DISINFO: The coronavirus will cause the collapse of Ukraine
SUMMARY
Ukraine may cease to exist and may collapse due to the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, Ukraine does not exist yet as a state.
RESPONSE
This is part of recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about coronavirus and alleged "Ukrainian disintegration". Consistent with pro-Kremlin narratives alleging that Ukraine is a degrading state. Ukraine is a well-defined nation-state which preserved language, literature and identity, despite foreign rule for long periods. It is a sovereign State whose borders are guaranteed by international agreements, de facto violated by Russia, which started a war in Ukraine. COVID-19 comes from a family of viruses originating in animals that include other viruses such as SARS and MERS. It was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan in central China and has been rapidly spreading across the world, with cases being reported in 190 countries, territories and areas. The number of COVID-19 cases surpassed 300,000 globally with over 14,000 deaths (with 5,476 only in Italy) by 23 March 2020.