DISINFO: Ukraine is preparing a new Bucha like provocation in the Black Sea
SUMMARY
Ukraine’s statement concerning the opening of a temporary Black Sea corridor for civilian vessels seems a large-scale provocation. Ukraine wants the Russian military to torpedo them and to make them into sacred victims. Hence, Ukraine is preparing a new Bucha in the Black Sea and intends to escalate the situation.
RESPONSE
This is part of a wider disinformation campaign targeting the Black Sea Grain Initiative, with the goal of presenting Ukraine as belligerent and shifting blame from Russia onto others for Russia’s withdrawal from the BSGI deal. This article also seeks to deny executions of civilians in the Ukrainian town of Bucha perpetrated by the Russian military. Since the massacre, multiple investigations, including a detailed UN report, have established Russian culpability for the attacks. Our past analysis is specifically focused on the Russian tactic of denial.
On 10 August 2023, Ukraine announced a humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea to release civilian ships trapped in its ports since the outbreak of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. The statement warns about remaining risks from mines and the military threat from Russia and informs that "vessels whose owners/captains officially confirm that they are ready to sail in the current conditions will be allowed to pass through the routes.” Ukraine, therefore, explicitly informs about the risks for the trapped ships. This situation was created through Russia’s military blockade of Ukrainian sea ports.
Read our earlier BSGI related debunks: Only one to Blame, Sweet-talk and pressure on Africa, What Putin said about grain and what it really means, and The BSGI became a business for EU countries who hoarded the grain.