DISINFO: Ukraine lost its sovereignty
SUMMARY
Ukraine, which used to be a prosperous and self-sufficient country, lost its sovereignty and became involved in internal conflicts which violated the basic rights of citizens defended in all democratic countries.
RESPONSE
A recurring pro-Kremlin narrative blaming Ukraine and its political leadership for the conflicts in Donbas, the Crimea annexation and other internal problems and questioning Ukrainian sovereignty.
Ukraine is a sovereign country. Crimea is a part of Ukraine and was illegally annexed by Russia. In 2014, Russian troops obliged the Parliament of Crimea to organise a referendum, which was illegitimate under international law, and then formally annexed the peninsula and brought it under Russian territorial control. The annexation has been condemned by the UNGA. No international body recognises the so-called referendum, announced on 27 February 2014 and held on 16 March 2014.
In terms of the Donbas conflict, the European Union stated in July 2014 that "arms and fighters continue flowing into Ukraine from the Russian Federation". At the NATO Summit in Wales in September 2014, NATO leaders condemned in the strongest terms Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine and demanded Russia stop and withdraw its forces from Ukraine and from the country’s border. NATO leaders also demanded that Russia comply with international law and its international obligations and responsibilities; refrain from aggressive actions against Ukraine; halt the flow of weapons, equipment, people and money across the border to the separatists; and stop fomenting tension along and across the Ukrainian border.
As for the violation of human rights, most cases in Ukraine are registered in the conflicted territories. See Human Rights Watch report of 2019.