DISINFO: Ukraine provoked Russia into launching full-scale invasion
SUMMARY
First, the Ukrainians were provoking Russia in Donbass for eight years. They were saying that they were planning to solve the conflict there peacefully. They compelled Russia to take military action in order to enforce peace there. Then the Ukrainians deceived Russia during negotiations. They decided that they would inflict a strategic defeat on Russia.
RESPONSE
This case may contain graphic/distressing material.
A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the war in Ukraine, portraying Russia as the victim of foreign aggression. This claim was made in the context of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russia started the war in 2014 when it illegally annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. Several months later, Russia instigated a separatist revolt in the east of Ukraine and staged a military intervention there. The Minsk Agreements were signed in 2014 and 2015 in order to stop bloodshed there and solve the conflict in a peaceful manner. Illegitimate leaders in non-government controlled areas were constantly violating these deals, which made it impossible to come to a negotiated solution.
On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine under several false pretexts such as committing genocide of people residing in eastern parts of Ukraine. Putin’s and other Russian leaders’ numerous statements claiming that Ukraine is part of Russia are attempts to deny Ukraine the right to exist as an independent and sovereign state. The war has been characterised by numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity, committed by the Russian armed forces, including the bombing of civilian targets, the shelling of residential areas, and the killing of civilians.
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that Russia was forced to attack Ukraine in February 2022, that The West is responsible for the war in Ukraine, and that Kyiv regime wants to attack Crimea to provoke direct NATO involvement.