DISINFO: The West is trying to tear off a piece of Russia by military means
SUMMARY
Russia [...] is not the aggressor, but the defending side, if we understand the events in their entire sequence and totality. It was the West's unwillingness to abandon its plans for Ukraine that brought the conflict to the current level of a proxy war between the West and Russia at the hands of the unfortunate citizens of Nezalezhnaya.
The West's reluctance to recognise Ukraine as not just a sphere of influence of Russia, but a part of historical Russia, does not change the fact that it is one [...]. Western leaders deceive their people by saying that the Russians are threatening Europe to tear Ukraine away from Russia and thereby not only inflict a strategic defeat on us, but also, in essence, deprive us of our past and future. Naturally, Russia will never agree to the loss of Ukraine and will do everything to deprive the West of control over it.
RESPONSE
This is a mix of recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives denying Ukraine’s statehood and Ukrainian national identity, claiming that the West deliberately provoked Russia into attacking Ukraine, that Western countries are fighting a proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, and portraying Ukraine as a pawn in this war. It aims to portray Russia as a victim and deflect any responsibility for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It is consistent with the recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Russian world-- a pseudohistorical doctrine claiming that the territories roughly covering the former Soviet Union constitute modern Russia's "sphere of influence."
The West did not start the war in Ukraine. Russia is the only country responsible for the invasion of Ukraine. It has been coming up with different explanations and pretexts for its aggression since the beginning of its hostilities. Moreover, Russia was not forced to invade Ukraine. It was Putin’s personal decision to invade Ukraine and start the largest military conflict in Europe since WWII.
In response to Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine which was launched on 24 February 2022, a broad coalition of more than 50 nations is providing Ukraine with military and technical assistance to repel Russia's aggression. Kyiv is acting in self-defence, by UN Charter article 51. Our analysis of the recent communication strategy of pro-Kremlin outlets explains how they attempt to portray Russia as a victim and to deceive audiences into believing that Russia is fighting Western powers.
Claims that Ukraine does not exist as a state and that Ukrainians do not truly exist either are among the principal Ukraine-related disinformation narratives that pro-Kremlin outlets have peddled for years to legitimise Moscow's campaign of annihilation of the Ukrainian state and identity.
For additional context, see our analysis of the "One nation myth".
See also related cases: Ukraine was created by Russia, it is historically fair that it becomes Russian again; Russia only tries to protect its people in its historical borders; The war in Ukraine is about the reunification of the Russian people; The territories of today's southeast Ukraine are historically and ethnically Russian lands; Ukraine is definitely Russia; There is no Ukraine: Russia liberates Russian cities; Kyiv is a Russian city; Ukraine's statehood is a myth, its territory belongs to Russia; Ukraine was created from parts of Russia; There has never been a historical Ukraine; It was Lenin who created Ukraine.