DISINFO: Neo-Nazi-Fascists act with impunity in Ukraine and believe they have government support
SUMMARY
Neo-Nazi actions are gaining in importance in Ukraine, becoming more and more frequent and aggressive. Followers of the Nazi-Fascist ideology in Ukraine believe they are assured of total impunity, and even of the support of the country's authorities.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives claiming that Ukraine is a Nazi state and that anti-Semitism in Ukraine is on the rise.
The myth of Nazi-ruled Ukraine has been a cornerstone of Russian disinformation about the country since the very beginning of the 2013-14 Euromaidan protests, when it was used to discredit the pro-European popular uprising in Kyiv and, subsequently, the broader pro-Western shift in Ukraine's foreign policy.
It is not true, as the article claims, that Ukraine “glorifies Nazism”. Far-right groups enjoyed a very limited presence during the Euromaidan itself and had poor results in the 2014 presidential and parliamentary elections. In the 2019 election, far-right candidates fell short of the 5% minimum guaranteeing entry into parliament.
The statement refers to the controversial parade honouring the Galicia Division, held in Kiev on April 28 in Kiev, which was condemned by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
Read also related stories: Crimea, Donbas separated from Ukraine after Nazi coup in Kyiv, Ukrainian army uniforms feature Nazi imagery, Ukraine glorifies Nazism and practises anti-Semitism.