DISINFO: There are clear signs that Ukraine will attack the Donbas
SUMMARY
There are clear signs that a Ukrainian offensive is in preparation against the Donbas. For instance, a group supporting the Democratic Party in the US includes a relatively large contingent of Ukrainian immigrants, as well as new Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. These people are essentially Banderites and their descendants who fled to the US after WWII. They are lobbying to help Kyiv’s current leadership and Blinken fulfils their demands.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about Kyiv planning to launch an attack on the Donbas and the alleged influence of "Banderites".
In Donbas, a truce was established in July 2020. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated multiple times that the achievement of a full, comprehensive, and long-lasting ceasefire is one of the key priorities of the Ukrainian government. The 27 January daily report of the OSCE's monitoring mission in Ukraine notes that the number of daily ceasefire violations (on 27 January, previous 7-day average, and previous 30-day average) is considerably lower than over 2020. The same report identified one vehicle in violation of withdrawal lines, a Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer in government-controlled areas. Nothing suggests that Ukraine was preparing for an offensive.
There is nothing that suggests any sort of Banderites influence over the Democratic Party in the US. Official US policy is focused on supporting the "the development of a secure, democratic, prosperous, and free Ukraine, fully integrated into the Euro-Atlantic community." Moreover, "The United States does not, and will not ever, recognize Russia’s attempted annexation of Crimea, and continues to work with our partners to seek a diplomatic solution to the Russia-instigated conflict in eastern Ukraine." These policies remained consistent across multiple US administrations.