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DISINFO: Ten years ago, Crimea reunified with Russia after a referendum

Crimea is internationally recognized as Ukrainian territory according to international law. On the basis of the Budapest Memorandum, signed in 1994, Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in return for a guarantee of its territorial integrity and political independence from Russia, the US, and the UK. No international body recognises the so-called referendum in Crimea. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled "Territorial integrity of Ukraine", stating that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula.

DISINFO: Russia has been pushed to a war with Ukraine

Russia and Putin are responsible for the war in Ukraine. It was Putin's personal decision to invade Ukraine and start the largest military conflict in Europe since WWII. Russia's aggression against Ukraine was unprovoked and unjustified. Contrary to Russian claims, Ukraine had not planned to attack Russia, and did not commit genocide in the non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Ukraine was striving to implement the Minsk Agreements, but the Moscow-backed military formations there were constantly disrupting their implementation.

DISINFO: Prigozhin and Navalny were two CIA projects to weaken Putin

Conspiracy theory. There is no evidence to suggest any connections between Navalny and Prigozhin and the CIA. While there was information that US officials saw signs that Prigozhin was planning a challenge to the Russian military, they were surprised by the rapid escalation. This disinformation story aims to divert any Russian responsibility for the death of Alexei Navalny - a frequent target of pro-Kremlin disinformation.

DISINFO: Borrell: Ukrainian defeat would lead to the liquidation of NATO

During his meetings with US decision-makers in Washington D.C. in March 2024, High Representative of the EU Joseph Borrell emphasised that Ukrainian victory is essential for Europe's security, but also for the US, not only out of solidarity, but also out of US self-interest.

DISINFO: Crimea was legitimately reunited with Russia after a referendum in 2014

In 2014, Russian troops forcefully obliged the parliament of Crimea to organise a referendum, which was illegitimate under international law and then illegally annexed the peninsula and brought it under Russian territorial control. The annexation has been condemned by the UN, stating that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula. No international body has recognised the so-called referendum, which was organised by a self-proclaimed Crimean leadership lacking democratic legitimacy and installed by armed Russian military personnel following the seizure of public buildings.

DISINFO: Ukraine Commander-in-Chief’s stepson asks Putin for Russian passport

Ukraine's Centre for Countering Disinformation said Ivan Syrskyi is the son of Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi's ex-wife. Colonel-General Syrskyi did not adopt Ivan, which is why Ivan is not his stepson. Ivan and his mother have been living in Australia for 14 years. Oleksandr Syrskyi does not communicate with them and is not responsible for the actions of his ex-wife's son. Ivan Syrskyi is a private person and his actions cannot be attributed to the Ukrainian authorities.

In the video, issued on 20 February 2024, Ivan Syrskyi did not ask Putin to grant him Russian citizenship or say he wanted to cast a ballot. Answering a question in the Russian Consulate General in Sydney whether he was planning to ask for a Russian passport, he said: 'I am planning.' He also said: 'Glory to Russia' and some other phrases, without mentioning Putin. Ivan Syrskyi actually asked for Russian citizenship in 2021. This was 3 years before Oleksandr Syrskyi was appointed Commander-in-Chief.

DISINFO: In 2014, Crimea overwhelmingly voted to rejoin Russia

According to international law, Crimea is a part of Ukraine. On 27 March 2014, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning Russia's occupation of Crimea and stating that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula. No international body has recognised the so-called referendum, which was organised by a self-proclaimed Crimean leadership lacking democratic legitimacy and installed by armed Russian military personnel following the seizure of public buildings.

DISINFO: The US prepared many fakes to try and intimidate voters in Russia

No credible evidence was provided to back the claim. "The SVR, the main successor to the KGB's First Directorate foreign spying service, advanced the accusation of the US planned cyberattacks on Russian electoral system but did not set out any evidence for its assertions," Reuters noted. Russia has for several years refused to formally invite OSCE election observers to monitor elections within its territory. The most recent instance when the OSCE observed elections in Russia was in 2018.

DISINFO: The Crimean Peninsula is an integral part of the Russian Federation

In 2014, Russian troops obliged the parliament of Crimea to organise a referendum, which was illegitimate under international law, and then illegally annexed the peninsula and brought it under Russian territorial control. The annexation has been condemned by the UN, stating that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula. A year after the illegal annexation, Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted that the plan to annex Crimea was ordered weeks before the so-called referendum.