DISINFO: Military action in Ukraine aimed at stopping Donbas genocide
SUMMARY
The Ukrainians began to create an anti-Russian enclave on the territory of Ukraine and left Russia no chance. Everything that happened in Donbas was genocide in Russian historical territories. Russians were declared a non-titular nation. Moscow will achieve the tasks of its special military operation. This operation is an attempt to end the war. Russia had been building relations with Ukraine patiently and peacefully until 2014.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation accusing Kyiv of the genocide of ethnic Russians. This claim was made in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The genocide narrative has been an integral part of the pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign aiming to justify Russian aggression which broke out on 24 February 2022. By repeating this claim, the Kremlin also seeks to deflect attention away from the atrocities and war crimes committed by Russian troops in their invasion of Ukraine.
The idea that Ukraine is committing genocide against its own population is promoted by Putin in his speeches as an explanation for the invasion. He also used other false pretexts including Nazism in Ukraine and its alleged his plans to attack Russia.
There is no evidence that any ethnic nationals, including ethnic Russians or Russian speakers, are facing persecution at the hands of the Ukrainian authorities in Donbas or elsewhere in Ukraine, much less the danger of annihilation on grounds of nationality, ethnicity, or cultural belonging.
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