from Michael Shanklin on Facebook:
There are numerous false narratives and conspiracy theories that have been used to justify Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Below is a list of the most common ones, along with explanations of why they are false and what the real truth is.
1. “Ukraine is run by Nazis”
False Claim: Russia justifies its invasion by claiming it is “denazifying” Ukraine, portraying the government as controlled by neo-Nazis.
Why It’s False:
• Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is Jewish, and he lost family members in the Holocaust.
• Far-right nationalist groups exist in Ukraine (as they do in many countries), but they have no significant political power. In Ukraine’s 2019 elections, far-right parties collectively received less than 2% of the vote—far from a government takeover.
• Russia has its own neo-Nazi groups, some of which have been involved in its military forces, such as the Rusich Group and Wagner Group, which have white supremacist ties.
The Real Truth:
Russia uses the “Nazi” label as propaganda to justify its aggression and demonize Ukraine. This is a classic tactic to create a pretext for war.
2. “Ukraine was committing genocide against Russian speakers in Donbas”
False Claim: Russia has accused Ukraine of committing “genocide” against ethnic Russians in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions since 2014.
Why It’s False:
• No credible evidence supports this claim. International human rights organizations, including the United Nations, OSCE, and Human Rights Watch, have found no proof of genocide in eastern Ukraine.
• Casualties in the Donbas conflict (which began when Russian-backed separatists started an armed rebellion) affected both sides—not just Russian speakers.
• Russia itself fueled the conflict by sending weapons, fighters, and intelligence to separatist groups, escalating the violence.
The Real Truth:
Russia fabricated claims of genocide to justify supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine and later used it as a pretext for a full-scale invasion in 2022.
3. “Ukraine was developing biological weapons with the U.S.”
False Claim: Russia and pro-Kremlin media spread the idea that Ukraine had secret U.S.-funded bioweapon labs.
Why It’s False:
• This theory is based on a misrepresentation of U.S.-funded biological research aimed at preventing the spread of diseases (like COVID-19 or anthrax).
• The Pentagon does fund biological research in Ukraine, but these are public health labs that monitor and prevent outbreaks, not bioweapons labs.
• The United Nations, U.S., and Ukraine have all denied the existence of bioweapons programs, and no evidence has ever been presented.
The Real Truth:
This conspiracy was likely spread by Russia to create fear and justify its invasion by falsely claiming Ukraine was preparing to attack with bioweapons.
4. “Ukraine was planning to join NATO and threaten Russia”
False Claim: Russia argues that Ukraine’s potential NATO membership posed a direct military threat, forcing it to act.
Why It’s False:
• Ukraine was NOT close to joining NATO at the time of the invasion. NATO had no concrete plans to admit Ukraine.
• NATO is a defensive alliance, not an offensive one. It does not invade or attack countries unless its members are attacked.
• Several of Russia’s neighbors (like Finland and the Baltics) have joined NATO peacefully. Russia’s aggression has actually pushed more countries toward NATO.
The Real Truth:
Russia fears losing influence over former Soviet states and wants to keep Ukraine as a puppet state. The invasion was about control, not security concerns.
5. “Ukraine is an artificial country and historically belongs to Russia”
False Claim: Russia argues that Ukraine is not a real country but a historical part of Russia that should return under Moscow’s control.
Why It’s False:
• Ukraine has its own unique history, language, and identity separate from Russia.
• Ukraine was one of the first Slavic nations to form a state—the Kyivan Rus’ (9th-13th centuries), which predates modern Russia.
• Ukraine has been independent since 1991 after the Soviet Union collapsed.
The Real Truth:
Russia uses historical revisionism to deny Ukraine’s sovereignty and justify its imperial ambitions.
6. “Russia is only targeting military infrastructure, not civilians”
False Claim: Russia claims it only hits military targets and does not deliberately harm civilians.
Why It’s False:
• Massive evidence (satellite images, videos, and survivor accounts) shows Russia deliberately bombing civilian areas, including hospitals, schools, and apartment buildings.
• The Mariupol theater bombing killed hundreds of civilians, including children. The theater had a “children” sign written outside to avoid an attack—Russia bombed it anyway.
• War crimes investigations have found targeted civilian executions, rape, and torture by Russian forces (e.g., in Bucha and Irpin).
The Real Truth:
Russia has committed numerous war crimes by deliberately attacking civilian populations, as confirmed by international investigators.
7. “Western sanctions are hurting the West more than Russia”
False Claim: Russian propaganda insists that sanctions are destroying Western economies while Russia remains strong.
Why It’s False:
• Russia’s economy is heavily impacted by sanctions—its military industry struggles, and oil revenue has dropped due to price caps.
• Russia has faced inflation, labor shortages, and a brain drain, with hundreds of thousands of skilled workers leaving the country.
• While the West faced temporary inflation in 2022, its economies have recovered far better than Russia’s.
The Real Truth:
Sanctions have significantly weakened Russia’s long-term economic and military capabilities.
8. “Ukraine is losing, and Russia is winning easily”
False Claim: Russian media constantly claims that Ukraine is on the verge of collapse and that Russia is close to victory.
Why It’s False:
• Ukraine has successfully resisted Russia’s full-scale invasion, defending Kyiv, Kharkiv, and other major cities.
• Ukraine retook thousands of square miles in counteroffensives in 2022 and 2023.
• Russia has suffered massive casualties, with hundreds of thousands of troops killed or wounded and struggling to make gains.
The Real Truth:
While the war is difficult for both sides, Ukraine has defied expectations, and Russia has failed to achieve a quick victory.
Conclusion
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is based on false narratives and misinformation designed to justify aggression and hide war crimes. The real reason for the war is Russia’s imperial ambitions and its desire to control Ukraine politically and economically. Ukraine’s resistance, backed by international support, has proven that these justifications are fabrications meant to mislead the world.