orcopedia

Myth: NATO is expanding eastward, and Ukraine’s NATO membership provoked Russia.

Fact: Ukraine could not join NATO between 2014 and 2022 because it had an ongoing war on its territory, making it ineligible for NATO membership under the alliance’s own rules. NATO requires prospective members to have stable borders and no active conflicts, which Ukraine clearly did not have due to Russia’s hybrid invasion and occupation of Crimea and parts of Donbas.

As for the claim of a NATO “promise” not to expand eastward, there is no credible evidence of such an agreement. In fact, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev himself stated in interviews that no such binding agreement was made. NATO’s expansion was a choice of sovereign nations seeking to join, and every new member was accepted based on their own decision to join the alliance, not on any promises made to Russia. The idea of NATO “encroaching” is a conspiracy theory, and the reality is that NATO is a defensive alliance that has only grown as countries sought security in the face of external threats.

Myth: Zelensky commands far-right troops in Ukraine.

Fact: Before Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, far-right groups in Ukraine were actually in opposition to President Zelensky. These groups, such as the Azov movement, were not aligned with the government but were instead part of volunteer militias, fighting against Russian hybrid invasion in Donbas, and their political influence was always extremely limited. Zelensky, who is Jewish and has openly condemned far-right ideologies, has always prioritized democratic values and unity. The far-right political movements in Ukraine were not under his command, and their presence was minimal in comparison to the overall national defense effort. The narrative of Zelensky commanding far-right troops is a Russian propaganda myth aimed at discrediting Ukraine’s government, which remains committed to a free and democratic society.

Myth: Ukrainians are killing Russian-speaking Ukrainians.

Fact: The idea that Ukrainians are killing Russian-speaking Ukrainians was created and promoted by the Russian propagandists since 2014. Many Ukrainians, especially in the eastern regions, speak Russian as their first language. For example, the Azov Battalion, which emerged in Kharkiv — a predominantly Russian-speaking city — was made up of Ukrainians who spoke Russian. Language is not an indicator of nationality or loyalty. If it were, then English-speaking Americans would be considered British. The conflict in Donbas and Crimea was not about language but about Ukrainian sovereignty and resistance to Russian aggression. Fact is, vast majority of Ukrainian citizens, regardless of the language they speak, stand united against foreign occupation and aggression.

Myth: Ukraine bombed Donbas for 8 years.

Fact: The conflict in Donbas, which started in 2014, involved both Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists, and there were casualties on both sides. According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), between 2014 and 2022, the total number of civilian casualties in the Donbas conflict was 3,404, covering both Ukrainian and separatist-held areas. The claim that Ukraine was solely responsible for these deaths ignores the significant role of Russian-backed separatists and the broader context of the conflict.

However, this is drastically different from Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, which led to the deaths of thousands of Ukrainian civilians within just the first few months, with the UN reporting over 5,000 civilian deaths by mid-2022 alone. Russia’s invasion has caused far more destruction and loss of life than the previous 8 years of fighting, as Russia deliberately targeted civilian areas across Ukraine.

In 2014, Ukraine’s military actions in Donbas were a response to Russian-backed forces, including native Russians like Igor Girkin, who led the separatists and is responsible for the downing of MH17, killing 298 civilians. Ukraine was defending its territory from foreign aggression, not targeting its own people. The Azov Battalion, which formed in May 2014, came after the Russian invasion and was not involved in any “massacres” of Russian-speaking Ukrainians.

Donbas is home to a majority of ethnic Ukrainians, not Russians, and the fighting was a result of an invasion by Russian-backed separatists, not internal warfare against Russian speakers. Ukraine’s efforts were focused on protecting its sovereignty and citizens from foreign aggression, which began with the Russian annexation of Ukrainian territory in Crimea.

Myth: There are American biolabs in Ukraine conducting illegal experiments.

Fact: The claim of “American biolabs” in Ukraine is a baseless conspiracy. The labs in Ukraine are part of a cooperative program between the U.S. and Ukraine to ensure safe handling of biological materials and to prevent the spread of dangerous diseases. These are public health labs, not “combat biolabs.” The facilities are highly regulated, have security measures, and their work is in line with international health standards. Unlike secretive military research labs, these institutions are not hidden, and their locations can be viewed publicly on platforms like Google Maps. They focus on monitoring and controlling infectious diseases, not developing biological weapons.

Myth: Zelensky is a dictator who canceled elections.

Fact: Ukraine’s constitution prohibits holding presidential elections during wartime, a measure designed to ensure national security and stability in times of crisis. This is not a decision made by Zelensky alone, but a legal requirement to avoid destabilizing the country during the war. This is similar to the UK during World War II, where elections were also suspended for national security reasons, and Winston Churchill led without interruption. Zelensky’s actions are in line with constitutional law, not a dictatorial move.

In contrast, in Russia, Vladimir Putin changed the constitution to stay in power indefinitely, eliminating democratic checks and balances. From a democratic standpoint, Russia is effectively a dictatorship, with no free elections or opposition allowed, unlike Ukraine, which remains committed to democratic values even during wartime.

Myth: Ukrainian Nazis burned Russians alive in the Odesa fire of 2014.

Fact: According to UN investigators and video evidence, the fire at the Trade Unions House started when armed pro-Russian separatists, who had barricaded themselves inside and prepared Molotov cocktails, ignited the building from the inside. There is no evidence of a planned attack by Ukrainian nationalists. In fact, video footage shows pro-Ukrainian activists helping people escape the flames.

Myth: Yanukovych was a legitimate and lawful president of Ukraine.

Fact: Yanukovych’s political career was marked by election fraud. His 2004 election win was overturned by Ukraine’s Supreme Court due to massive vote-rigging. In 2010, he returned to power but increasingly violated the constitution, usurped authority, and violently suppressed opposition. During the 2013–2014 protests, he ordered security forces to shoot demonstrators, killing over 100 people. Facing impeachment, he abandoned his post and fled to Russia. Parliament followed constitutional procedures to remove him, making his presidency neither lawful nor legitimate.