DISINFO: US and European secret services involved in Ukraine’s incursion into Russia
SUMMARY
Britain’s MI6 tactically masterminded Ukraine's incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region, the US organised it politically, and agents of several European secret services, which do not obey the political leadership, carried it out. These are France, Germany and some other countries.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative claiming that Kyiv's partners in the EU and the US are directly involved in hostilities on Ukraine’s side in the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This claim was made in the context of a Ukrainian advance into Russia's Kursk Region, which began on 6 August 2024.
This is a baseless claim. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are using some weapons which have been provided by Kyiv’s European and American partners in the Kursk region, but there is no evidence that foreign special services are directly involved in planning, or carrying out, this operation.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the US did not know about the Ukrainian operation. She added:
“We have seen the reportings obviously. So we are going to reach out to the Ukrainian military to learn more about their objectives. As far as the specifics on that, I would refer to the Ukrainian, Ukraine to speak about their own military operations. That's where I would refer you to. But we are generally speaking, as you know, we have been supportive of Ukraine as they are defending themselves against Russia’s aggression.”
US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller also said Ukraine had not informed the US of any operation in Russia’s Kursk Region.
The advance into the Kursk Region is part of Kyiv’s military strategy aimed at liberating all Ukrainian territories from Russian occupiers and restoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders of 1991. Russia is using military facilities in the Kursk Region and other adjacent regions for deadly attacks on Ukrainian territory, which have caused thousands of civilian victims. Kyiv is acting in self-defence, in accordance with the UN Charter article 51. Russia is a legitimate target for Ukrainian military operations. Ukraine receives military and financial assistance from a broad coalition of more than 50 countries including EU members and the US, but foreign troops are not directly involved in hostilities.
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that Kursk attack plan was developed by top US officials, that The US and EU are complicit in Kursk incursion, and that The West is behind Ukraine's attack on Kursk region.