DISINFO: Zelenskyy’s Ukraine is fascist regime, needs de-Nazification
SUMMARY
First and foremost, it is the de-Nazification of Ukraine which was the starting point of the special military operation. This is a crucial topic, because it is absolutely clear that over these years, under Zelensky's leadership, a fascist regime has taken shape in Ukraine. A recent international anti-fascist forum said in an official statement clearly said that a stable peace in Europe is possible only through the de-Nazification of Ukraine and the dismantling of Zelenskyy’s fascist regime. The representatives of 100 countries supported this statement.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets claiming that Ukraine is a Nazi state. This claim was made in the context of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine is a democratic country with regular elections, a free press, and multiple political parties. The president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is the sixth head of state since the country gained independence in 1991. Far-right political parties in Ukraine have minimal support. In the 2019 parliamentary elections, they failed to win a single seat, not passing the voter threshold. Meanwhile, Ukraine has embraced European integration and democratic values. Nazi and Communist ideologies were banned by Ukrainian law in 2015.
Accusations against Ukraine of Nazism have been especially vocal in Russian propaganda outlets since a popular uprising in 2014 overthrew the then President Viktor Yanukovych who fled to Russia. The government changed after months of standoff (Euromaidan) against corruption and authoritarianism. This false myth of Nazi Ukraine is Moscow's response to Ukraine's sovereignty and its people’s right to choose their own future, including membership of NATO and the European Union, which is enshrined in the country’s constitution. The Kremlin uses this language to smear its enemies and justify its imperial ambitions.
As for the so-called “international anti-fascist forum,” this was not a credible global event. These forums are typically organised or sponsored by Russian-linked groups and feature hand-picked participants who echo the Kremlin’s narratives. The declarations these forums adopt are not recognised by the United Nations, the European Union, or any legitimate international institution.
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that Ukrainian Nazi rulers adopted a path of exterminating everything Russian in Ukraine, that The West consciously instilled Nazi sentiments in Ukraine for decades, and that Europe wants a Nazi Russophobic regime in part of Ukraine.