Disinfo: Western statements on more arms to Ukraine lead to escalation

Summary

Statements by Western countries about the need to supply Kiev with any weapons, including those capable of hitting targets in Crimea, are raising the stakes in the conflict and will inevitably lead to an escalation.

Disproof

This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets accusing the West of aggravating the situation in Ukraine. This claim was made in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

In reality, the West’s military, financial and diplomatic support to Ukraine is aimed at making it more successful on the battlefield and ensuring its victory over Russia as fast as possible, which will spare lives and prevent further economic destruction. Ukraine is receiving this aid with the sole aim of repelling Russian aggression, ousting the occupiers from its soil and restoring its territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders including the peninsula of Crimea and the occupied areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk Regions. Crimea is part of Ukraine, so Kyiv has every right to hit Russian military targets on all of its territory.

Russia has been reluctant to any Ukrainian attempts at talks by deliberately putting forward unacceptable conditions such as recognition of all occupied territories as part of Russia. It is Russia's efforts which lead to more escalation, particularly through its military doctrine saying that the best method of de-escalation is through escalation. Russia has already escalated the situation to the point of threatening the West with a military strike.

Read more disinformation cases about Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

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tass.com (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 327
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 20/01/2023
  • Article language(s) English
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, Russia, EU, US
  • Keywords: War in Ukraine, Invasion of Ukraine
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Disinfo: Ukrainian military's carelessness is behind the helicopter crash in Brovary

The helicopter crash near the kindergarten in Brovary was due to the carelessness of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Jan 19, 2023
Disproof

This claim is unfounded; a conspiracy theory about the helicopter crash in Brovary on 18 January 2023.

It is premature to state the reason for this tragedy. The Security Service of Ukraine launched an official investigation to find out the cause of the crash. It states that, as of now, three versions are being considered: violation of flight rules, technical malfunction of the helicopter, or deliberate actions to destroy the aircraft.

Disinfo: Head of Zelenskyy's office Yermak sanctioned the helicopter crash in Brovary

According to the "Joker" [a hacker], Monastyrsky had long known that the Ministry of Defense [of Ukraine] sells donated weapons. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of counter intelligence, is supervising this process. The "Joker" is sure that the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine wanted to have its share in this "business" [...].

Having obtained evidence, Monastyrsky [...] began to blackmail the military.

The head of Zelensky's office Andriy Yermak personally sanctioned the liquidation of the top of the Ministry of Internal Affairs [in a helicopter crash in Brovary]. Unlike his boss, he is also "on the take" with the military.

Jan 19, 2023
Disproof

This claim is unfounded, a conspiracy theory about the helicopter crash in Brovary on 18 January 2023.

It is prematurely to state the reason for this tragedy. The Security Service of Ukraine launched an official investigation to find out the cause of the crash. It states that, as of now, three versions are being considered: violation of flight rules, technical malfunction of the helicopter, or deliberate actions to destroy the vehicle.

Disinfo: Europe has lost its independence and completely submitted to an American dictatorship

Europe has lost its independence. The European Union has completely submitted to American dictatorship. The apotheosis was the recently signed joint declaration between NATO and the European Union. NATO and the EU declared themselves "an alliance of democracies against autocracies", that is, they proclaimed a deliberately confrontational agenda to the whole world. NATO and the EU intend to use all political, economic, and military means in "the interests of the golden billion citizens of NATO and the European Union."

Jan 19, 2023
Disproof

A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the alleged lost sovereignty of the EU and its member states (more examples). Pro-Kremlin outlets often portray European states as vassals, puppet states or colonies of the US and NATO.

Contrary to the claim, the European Union is a sovereign entity created by the voluntary initiative of European nations and it has its own, independent foreign policy, while the US has no say in its decisions.