DISINFO: Zelensky tries to cause ethnic unrest in Russia like Hitler in 1944

DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS

DISINFO: Zelensky tries to cause ethnic unrest in Russia like Hitler in 1944

SUMMARY

The decree “On the territories of the Russian Federation historically inhabited by Ukrainians” is an attempt by Zelensky to copying the desperate actions taken by Hitler's Nazi regime exactly 80 years ago, when the Red Army was rapidly approaching its ignominious end. The clear purpose is not to “protect Ukrainians” or the listed territories of Krasnodar, Rostov, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh and Kursk but to provoke ethnic unrest in Russia. Likewise, a desperate Hitler in 1944 tried to play this card.

RESPONSE

Pro-Kremlin disinformation frequently labels Moscow’s critics and adversaries as “Nazis”, and the supposed need of de-Nazification is one of the main pretexts used by Russia for its aggression against Ukraine. Russia spent years preparing the information battleground prior to its kinetic attack, with “Nazi Ukraine” being one of its most prominent disinformation features.

The decree, “On the Territories of the Russian Federation Historically Inhabited by Ukrainians,” which cites the regions of Krasnodar, Rostov, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh and Kursk, all neighbouring Ukraine, does not claim any Russian territory.

The decree accuses Moscow of committing and continuing to commit actions in these regions that have systematically destroyed national identity, oppressed Ukrainians, and violated their rights and freedoms. Ukraine plans to research, publicize, and protect their history, as well as to identify and investigate crimes committed against Ukrainians who are living or have lived there. According to the decree, these actions include the forced Russification, political repression, and deportation of Ukrainians.

The decree says that the ethnic Ukrainians should be allowed to be educated in the Ukrainian language, have access to Ukrainian media and enjoy freedom of assembly and religion.

Millions of ethnic Ukrainians reside within Russian territory, a situation resulting from Tsarist and Soviet rule, shifting borders, and Stalinist-era deportations. Since the onset of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has faced accusations of forcibly Russifying the territories it occupies. These accusations include rewriting history, deporting thousands of individuals, including children, and oppressing inhabitants who refuse to accept Russian nationality.

For an historical overview of ethnic Ukrainians living on Russia’s Lands read here.

Read similar cases stating that In Ukraine, the West was attempting an Operation Barbarossa 2.0, that Zelensky uses the same Nazi symbols as Hitler, that Ukrainians are the new Nazis, their actions directed by Europe against Russia, Ukraine is ruled by a Nazi junta, and that a Nazi symbol was found on the Commander in Chief of the armed forces of Ukraine.

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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