Explaining: Russian propaganda on situation in Syria, Moscow’s crimes against Ukrainian children, criminal cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang

RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA ON SITUATION IN SYRIA

Moscow is falsely accusing Ukraine of involvement in the escalation of the conflict in Syria, in particular in supporting the rebels a supplying them with weapons. Russia's Permanent Representative made these statements to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, and Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova.

● On 4 December, Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in its commentary, categorically rejected Moscow's unfounded accusations.

● The primary responsibility for the deterioration of the situation in Syria lies with the Assad and Putin regimes.

● Ukraine unconditionally adheres to international law, the principles of inviolable sovereignty and respects the territorial integrity of other countries.

● Today, Russia is the primary exporter of violence and chaos not only in Europe but also in other regions of the world.

● The lack of proper justice for Russia's crimes in Syria has whetted the Kremlin's appetite and inspired it to aggress against Ukraine.

MOSCOW'S CRIMES AGAINST UKRAINIAN CHILDREN

On December 3, Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab released its third report, "Russia's Systematic Program of Forced Adoption and Guardianship of Ukrainian Children."

● This report proves that Russia's crimes against Ukrainian children are systematic and part of Moscow's criminal policy towards Ukrainians.

● Russia practices deportation, forced adoption and change of citizenship, as well as ideological and cultural indoctrination of children.

● The HLR report contains verified information about 3 Ukrainian children subjected to various crimes by Russia. In particular, 166 children were illegally transferred to Russian families.

● These crimes by Russia are a clear violation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Geneva Conventions, as well as other norms and principles of international law.

● Ukraine is doing everything possible to hold all perpetrators accountable and to bring the children back home.

● On 2 December, six children were evacuated from the occupied territories, and in October, four families with seven children were evacuated.

CRIMINAL COOPERATION BETWEEN MOSCOW AND PYONGYANG

On 4 December, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that Russia was supporting North Korea by assisting with its missile and nuclear programs.

● The Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) had warned in October that Moscow was transferring certain technologies to Pyongyang for the development of low-yield tactical nuclear weapons and submarine-launched missile systems.

● According to the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), by the beginning of December, Russia had used approximately 60 North Korean missiles against Ukraine. Around half of them lost their trajectories and exploded in the air.

● According to Ukrainian intelligence, around 12,000 soldiers from North Korea have been deployed to the Kursk region.

● The military alliance between Russia and North Korea is a significant step towards escalation by Moscow, leading to the internationalisation of the war.

● The cooperation between the regimes of Putin and Kim Jong-un poses a threat not only to Ukraine but also to other countries around the world, particularly South Korea and the United States