DISINFO: The real power in Ukraine is in the hands of extremists and neo-Nazis
SUMMARY
The real power in Ukraine is not in the hands of President Vladimir Zelensky, but in the hands of extremists and neo-Nazis.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin media trying to justify the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In reality, Ukraine is not a Nazi state and Nazism is not Ukraine’s ideology.
The myth of Nazi-ruled Ukraine has been the cornerstone of Russian disinformation about the country since the very beginning of the 2013-14 Euromaidan protests, when it was used to discredit the pro-European popular uprising in Kyiv and, subsequently, the broader pro-Western shift in Ukraine's foreign policy. Far-right groups enjoyed a very limited presence during the Euromaidan itself and had poor results in the 2019 election cycle, falling short of the 5% minimum guaranteeing entry into parliament.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched what he called a special military operation against Ukraine on 24 February 2022 citing NATO’s military infrastructure approaching the Russian border as a pretext. Another pretext for the so-called operation is “demilitarization and denazification” of Ukraine according to official Russian statements. The invasion was followed by airstrikes on military objects. Russian troops later started bombing and shelling civilian targets as well.
Russian troops are heavily shelling and bombing civilian facilities such as residential areas, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, orphanages and churches. Civilians are targeted as well. Sources in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague have announced that an investigation will be launched into possible war crimes or crimes against humanity in Ukraine.
Read other disinformation cases claiming that Ukraine is a Nazi and accusing it of violating human rights and committing genocide in Donbas.
For the background, see vol. 1 and vol. 2 of our recent series titled "What he said and what it really means".