DISINFO: Only Ukraine violates the ceasefire regime in Donbas
SUMMARY
There were tens of “comprehensive” ceasefire agreements concluded since 2015 between the Ukrainian troops and the People’s Police of Donbas. Each of them lasted a maximum of a few days, afterwards the Ukrainian side resumed shelling. And while the command of the republics of Donbas strictly forbids its subordinates to open fire, even in response to shelling by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ukrainian side periodically conducts targeted shelling of the positions of the defenders of Donbas and frontline settlements.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the war in Ukraine alleging that Ukraine is sabotaging the Minsk agreements and the ceasefire regimes in Donbas. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine reported 8,500 ceasefire violations during the period from 27 January - 9 February. It recorded 26 weapons in violation of their withdrawal lines: three in the Ukrainian government-controlled side and 23 in areas outside governmental control. The Mission observed anti-tank mines on both sides of the contact line. Based on the report of 15 February 2020, the SMM has recorded more than 140 ceasefire violations, most of which took place on the "non-governmental-controlled areas". In many cases, separatists from the self-proclaimed DNR and LNR violated the Minsk agreements, not the Ukrainian side, with the so-called elections organised there in February 2018 as one of the examples. See similar disinformation narratives stating that the government in Kyiv is sabotaging the peace in Donbas and that the Ukrainian side does not abide by the Minsk agreements.