President Putin's Fiction: 10 False Claims about Ukraine
Fact Sheet
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
March 5, 2014
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As Russia spins a false narrative to justify its illegal actions in Ukraine, the world has not seen such startling
Russian fiction since Dostoyevsky wrote, “The formula ‘two plus two equals five’ is not without its attractions.”
Below are 10 of President Vladimir Putin’s recent claims justifying Russian aggression in the Ukraine, followed by the
facts that his assertions ignore or distort.
1. Mr. Putin says: Russian forces in Crimea are only acting to protect Russian military assets. It is “citizens’ defense groups,” not
Russian forces, who have seized infrastructure and military facilities in Crimea.
The Facts: Strong evidence suggests that members of Russian security services are at the heart of the highly organized
anti-Ukraine forces in Crimea. While these units wear uniforms without insignia, they drive vehicles with Russian
military license plates and freely identify themselves as Russian security forces when asked by the international media
and the Ukrainian military. Moreover, these individuals are armed with weapons not generally available to civilians.
2. Mr. Putin says: Russia’s actions fall within the scope of the 1997 Friendship Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.
The Facts: The 1997 agreement requires Russia to respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Russia’s military actions in Ukraine,
which have given them operational control of Crimea, are in clear violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and
sovereignty.
3. Mr. Putin says: The opposition failed to implement the February 21 agreement with former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
The Facts: The February 21 agreement laid out a plan in which the Rada, or Parliament, would pass a bill to return Ukraine to its
2004 Constitution, thus returning the country to a constitutional system centered around its parliament. Under the terms
of the agreement, Yanukovych was to sign the enacting legislation within 24 hours and bring the crisis to a peaceful
conclusion. Yanukovych refused to keep his end of the bargain. Instead, he packed up his home and fled, leaving behind
evidence of wide-scale corruption.
4. Mr. Putin says: Ukraine’s government is illegitimate. Yanukovych is still the legitimate leader of Ukraine.
The Facts: On March 4, President Putin himself acknowledged the reality that Yanukovych “has no political future.” After
Yanukovych fled Ukraine, even his own Party of Regions turned against him, voting to confirm his withdrawal from office
and to support the new government. Ukraine’s new government was approved by the democratically elected Ukrainian
Parliament, with 371 votes – more than an 82% majority. The interim government of Ukraine is a government of the people,
which will shepherd the country toward democratic elections on May 25th – elections that will allow all Ukrainians to
have a voice in the future of their country.
5. Mr. Putin says: There is a humanitarian crisis and hundreds of thousands are fleeing Ukraine to Russia and seeking asylum.
The Facts: To date, there is absolutely no evidence of a humanitarian crisis. Nor is there evidence of a flood of asylum-seekers
fleeing Ukraine for Russia. International organizations on the ground have investigated by talking with Ukrainian border
guards, who also refuted these claims. Independent journalists observing the border have also reported no such flood of
refugees.
6. Mr. Putin says: Ethnic Russians are under threat.
The Facts: Outside of Russian press and Russian state television, there are no credible reports of any ethnic Russians being under
threat. The new Ukrainian government placed a priority on peace and reconciliation from the outset. President Oleksandr
Turchynov refused to sign legislation limiting the use of the Russian language at regional level. Ethnic Russians and
Russian speakers have filed petitions attesting that their communities have not experienced threats. Furthermore, since
the new government was established, calm has returned to Kyiv. There has been no surge in crime, no looting, and no
retribution against political opponents.
7. Mr. Putin says: Russian bases are under threat.
The Facts: Russian military facilities were and remain secure, and the new Ukrainian government has pledged to abide by all
existing international agreements, including those covering Russian bases. It is Ukrainian bases in Crimea that are
under threat from Russian military action.
8. Mr. Putin says: There have been mass attacks on churches and synagogues in southern and eastern Ukraine.
The Facts: Religious leaders in the country and international religious freedom advocates active in Ukraine have said there have
been no incidents of attacks on churches. All of Ukraine’s church leaders, including representatives of the Ukrainian
Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate, have expressed support for the new political leadership, calling for national unity
and a period of healing. Jewish groups in southern and eastern Ukraine report that they have not seen an increase in
anti-Semitic incidents.
9. Mr. Putin says: Kyiv is trying to destabilize Crimea.
The Facts: Ukraine’s interim government has acted with restraint and sought dialogue. Russian troops, on the other hand, have moved
beyond their bases to seize political objectives and infrastructure in Crimea. The government in Kyiv immediately sent
the former Chief of Defense to defuse the situation. Petro Poroshenko, the latest government emissary to pursue dialogue
in Crimea, was prevented from entering the Crimean Rada.
10. Mr. Putin says: The Rada is under the influence of extremists or terrorists.
The Facts: The Rada is the most representative institution in Ukraine. Recent legislation has passed with large majorities,
including from representatives of eastern Ukraine. Far-right wing ultranationalist groups, some of which were involved
in open clashes with security forces during the EuroMaidan protests, are not represented in the Rada. There is no
indication that the Ukrainian government would pursue discriminatory policies; on the contrary, they have publicly
stated exactly the opposite.
ENDS