The Ukrainian Defence Intelligence stated last month that Kremlin leaders are "seeking for reasons to accuse our state of illegal actions in Donbas in order to justify the escalation of the armed aggression."
Russian-state media had also been spreading rumors that the Ukrainian military is preparing to attack Donbas, which is a separatist region located in eastern Ukraine, The New York Times reported earlier this week. With the rumor quickly spreading on social media, they also stated that the military was being aided by American, British and Polish mercenaries.
The Russian leadership had been considering organizing a military assault in the areas where the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic are located - both of which are self-proclaimed breakaway states within Ukraine, according to the Defense Intelligence.
US President Joe Biden also stated that it was a possibility that Russia was “engaged in a false flag operation” as an excuse of their invasion, the Times reported.
Citing researchers of misinformation, the Times report states that they looked into rumors within Russian media and on the internet, from Telegram to televised statements by Russian officials, that could justify armed aggression. The report also said that Russian-backed media spread conspiracy theories that stashes of chemical weapons were gifted to Ukraine by the US.
The US warned Russia of staging "false-flag incidents," the BBC reported in February, stating that a Telegram...
QUEENSLAND— A nurse in Australia has been formally reprimanded after admitting he submitted forged documents to Qantas (QF) in an attempt to secure a refund for a non-refundable airline ticket. Th...