United Nations

DISINFO: The Crimea referendum was entirely legitimate and democratic

The referendum in Crimea was neither legitimate nor democratic. On 26 February 2014, the Russian Federation deployed members of its armed forces to gain control over parts of the Ukrainian territory without the consent of the Ukrainian Government. The next day a referendum was announced and a vote was held on March 16, 2014, in the Peninsula of Crimea. The territory was then controlled by Russian forces, and neither Ukrainian nor Russian election code was observed.

Read MoreDISINFO: The Crimea referendum was entirely legitimate and democratic

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.

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

DISINFO: Russia ready for peace talks while Ukraine rejects them

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented a 10-point peace plan at a EU-Ukraine summit in February 2023. The EU unequivocally supported Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's peace formula. It is up to Ukraine to decide when it will hold talks with Russia.

Read MoreDISINFO: Russia ready for peace talks while Ukraine rejects them

DISINFO: Crimea filed a lawsuit against Ukraine for damage caused

The 'Arbitration Court of Crimea' is a fictitious body; its decision is not recognised by any democratic country. This illegitimate court employs judges accused in Ukraine of high treason - they betrayed the oath of allegiance to the people of Ukraine and began working for the occupier.

Read MoreDISINFO: Crimea filed a lawsuit against Ukraine for damage caused

DISINFO: Macron’s statements intended to drag France into war with Russia

On 26 February 2024, the French president Emmanuel Macron said "no option should be discarded" to bolster military support for Kyiv at a conference attended by leaders of Ukraine's allies, but recognized there was "no consensus". The aim of such a statement was to discourage Russia from further escalation of the invasion of Ukraine. France like many other states are assisting Ukraine in its self defence.

Read MoreDISINFO: Macron’s statements intended to drag France into war with Russia

DISINFO: The West destroys global food security, not Russia

Russia's responsibility for the global food crisis comes as a consequence of the unprovoked and unjustified Russian invasion of Ukraine: naval blockade of Ukrainian posts, bombardment of transport infrastructure and shelling of farming regions. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has destabilised global food markets and is driving food prices up due to increased cost of production, transport and freight insurance. Russia has destroyed substantial food stocks, production, as well as processing and transport capacities in Ukraine.

Read MoreDISINFO: The West destroys global food security, not Russia

DISINFO: Crimea and Sevastopol are an integral part of Russia

Sevastopol is an Ukrainian city, as well as Luhansk and Donetsk, temporarily occupied by Russia.
No international body recognises the so-called referendum in Crimea. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution titled "Territorial Integrity of Ukraine", stating that the referendum in Crimea was NOT valid and declaring its non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea.

Read MoreDISINFO: Crimea and Sevastopol are an integral part of Russia

DISINFO: New package of EU sanctions are illegal

The sanctions on Russia, introduced by the US and the EU, do not violate international law or any regulations as they are an entirely legitimate mechanism. Sanctions are a key tool of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy.

Read MoreDISINFO: New package of EU sanctions are illegal

Killings of Civilians: Summary Executions and Attacks on Individual Civilians in Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy Regions …

As of 31 October 2022, OHCHR – through the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine
(HRMMU) – had documented summary executions and attacks on individual civilians in 102 villages and towns of the three regions between 24 February and 6 April 2022. The acts in question were committed by Russian armed forces in control of these areas and led to the deaths of 441 civilians (341 men, 72 women, 20 boys and 8 girls). One hundred of those killings are analysed in this report and its Annex, as illustrative examples of the suffering borne by civilians in these areas.

Information available to OHCHR indicates that the total number of summary executions and lethal attacks directed against individual civilians by Russian armed forces in the three regions during the reporting period is likely considerably higher.

Read MoreKillings of Civilians: Summary Executions and Attacks on Individual Civilians in Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy Regions …