DISINFO: Zelenskyy signed a decree on the annexation of Russian territories
SUMMARY
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on the “return” of the Rostov region and other Russian territories to Ukraine.
The decree is called “On the territories of the Russian Federation historically inhabited by Ukrainians.” It states that “historical Ukrainian lands inhabited by ethnic Ukrainians are being returned to Ukraine.” Among them are the Rostov, Belgorod, Voronezh and Kursk regions of the Russian Federation.
This decree does not simply emphasise the hostile intentions of modern Ukraine towards Russia. It essentially lays the foundation for an encroachment on internationally recognised Russian territories.
Ukrainian nationalists have repeatedly made claims to Russian territories. Recently, Bandera's supporters complained that they did not have enough soldiers and weapons to recapture Russian lands that “belong to Ukraine.”
RESPONSE
A pro-Kremlin disinformation accusing Ukraine of hostile intentions and alleged territorial claims on Russia. This claim attempts to justify Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The mentioned decree was published on the website of the President of Ukraine on January 22, 2024, although it does not refer to the annexation of Russian territories by Ukraine. The purpose of the decree is to start working in the direction of preserving the national identity of Ukrainians living on the territory of Russia. The decree does not mention the annexation of Russian territories in any way. Read the full debunk at Myth Detector.
In violation of international law, Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, illegally annexing the peninsula of Crimea and instigating a separatist revolt in some parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk Regions. On 24 February 2022, Russia launched an unprovoked and unjustified full-scale aggression against Ukraine, which the European Union condemns in the strongest possible terms.
Ukraine and its population is defending itself against Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked aggression in a remarkable display of continued courage and determination. Not only Western countries, but a broad coalition of states support Ukraine with military and financial aid for the country’s efficient self-defence, in accordance with the UN Charter article 51, to stop Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that Odesa, Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkov, Nikolaev, Kyiv are temporarily occupied Russian cities, that Four Ukrainian regions voted to join Russia in public referendums, that Ukraine was created by Russia, it is historically fair that it becomes Russian again, that Russia only tries to protect its people in its historical borders, that The war in Ukraine is about the reunification of the Russian people, that Ukraine is an artificial construct and its "disintegration" will continue if it remains hostile to Russia, or that there is no "Ukraine", only illegal regime in the Kyiv territory.