Click to see the full-size image
A start of the new campaign of the information war against Russia can be observed in the European mainstream media. This campaign is similar to the previous ones, which have been carried out against Russia: the Russo-Georgian War 2008, the MH17 incident in 2014 and others.
Repeating the 2008 war approach, in 2018 EU mainstream media outlets have been ignoring facts and blamining “Russian agression”.
- In 2008 when the Georgian Armed Forces opened artillery and rocket fire on South Ossetia, particularly its capital of Tskhinvali, all the European media was accusing Russia of agression against Georgia. The question remains how it was possible if Russian troops entered South Ossetia to carry out a peace-enforcement operation on November 8 evening only.
- On November 25, 2018, 3 Ukrainian warships illegaly entered in Russian territorial waters carrying out hostile actions, ingoring commands of Russian coastal guards and threatening mairitme security in the Black Sea region. The Russian side repeatedly tried to stop the advance of the Ukrainian naval group peacefully, through military-diplomatic channels. However, Russian border guards were able to stop hostile actions of the Ukrainian naval group only after a brief firefight caused. European mainstream media outlets show this incident as an act of “Russian agression”.
Despite the obvious facts confirming that the November 25 incident in the Black Sea was provoked by the Ukrainian side, the European mainstream media as well as some Western diplomats are actively accusing Rusisa of agression against Ukraine.
For example, US Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker demonstrated a clear example of double-think in this situation.
Russia rams Ukrainian vessel peacefully traveling toward a Ukrainian port. Russia seizes ships and crew and then accuses Ukraine of provocation???
— Kurt Volker (@SpecRepUkraine) November 26, 2018
In the near future, it’s highly likely that this information campaign against Russia will be intensified and expanded. It should be noted that from its side, Russia once again appears to be the side, which makes excuses and attempts to explain its legal actions to the audience. Russia is the defensive side in this media conflict.
Probably, the Rusian leadership has learnt little from the previous information campaigns surrounding the country.
By 16:11 EET November 26, Russia has not released a detailed comment answering to the accusations against it and providing details into the entire chain of events surrounding the incident. The existing comments by the Russian side are limited remarks by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mariya Zakharova, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and this very statement by the foreign ministry:
“The Foreign Ministry hereby issues a strong protest against the gross violation of the rules of peaceful passage in the territorial waters of the Russian Federation in the Black Sea by Ukrainian naval ships, that took place on November 25, 2018. Russia has lodged a demand for an urgent UN Security Council meeting to discuss the current situation.
Russia has repeatedly warned the Kiev regime and its Western patrons about the danger of inflating artificial hysteria in connection with the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait. Clearly, this is a well-thought-out provocation that took place in a predetermined place and form and is aimed at creating another hotbed of tension in that region and a pretext for stepping up sanctions against Russia. Clearly, all of this was also designed to distract attention from the domestic political problems that exist in Ukraine. This assumption is further corroborated by Kiev’s plans to impose martial law in the country, a move which is odious in the light of the upcoming presidential elections in the spring of 2019.
We are also outraged by the Ukrainian radicals unleashing another attack on Russia’s diplomatic missions, and the damage it caused. We demand that Kiev bring those responsible to justice and ensure the unconditional inviolability of the Russian Embassy and Consulate Generals in Ukraine in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961.
We are hereby issuing a warning to Ukraine that Kiev’s policy, pursued in coordination with the United States and the EU, that seeks to provoke a conflict with Russia in the waters of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea is fraught with serious consequences. The Russian Federation will firmly curb any attempts to encroach on its sovereignty and security.”
Russia has reacted to the current sitaution in its ordinary manner – via diplomatic channels. For example, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that it’s summoning Ukraine’s charge d’affaires in Russia.
