DISINFO: Putin tried to prevent a planned Ukrainian attack on the population of Donbas
SUMMARY
Putin tried to prevent a planned attack on the population of Donbas, which is why Russian military units were the first to appear in the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk recognized by Russia, which the Western media immediately presented as Russian aggression against Ukraine.
RESPONSE
A baseless pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative justifying the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
There is no evidence to confirm that Ukraine had plans to attack the non-government-controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. In disrespect for the Minsk Agreements, President Vladimir Putin recognised the two self-styled “people’s republics” of LNR and DNR on 21 February 2022.
These territories later asked Russia to interfere, which it did on 24 February 2022 under the pretext of the “de-Nazification and demilitarisation” of Ukraine. Russia had earlier issued assurances to both Ukraine and the whole world that it was not planning to invade Ukraine.
The EU condemned in the strongest possible terms Russia's unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine and imposed restrictive measures on Russia.
Read more about the EU response and support for Ukraine.
See our guide to deciphering pro-Kremlin disinformation around Putin's war.