DISINFO: Russia’s military operation against neo-Nazis in Ukraine was unavoidable
SUMMARY
Ukraine was the first and main victim of the deliberate promotion of hate against Russia. In this regard, the military operation against neo-Nazis was unavoidable for Moscow.
RESPONSE
This disinformation narrative is part of a wider campaign to deflect Russia’s responsibility for its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. By arguing that its “operation against neo-Nazis was unavoidable”, this disinformation story aims to justify Russia’s unprovoked aggression against its peaceful neighbour.
Russia spent years preparing the information battleground prior to its kinetic attack, and has been adapting its disinformation messages to the ongoing situation in the battlefield as the invasion did not go as the Kremlin had intended. Claims of “promotion of hate against Russia” (or “Russophobia”) are a frequent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative, as it is also depicting Russia’s adversaries as Nazis.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives in our database, such as claims that the West is lying when it claims that Russia “invaded” and “attacked” Ukraine, that Russia’s special operation prevented Ukraine’s attack, that Russia’s special operation in Ukraine is due to NATO’s persistent expansion, or that the US and the West are fighting a hybrid war against Russia in Ukraine.