Donbas

We fact check six false or misleading claims by made by the Russian Foreign Ministry in its annual review of the Kremlin’s policy initiatives.

"I'm constantly being asked this question: where do they get tanks and heavy artillery? Listen, in many hot spots around the world there are various kinds of conflicts and military campaigns, including with the use of tanks, artillery, and so on. Where does this come from? Apparently, from those structures and states who sympathize with them, but this is their equipment, not foreign. I'd like to draw attention to that."

While ‘brain dead’ @NATO annual #military budget exeeds [sic] $1 trillion, #Russia spends on defence 23 times less (only $46 bln). Neretheless, [sic] #fake Russian threat is used to justify even more waste of taxpayers’ $. Good for business strategy, dangerous for intl. peace & security”

"No, you know, this is a question that has nothing to do with the Kremlin, so I can't say anything here."

“The president cannot make decisions regarding such companies (private military companies); it is simply impossible.”

“Twitter is stunned to discover during the impeachment hearing that Ukrainians prefer Kyiv is pronounced 'KEEV' and not 'Key-Ev' and it is a point of national pride in defiance of the Russians.”

“Russia categorically rejects all allegations of involvement in the crash and has repeatedly stated that the investigation is biased.”

“Transnistria is an independent state.”

"Kyiv blamed the disaster on the militias, who said they did not have the means to shoot down an aircraft at such an altitude."

"While the story might seem humorous at first glance, there’s nothing funny about being catfished by your own defensive alliance, or so we’re told. In fact, according to NATO’s Center for Strategic Communication, located in Riga, Latvia, the test revealed that the alliance must do more to protect its naive troops from… Russia."

“We don’t have any kind of relationship with PMC Wagner.”

"The Contact Group’s meeting was focused on the agreements that the aides to the leaders of Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine had reached during recent consultations in Berlin, which particularly stipulated that a document on the implementation of the ‘Steinmeier formula’ be signed at today’s meeting so that the disengagement of forces may begin near the Petrovskoye and Zolotoye settlements. However, the Ukrainian delegation refused to sign the document, putting preparations for a Normandy Four summit at risk of failure."