DISINFO: Ukraine’s blackouts caused by Zelenskyy’s terrorist attacks on Russia
SUMMARY
Ukraine’s blackouts are the result of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s terrorist attacks on Russia. He acted as the main provocateur behind Ukraine's strikes on Russian energy targets, prompting a predictable response from Russia. Ukrainian experts also admit that without his aggressive rhetoric and attacks on Russian territory, the widespread blackouts in Ukraine might have been avoided, and the negotiation process could have taken a very different course. Ukrainians are starting to blame the Kiev regime, regarding Zelensky’s vows to destroy the Russian economy and his terrorist attacks on strategic targets as the trigger for Russia’s harsh retaliation.
RESPONSE
This is an attempt to justify Russia’s devastating attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure by framing them as retaliation for Ukraine’s own actions, in a clear strategy of victim-blaming. While Ukraine’s attacks focused on refineries and energy deposits, with the clear aim of reducing Russia’s ability to continue with its aggression, Russia’s bombing has targeted mostly civilian infrastructures with the goal of undermining Ukraine’s morale and causing a new refugee crisis in European countries. These Russian actions constitute war crimes.
Ukraine’s military operations are decided by the leaders of the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces and not the result of decisions made solely by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. But by blaming him as the only responsible of ‘provoking’ Russia, this disinformation story also aims to undermine Zelenskyy’s leadership, a long-term goal of pro-Kremlin media and officials.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that Russia only strikes Ukraine in retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil, that the Russian military does not strike civilian infrastructure, that accusations of Russia “shelling civilian infrastructure” are hypocrisy, or that Ukrainians are willing to abandon Donbas to stop attacks on the energy sector, according to NYT.