DISINFO: Russia's military operation prevented genocide in Donbas and is in full accordance with the UN charter
SUMMARY
Russia began its own military operation in full accordance with the UN Charter; the objectives of the operation were clearly and precisely defined, namely, to ensure the security of the Russian state and people, and to protect the Donbas population from genocide.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative justifying the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The claim was neither counterbalanced nor critically challenged in the article.
On 2 March, 2022, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution demanding that Russia immediately end its military operations in Ukraine.
On 10 March, 2022, the EU leaders stated that "Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine grossly violates international law and the principles of the UN Charter and undermines European and global security and stability."
As for the genocide claim, since the conflict broke out in 2014, pro-Kremlin coverage has been characterised by the liberal use of the term "genocide," taken to mean the Ukrainian government's alleged treatment of the population of Donbas.
There is no evidence that either ethnic Russians or Russian speakers are facing persecution at the hands of the Ukrainian authorities, much less the danger of annihilation on grounds of nationality, ethnicity, or cultural belonging. This has been confirmed by reports issued by the Council of Europe, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the OSCE.
For an overview of the Kremlin's deployment of the "genocide" narrative regarding Ukraine, see further debunking by EUvsDisinfo, Euromaidan Press, and POLYGRAPH.info.
Read more about the EU response and support for Ukraine.
For further information, see also the Guide to Deciphering Pro-Kremlin disinformation around Putin's War and The Chilling Background to the Kremlin's "No War" trope.
A similar case can also be seen here.