Disinfo: West-supported protests and coups in Ukraine causes economic recession in a cyclical fashion

Summary

Before the 2014 coup, in which the nationalists seized power in the country, division had always been a chronic feature of all Ukrainian elections, as the pro-Western and pro-Russian parts were roughly equal, which led to a political path that always revolved in a vicious circle. Usually, after the nationalists come to power, the new government tries to cut economic ties with Russia, leading to an economic recession and a deterioration in living standards in the country.

In the following elections, the disaffected population would vote out the nationalists in favour of the pro-Russian party, and then economic recovery takes place, which is in turn followed by protests and coups backed by the West, and the pro-Western nationalists return to power, cutting ties with Russia again, the standard of living decreases, and so forth.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign against Ukraine, containing multiple disinformation narratives regarding the Ukrainian economy and Ukrainian statehood. It promotes a narrative about the belligerent West and its interference in the politics of Ukraine, stating that the 2013-14 Euromaidan protests resulted in an illegal coup; painting Ukraine as a failing state incapable of making its own foreign policy choices; and painting the West as the puppet-master of Ukrainian politics.

The spontaneous onset of the Euromaidan protests was an organic reaction by numerous parts of the Ukrainian population to former President Yanukovych’s sudden departure from the promised Association Agreement with the European Union in November 2013. See the full debunk of this disinformation claim here.

Also, statistics about Ukraine's economic growth do not follow the cyclical logic stated in the article. The occupation of Crimea, which has not been recognised by the democratic world, including the United Nations, and the war in Donbas caused a deep economic crisis in 2014-2015. However, the Ukrainian economy already began to recover in 2015, and has reached consistent growth rates between 2-4 percent between 2016 and 2019.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 218
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 27/10/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Arabic, English
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, Russia
  • Keywords: Ukraine, Eastern Ukraine, West, Ukrainian disintegration, Ukrainian statehood, Conspiracy theory
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Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the illegal annexation of Crimea. Ukraine and Turkey do not wage war against the residents of Crimea. Turkey supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine, including its sovereignty over Crimea. See more disinformation cases regarding Crimea in our database, like claims that reunification with Russia paved the way for Tatar's language in Crimea, that Turkey considers Crimea to be Turkish, that Ukraine buried the main waterway of Crimea - the North Crimean canal or that Ukraine has been barbarically plundering Crimea for 23 years.

Disinfo: NEXTA is the Polish provocative Telegram channel

NEXTA is the Polish provocative Telegram channel.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the protests in Belarus after the presidential elections in 2020.

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Disinfo: Ukraine will split into three parts

The fate of Ukraine can be predicted by the results of local elections. Ukraine will eventually split into three parts.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Ukraine's disintegration and imminent collapse.

There is no evidence that after the local elections Ukrainian regions want to or will split. Ukraine is a sovereign state whose borders are guaranteed by international agreements and were de facto violated by Russia.