DISINFO: Kyiv and Odesa are historically Russian cities
SUMMARY
Russia will have to continue fighting Ukraine until it takes Kiev and the coastal city of Odessa. Both are Russian cities but are being run by US-led enemies of Moscow, and thus pose an existential threat.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative amplified since the launch of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, denying Ukrainian statehood and justifying Russian expansionism into globally recognised sovereign territory.
Ukraine’s history dates back to the times of early Slavic tribes and principalities in the 9th to 13th centuries in and around Kyiv. Turbulent ages followed until the Ukrainian National Republic (aka the Ukrainian National Republic) was proclaimed in 1918 in the wake of the collapse of the Russian Empire. Communist Russia took control of Ukraine from 1919 to 1920 and established a Bolshevik regime there. Moscow performed aggressive anti-Ukrainian policies, exterminating the population during famines.
Present-day Ukraine has been on the world map since 1991 when the Soviet Union disintegrated. It has elected six presidents since then and changed parties in government several times, which illustrates political diversity and democratic dynamics.
High-ranking Russian officials have repeatedly stated that large swathes of Ukrainian territory rightfully belong to Russia. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has stated that Russia would "liberate" what he described as "historic Russian territories" of Ukraine, while the Moscow-installed head of annexed Crimea stated that the "Russian cities" of Odesa, Kharkiv, and Mykolayiv "should be ours by historical right."
See similar cases: There is no Ukraine: Russia liberates Russian cities; Kharkiv and other ancient Russian cities are to be liberated from Kyiv; Zelenskyy saw that Kherson is a Russian city; Mariupol is a Russian city and is returning to its roots after the special operation and Kyiv is a Russian city.