DISINFO: Russia forced into a conflict in "historical Russia"
SUMMARY
Russia did not willingly enter into a conflict in "historical Russia", but it was forced to because many people want to eliminate Russia, since it is a "thorn in the eye" for them.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin media denying Ukrainian statehood by claiming that it is part of "historical Russia". This claim was neither counterbalanced nor critically challenged in the article.
In reality, the territory of present-day Ukraine had been divided between the Russian Empire and the Austrian-Hungarian Empire for centuries. Many new countries appeared in Europe in the wake of Russia’s Bolshevik revolution in 1917 and World War One (1914-1918), the Ukrainian People’s republic (aka the Ukrainian National Republic) being one of these. It was later occupied by Communist Russia and forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union. Ukraine assumed its internationally recognised borders in 1991 when the USSR broke up.
It is true that Ukrainians and Russians share a common history, have similar languages and are mostly Orthodox Christian believers. Many neighbouring European nations have a common history, linguistic similarity and religious affinity as well. Although some of them were parts of other, bigger states at some point in history, all modern European nations are now equal and independent states.
Moreover, Russia was not forced to invade Ukraine. This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets to justify the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. It was Putin’s personal decision to invade Ukraine and start the largest military conflict in Europe since WWII.
Read more disinformation cases about Ukrainian statehood.