Russian President President Vladimir Putin addresses the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Monday, Sept. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
According to Wikipedia, Maskirovka may refer to: “Russian military deception, a military doctrine of that country. A term used in the Western press for the supposed deceitfulness of the Russian state in military and political affairs.”
Russia’s President Putin gave a speech to the United Nations Assembly this week, which resembles the use of “maskirovka” at its best. The following statements made by Putin at the UN should shock any reader as deception and reminder them of how the Russian regime manipulates information on the world stage:
1. PUTIN: “Decisions debated within the UN are either taken as resolutions or not. As diplomats say, they either pass or do not pass. Whatever actions any state might take bypassing this procedure are illegitimate.”
FACT: Russia ignored UN Resolution 68/262 adopted on March 27, 2014 (entitled “Territorial integrity of Ukraine”), which was passed by UN Security Council members following Crimea’s illegall annexation.
2. PUTIN: “Russia stands ready to work together with its partners on the basis of full consensus, but we consider the attempts to undermine the legitimacy of the United Nations as extremely dangerous.”
FACT: In July 2015, Russia was the only country to veto the UN Security Council proposal for an independent international tribunal to investigate the downing Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 over Ukrainian territory controlled by the Russia-backed rebels. All 298 people on board were killed.
3. PUTIN: “…It is hypocritical and irresponsible to make loud declarations about the threat of international terrorism while turning a blind eye to the channels of financing and supporting terrorists, including the process of trafficking and illicit trade in oil and arms.”
FACT: As Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko stated at the 70th session of the UN General Assembly this week, “How can you urge an anti-terrorist coalition if you inspire terrorism right in front of your door?” referring to President Putin’s UN speech on the crisis in Syria.
4. PUTIN: “It would be equally irresponsible to try to manipulate extremist groups and place them at one’s service in order to achieve one’s own political goals in the hope of later dealing with them or, in other words, liquidating them.”
FACT: In eastern Ukraine, the groups fighting against Ukraine’s government forces are led by commanders and fighters who hold Russian citizenship, including recently captured regular force soldiers Yevgeny Yerofeyev and Alexander Alexandrov.
6. PUTIN: “This is exactly what happened in Ukraine, where the discontent of the population with the current authorities was used and the military coup was orchestrated from outside — that triggered a civil war as a result.”
FACT: Former President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych abdicated his post by fleeing to Russia during the mass protests in Ukraine. Early presidential and parliamentary elections were subsequently held and were deemed to be democratic, free, and fair by the international community (including Russia).
7. PUTIN: “We’re confident that only through full and faithful implementation of the Minsk agreements of February 12, 2015, can we put an end to the bloodshed and find a way out of the deadlock.”
FACT: According to Ukraine Crisis Media Centre, Russia and Russia-backed militants have repeatedly violated the Minsk Agreement –Ukrainian positions have been shelled 7,248 times, killing 166 soldiers while injuring 964 in action in the first 5 months of the agreement being implemented!
8. PUTIN: “Ukraine’s territorial integrity cannot be ensured by threat of force and force of arms. What is needed is a genuine consideration for the interests and rights of the people in the Donbas region and respect for their choice.”
FACT: “The threat of force and force of arms” comes from Russia and its proxies in the Donbas, who are trying to freeze the conflict and shift the world’s attention away from Russia’s illegal actions. This is a pattern similar to what was pursued in relation to other Russian-backed breakaway territories in the region, namely Transnistria, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.
We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society.
A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support.Become a Patron!
Article by: Orysia Hrudka, Bohdan Ben Edited by: Sonia Maryn In 2014, after the first Russian invasion of Ukrainian territory in the Donbas, soldiers who had lost limbs in battle were seen for the first time in public as they returned...