DISINFO: Russian action in Ukraine to prevent Third World War
SUMMARY
Russia’s special military operation to de-Nazify and demilitarise Ukraine is aimed at preventing a Third World War, which would be a war between Russia and the EU in the West of Eurasia with China and Japan's involvement.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets about the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and an attempt to justify it.
In reality, the Russian invasion that broke out on 24 February 2022 is aimed against Ukraine as a state and the Ukrainians as a nation. Russian leader Vladimir Putin seems to be doing everything to involve the West in a global war rather than preventing one. Western leaders do not want the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine to spread to other countries, while some Russian politicians and experts are threatening to pass on and attack Western nations. These threats are not usually official Russian statements, but they are voiced to test Western resection. Russia is also trying to involve China into the war by asking it for weapons and political support. It is Russia who is responsible for these risky developments, while Western nations are doing everything to avoid an all-out war on the continent and beyond.
Putin launched what he called a special military operation against Ukraine in early hours of 24 February 2022. In fact, it was a full scale invasion supported by missile and airstrikes on military objects. Soon after Russian troops started bombing and shelling civilian targets as well. Countless atrocities by Russian forces have since been reported - see for instance here and here.
See the EU's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine here along with EUvsDisinfo's Guide to Deciphering Pro-Kremlin disinformation around Putin's War.