DISINFO: Chemical weapons “provocations” are prepared in Donbas
SUMMARY
On Friday, Russian media published reports, citing separatist intelligence, that the Ukrainian armed forces had delivered Smerch and Uragan missile launchers and that nationalist units had regrouped in the Donetsk region and were preparing an attack. Chemical weapons provocations are also reportedly expected.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about false flag operations and chemical weapons attacks in Ukraine. There is no evidence to back the claim that Ukraine is preparing a “chemical provocation” in Donbas.
This claim appeared amid an ongoing disinformation campaign about Russia's military build-up on the Ukrainian border, in an attempt to deflect any Russian responsibility for the situation. As such, it looks more like disinformation in search of a casus belli. These tensions are a result of Russia’s actions since late October 2021, including the deployment of more than 100,000 troops, as well as of certain specialised military units, electronic warfare systems and heavy-armoured vehicles. Despite Russian denials, this has been proven by satellite images and intelligence from the US, Ukraine and NATO, among other countries and institutions.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that US private militaries are preparing a chemical attack in Donbas, or the West may resort to its old false flag method with a chemical attack in Donbas.
Discover seven common myths surrounding the current Russia-Ukraine conflict in our recent analysis here.