Illustration: Truthmeter.mk
This article was first published by Truthmeter.mk (North Macedonia), within the framework of Western Balkans Anti-Disinformation Project.
The term “UkroNazis” was popularized by Russian state media outlets and pro-Kremlin sources in order to justify or legitimize the comprehensive invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It falsely portrays Ukrainians and the Ukrainian government as controlled by neo-Nazis. In reality, Ukraine is a democratic country with a Jewish president (Volodymyr Zelensky) and a population of diverse ethnicities
We analyze a post on the social network Facebook which says:
These shit-eating neo-Nazis eat the same shit all the time, and I don’t know how they don’t get tired of the same food. They claim that Russia has been unable to defeat UkroNazistia [portmanteau of Ukraine and Nazism] for almost 4 years. Weren’t the UKRONazis supposed to take back Mariupol two years ago and hold Eurovision there? That’s what the green junkie claimed. Not even 50 countries with all the military assets and money given to UkroNazistia and another 50 United States of America (Only California has a larger GDP than Britain, and so do Miami, Texas, New York), 100 (HUNDRED) STATES IN TOTAL OF 4 YEARS CANNOT DRIVE BACK “INSIGNIFICANT” RUSSIA THAT ATTACKS WITH SHOVELS (according to USRALA von der LEIJNEN)) [pun on Ursula von der Leyen’s name and the word
“shit”] THERE IS NO AIRCRAFT, SO THE RUSSIANS FLY ON EAGLES AND THROW IRONS INSTEAD OF GRENADES, WHILE LAUNCHING WASHING MACHINES FROM THE GROUND WITH CATAPULTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE USED UP ALL THE CHIPS,All of you pro-neo-Nazis have been hit in the head with a wet sock since birth.
It is not true that Ukraine is a “Nazi nation,” nor are Ukrainians “UkroNazis,” as falsely claimed in the post. The post also offensively refers to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a “green junkie,” part of a slanderous propaganda narrative that has linked him to drugs without evidence over the years. In May 2022, after Ukraine won Eurovision, Zelensky expressed hope that Eurovision would be held in Ukraine, which did not happen due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Our courage impresses the world, our music conquers Europe! Next year, Ukraine will host Eurovision for the third time in our history, and as I believe, not the last. We will do our utmost to one day host the participants and visitors of Eurovision in Ukrainian Mariupol. Free, peaceful and rebuilt, Zelensky wrote then.
However, contrary to what the post stated, his hope was for “someday in the future,” not for 2023 as the post suggests. Calling Ukrainians “UkroNazis” is disinformation and propaganda. The term “UkroNazis” was popularized by Russian state media outlets and pro-Kremlin sources in order to justify or legitimize the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It falsely portrays Ukrainians–or the Ukrainian government–as being controlled by neo-Nazis.
In reality, Ukraine is a democratic country with a president of partial Jewish origin (Volodymyr Zelensky) and a population of diverse ethnic backgrounds. Although there are small, marginal far-right groups in Ukraine (as in many other countries), they are very few in number and do not hold significant political power. In the 2019 parliamentary elections, far-right parties received less than 2.5% of the vote and did not win a single seat in parliament. So, the idea that “Ukrainians are Nazis” or that Ukraine is a “Nazi state” is a propaganda narrative, not an accurate or credible claim.
It is true that Russia has not won the war it started in Ukraine. It controls parts of eastern and southern Ukraine, including parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. Russia has not achieved its initial goals, such as capturing Kyiv or overthrowing the Ukrainian government. Ukraine receives significant military and economic support from the West, enabling it to defend itself. Ukraine continues to be recognized as a sovereign state, with strong international support.
Russia faces heavy sanctions and economic pressure, which slow its military effort. In short, the war is still going on, Russia has not achieved its goals, and Ukraine continues to defend itself and fight back, with an uncertain outcome.
The support that Ukraine receives from the West does not mean that these countries are “fighting a war against Russia” and cannot “defeat it.” Russia launched an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and Ukraine has the right to defend itself.
It is not true that the West and NATO consider Russia “insignificant,” and that is precisely why they are constantly prepared for self-defense. Western analysts and politicians generally do not consider Russia “weak,” but they acknowledge significant challenges and limitations in equipment, readiness, and overall military capability compared to what was previously expected. Russia’s strategic nuclear forces remain among the largest in the world, giving it significant deterrence power. Russia has a large regular army and reserves, with extensive experience in conventional warfare from recent conflicts. It relies heavily on long-range artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, and ballistic missiles. NATO and its member states are constantly on alert and are strengthening their defense capabilities due to the threat from Russia.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has not stated that Russia is attacking with shovels, contrary to what was stated in the post.
Due to all the above facts, we assess the post we are reviewing as untrue.
