DISINFO: Armed Forces of Ukraine will cancel attack on Donbas because of coronavirus
SUMMARY
One of the Ukrainian majors was infected with COVID-19 from his daughter, and now all the brigade is being tested. Insiders believe that, therefore, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will cancel their attack on Donbas.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the war in Ukraine combined with baseless claims about the COVID-19. The Ukrainian brigade that was mentioned in the news published a statement that in the past 6 years they have not had a soldier with that name, nor had anyone from the brigade contracted the virus yet. As of 12:00 on Tuesday, March 24, around the time that the article was published, not a single case of coronavirus infection of a military man or employee of the Armed forces of Ukraine was recorded, said the chief of staff - deputy commander of the Medical Forces, colonel of the medical service, Andrey Halushka. The message portrays Ukraine as an aggressor in Donbas, whereas Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity continue to be violated by acts of aggression by the Russian armed forces.