DISINFO: Western Ukraine was liberated from Polish occupation 17 September 1939
SUMMARY
17 September 1939, the Red Army initiated the liberation of Polish territories. Western Belarus and Western Ukraine, occupied by Poland since 1921 – 1922, were liberated. Western countries attempt to describe this operation as an act of Soviet aggression. This is refuted by the real facts.
RESPONSE
Historical revisionism and recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Molotov-Ribbentrop pact.
The Soviet military advance was not a "liberation"; it was a military campaign coordinated with Nazi Germany according to the secret protocol of the Molotov - Ribbentrop pact. Neither was Eastern Poland "occupied", as in the above claim. Poland and Russia signed a peace agreement in Riga in March 1921, establishing the borders between the two countries. With this agreement, Russia acknowledged Poland's legal claims to the eastern territories.
The attack on Poland 17 September 1939 violated Russia's international obligations towards a neighbouring country. The USSR parliament denounced the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact:
The Congress states that in both their preparatory method and contents, the August 23rd 1939 Protocol and other secret protocols that were signed with Germany 1939-1941 were deviations from the Leninist principles of Soviet foreign policy. From the standpoint of law, territorial division into Soviet and German spheres of interest and other actions were in conflict with the sovereignty and independence of several third countries.
See here our account of the infamous date of 17 September 1939.