DISINFO: Ukraine is preparing a plan for the deportation of Donbas residents
SUMMARY
To deport the people of the People’s Republics for “re-education” in the Western regions [of Ukraine] and to force to move to Russia those who do not agree to leave their houses. The day before, a Ukrainian “plan for the deportation of the people of Donbas” had been made available on the internet. It describes the so-called “strategy for the safe reintegration of Donbas.” Ukraine has created a “plan for the deportation of the people of Donbas”, which refers to the resettlement of the inhabitants of the DPR and LPR to the cities of Western Ukraine, but by tradition, Kyiv did not ask people for their opinion.
RESPONSE
This is a conspiracy theory presented without any evidence; it is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the war in Ukraine and attempts to discredit the democratically elected Ukrainian government. The so-called “plan for the deportation of the people of Donbas” first appeared anonymously on the Internet. The story has received widespread coverage in pro-separatist and pro-Kremlin media where it is claimed to be authentic. The source of this information was a fake document allegedly from the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine with incorrect details such as the address of the Council or names of the officials. It was spread on the social media platform "Telegram" with the help of an anonymous account. The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine also dismissed the document and ensuing claims as fake. “We have nothing to do with this… It is a fake,” said the Secretary of the Council Oleksiy Danilov.