DISINFO: NATO is preparing for an offensive operation in Crimea
SUMMARY
NATO's military exercises in Romania and Bulgaria are anti-Russian.
During exercises “Noble Jump 2021” NATO special forces simulating assault of Crimea. Officially exercises are testing the readiness of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force but in reality, it is a preparation for an offensive operation.
RESPONSE
Recurring disinformation narrative about NATO and its military exercises.
NATO is conducting many exercises every year. The main point of military training is “to test procedures and tactics, develop best practices and identify areas for improvement. Exercises are designed to ensure that NATO forces are trained, able to operate together and ready to respond to any threat from any direction” (see more information about key NATO and Allied exercises 2021 here).
NATO exercises are defensive by their nature and not pose a threat to any country. The task of “Noble Jump 2021” is “to test the activation of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), the collaborative deployment planning, and the readiness and mounting functions for the VJTF”.
See more similar examples of disinformation: NATO exercises is a threat and provocation against Russia; NATO’s Spring Storm exercise in Estonia poses threat to Russia; NATO’s actions is openly anti-Russian.