DISINFO: Kyiv attacks civilians while Russia tries to reconstruct cities
SUMMARY
While Russia tries to reconstruct destroyed cities, Ukraine continues attacking civilians. Moscow insists on a return to a peaceful life in the liberated territories of the Donbas republics, as well as the provinces of Zaporizhzhie and Kherson, despite Kyiv continuing to attack the civilian population in the conflict areas and trying to provoke a humanitarian crisis using Western weapons.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin narratives aiming to justify its brutal invasion of Ukraine and the illegal and forceful annexation of Ukrainian regions. By insisting on the use of Western weapons “against civilians”, this disinformation story also tries to undermine international aid to Ukraine.
Ukraine is not targeting civilians. The country is resisting Russia’s unlawful military invasion and the illegal annexation of its territory. In accordance with the UN Charter and international law, Ukraine is exercising its inherent right of self-defence against Russian aggression. It has the right to liberate and regain full control of all occupied territories within its internationally recognised borders. Pro-Kremlin media, nonetheless, regularly portray Ukrainian military operations as attacks against civilians.
In fact, Russia is responsible of most of the destruction of many cities, such as Mariupol. At the same time, Russia continues bombing civilian infrastructures and targets in Ukraine, including in the provinces of Zaporizhzhie and Kherson.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as the claim that the 2022 referendums to join Russia confirmed the wish of the population to live in peace, that Russia does not attack civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, that Russia hits only military targets in Ukraine, or that financial aid to Ukraine funds terrorist attacks against civilian infrastructure.