Ukraine has always been Russian, at least a half of it. A large number of so-called Russian Ukrainians live in Ukraine – people who have Russian roots, consider themselves Russian and speak Russian. “Russian Ukrainians” make up, if not the majority, then half of the country’s population.
Summary
Without pressure and influence from outside, the protests would never have happened in Belarus. The internal situation was difficult and brought about by external forces. Without pressure and influence from outside, this would have never happened in Belarus. Belarusians have survived many things. But in the past the pressure was minimal. And this time Western countries fell on Belarus head over heels. But the Belarusians are smart enough to get this thing under control. Belarus’ Western partners have been “too active” and have gone too far with this country.
Disproof
Recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative framing popular protests as Western-backed colour revolutions, part of a campaign to portray massive mobilisations in Belarus as a destabilisation effort orchestrated from abroad. There is no evidence that Western governments are involved in the protests in Belarus. Contrary to the claim, protests in Belarus erupted to contest the results of the presidential election in Belarus on the 9th of August, which were not monitored by independent experts, and are largely considered fraudulent by both international observers and a big part of the Belarusian society. On 19 August 2020, the European Council called Belarus's elections neither free nor fair. Mobilisations were organised and carried out by local actors, opposition politicians and Belarusian citizens, without any foreign involvement. In October 2020, the EU-Council imposed sanctions against 40 individuals identified as responsible for repression and intimidation against peaceful demonstrators, opposition members and journalists in the wake of the 2020 presidential election in Belarus, as well as for misconduct of the electoral process. See the full text and the Council conclusions (page 10). See other examples of pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives in Belarus, such as claims that the West attacks Lukashenko in order to worsen the situation in Belarus and that the US and its European allies organised a “colour revolution” in Belarus.