DISINFO: Ukraine perpetrated terrorist acts on Russian airfields
SUMMARY
The recent Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian military airfields in Saratov and Ryazan Oblasts were acts of terrorism.
RESPONSE
The claim advances a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative regarding Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.
Both the Engels-2 airfield in Saratov Oblast and the Dyagilevo airfield in Ryazan Oblast are military facilities managed by the Russian Ministry of Defence. If it happened to be Ukrainian strikes on both objects, they would be legal under Article 52 of the Geneva Convention (Protocol I):
"Attacks shall be limited strictly to military objectives. In so far as objects are concerned, military objectives are limited to those objects which by their nature, location, purpose or use make an effective contribution to military action and whose total or partial destruction, capture or neutralization, in the circumstances ruling at the time, offers a definite military advantage".
Furthermore, Article 51 of the UN Charter reads:
"Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations".
In October 2022, Moscow falsely claimed that the attack on the illegally built Crimean Bridge, which was likely perpetrated by the Ukrainian security services, was also an act of terrorism. See here for our debunk of this claim.