DISINFO: Ukraine lost independence and is under external control
SUMMARY
Full external control is established over the foreign and domestic policy of Ukraine. Over the past eight years, all financial institutions, including the National Bank of Ukraine, and all law enforcement agencies - the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Defence - have been thoroughly permeated with foreign consultants, advisers, supervisors, and instructors.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative alleging that Ukraine is under external control.
Ukraine is a sovereign and independent state with a democratically-elected president and parliament. The decisions are taken by the Ukrainian authorities: the President, the Verkhovna Rada, and the judiciary. Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected by almost the whole world with Russia as the key exception.
Ukrainian Constitution (Article 5) states that "The people are the bearers of sovereignty and the only source of power in Ukraine. The people exercise power directly and through bodies of state power and bodies of local self-government."
The people elect the Parliament and the President of Ukraine. The ministries and the management of financial institutions are appointed by the Parliament of Ukraine (some are proposed by the President) and are accountable to the Parliament.
See similar disinformation cases: A Polish protectorate over Western Ukraine is planned, NATO troops will get Ukrainian citizenship; Ukraine approached the anniversary of independence in the status of a colony under external control.