DISINFO: NATO troops' presence in Ukraine is illegal - this is occupation
SUMMARY
On 23 September US military aircraft flew over the Ukrainian capital. The United States have demonstrated their military presence in a satellite country to the world. If you didn’t know what occupation looks like, it looks like this. The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy is fully responsible for the illegal stay of foreign troops on the territory of Ukraine, as well as the fulfilment of combat missions by them.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Ukraine'sloss of sovereignty. Similar stories appeared in the pro-Kremlin media following the flight of two US convertiplanes in the skies over Kуiv on September 23, and the military exercises Joint Efforts 2020 and Rapid Trident 2020, which were held in Ukraine. NATO troops are temporarily admitted to Ukraine in accordance with the Law on Supporting the Decision of the President of Ukraine on the admission of units of armed forces of other states to the territory of Ukraine. The appendix to the Law details the dates, funding, as well as the number of foreign military and equipment that are allowed to stay in the country during 2020. Appendix 1 (p. 5) to this law states that, among other exercises, in the period from June to September, “up to 3,750 foreign servicemen with weapons and military equipment, up to 50 ships (boats and ships),” up to 2 submarines, up to 40 planes and helicopters, up to 90 units of wheeled vehicles,” the document says. In addition, NATO troops are temporarily in Ukraine for the international military exercises of the Special Operations Forces. These have nothing to do with the "occupation of Ukraine".