24 January 2025

The European Parliament Condemns Russia’s Use of Disinformation to Justify the War Against Ukraine

On January 22, 2025, the European Parliament adopted a resolution strongly condemning the Russian Federation’s use of disinformation and historical falsification to justify its aggression against Ukraine. The document emphasizes that Russia’s war is not an isolated incident but a continuation of Russia’s imperialist policy, which has included previous acts of aggression, such as the occupation of Crimea in 2014 and the start of the war in Eastern Ukraine.

The resolution states that Russia employs extensive disinformation campaigns to deny Ukraine’s statehood, justify its crimes, and manipulate international opinion. Special attention is given to Russia’s historical revisionism, which falsifies facts to mobilize its population and support its aggressive policies.

The European Parliament highlighted the importance of commemorating the victims of Soviet crimes, including the mass deportation of Crimean Tatars in 1944, the Holodomor, and the Gulag system, which caused irreparable harm to numerous peoples. The resolution stresses that Russia’s contemporary policies, such as the destruction of Holodomor memorials and the restoration of Soviet symbols like Lenin monuments, represent an effort to erase Ukraine’s cultural and national identity.

The European Parliament called on EU member states to intensify efforts to combat Russian disinformation, threatening European unity and historical memory. The resolution includes a call for the establishment of a special tribunal to investigate crimes of aggression against Ukraine. It also emphasizes the importance of supporting independent media and research initiatives to expose Russian propaganda.