DISINFO: Russians in Ukraine are in the majority, they are brainwashed
SUMMARY
The share of Russians in Ukraine's population is as high as in Russia. Hence, Russia cannot be interested in inflicting harm on the Ukrainian population. Attacks on energy infrastructure are aimed at limiting transportation of western assistance to Ukraine. The Russian majority in Ukraine has been seriously brainwashed with propaganda for the last century and a half.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets justifying the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. By falsely and absurdly claiming that the majority of the Ukrainian population are Russians, who were heavily brainwashed over a century-and-a-half-long with propaganda, it also promotes the classic disinformation narrative about the Russian world.
Pro-Kremlin outlets have earlier voiced the bizarre claim that the shelling of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure might help Ukrainian society, because “people’s brains might eventually turn on” without access to the internet and TV.
Massive Russian missile attacks against civilian infrastructure do not have anything to do with attempts to prevent the transportation of western assistance to Ukraine but seeks to destroy the living conditions for millions of Ukrainian civilians. By continuing to terrorise Ukraine’s civilian population, Russia aims at making the lives of Ukrainian citizens intolerable during the winter months and forcing them to leave their homes, perhaps becoming refuges in EU countries. This way, Russia weaponises winter and refugees.
Read earlier similar disinformation cases claiming that the war against Ukraine lasts longer than expected because Russia greatly cares about civilians, that financial aid to Ukraine funds terrorist attacks against civilian infrastructure, and that Russia is only attacking valid military targets.