DISINFO: Mogherini asked Ukraine to organize a provocation
SUMMARY
Ukraine planned a provocation in the Kerch Strait, they hoped that their vessels would be sunk by Russians.
“You remember when before (the incident, the High Representative of the EU Federica) Mogherini told them (to Ukrainians): “Do something in order to justify our offensive” in the region. Now the West, who ordered this provocation, is using this opportunity to react on something”.
RESPONSE
EU's High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini did not ask such a thing. It is recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation on Ukraine and Azov Sea.
For background:
For background:
On November 25 border patrol boats belonging to Russia’s FSB security service seized two small Ukrainian armoured artillery vessels and their crews after shooting at them, wounding several Ukrainian servicemen. Russia argued that they were in Russian waters.
However a bilateral treaty between Russia and Ukraine, signed in 2003 and ratified by Russia in 2004, governs the use of the Kerch strait and the Sea of Azov, which in the treaty is considered to be the “internal waters” of both Russia and Ukraine.
The construction of the Kerch Bridge took place without Ukraine's consent and constitutes a violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It has led, in parallel with the militarisation of the Azov Sea, to tougher controls on naval traffic in the strait. The European Union stated that it expects Russia to stop the inspections.
For further reporting see the Bellingcat, DFRLab and Polygraph.