DISINFO: Russia never violated Ukraine's border and is certainly not involved in the war in Donbas
SUMMARY
It is worth noting that Russia has never violated the Ukrainian border or taken possession of any of the Ukrainian territories. In what concerns Crimea, the peninsula itself decided to become part of the Russian Federation and there was no talk of a violent takeover. In the case of the Donbas, the accusations against Moscow have been confusing for years: Russian troops did not start this war and are certainly not involved in it. Russia is doing its best to help the people of the Donbas, whom it historically and culturally considers its compatriots.
RESPONSE
Multiple recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about the war in Ukraine, Crimean referendum and Russia's role in these events.
Opposite to the claim, the war in Ukraine is not an internal conflict but a well-documented act of aggression by Russian armed forces ongoing since February 2014. There is irrefutable evidence of direct Russian military involvement in Eastern Ukraine. Russia is supporting its proxies in Donbas with weapons, its active-duty soldiers serve there and its top military commanders visit the war zone to coordinate joint efforts with the separatists.
The systematic issuing of Russian passports to several hundred of thousands of persons in the two entities is now also used as a pretext to claim the right to influence and perhaps intervene militarily to help the 'compatriots'. Russia is also reported to be using the occupied territories as a testing ground for new weapons. Despite all this Russia officially denies its military presence in Donbas.
As for Crimea, it is an internationally recognised part of Ukraine. The so-called referendum was organised hastily and at gunpoint following the covert invasion of “little green men” and barring impartial observers from entering the peninsula. Russian President Vladimir Putin even recognised and also admitted proudly that the plan to annex Crimea was ordered weeks before the so-called referendum.
The EU (as well as the UN) does not recognise and continues to strongly condemn this violation of international law, and has imposed restrictive measures against the Russian Federation in response to the crisis in Ukraine.
Read similar disinformation cases alleging that the conflict in Donbas is only internal, the Russian army is not a part of hostilities in Ukraine and that Ukraine is an integral part of the Russian World, only Russia can solve its domestic conflict.