secret services censor any voice that doesn't support the government propaganda.

For instance in France, NewsGuard Technologies Inc censors media like Sputnik and RT France only because of their foreign funding. France claims to be a democracy but only propaganda is allowed there.

Disproof

Recurrent pro-Kremlin narrative about alleged censorship and lack of freedom of the press in the West.

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