Fact Check: Ukraine started the war ?

Fact Check: "Ukraine started the war?"

What We Know

The claim that "Ukraine started the war" is misleading and not supported by the evidence. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine escalated significantly when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. This invasion was preceded by a long history of tensions, including Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the ongoing conflict in the Donbas region, where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting against Ukrainian forces since that time (source-1, source-2).

In a speech on February 21, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined grievances against Ukraine, claiming that Ukraine's identity and statehood were illegitimate and asserting that the West was manipulating Ukraine as part of an "anti-Russia project" (source-1). This rhetoric reflects a long-standing view from Moscow that Ukrainian sovereignty is a threat to Russian interests.

Analysis

The assertion that Ukraine initiated the war ignores the context of Russia's aggressive military actions and historical claims. The invasion on February 24, 2022, was characterized by a significant military buildup along Ukraine's borders, which Western intelligence had warned about for months prior to the invasion (source-2). The narrative that Ukraine started the conflict is often propagated by Russian state media and officials, aiming to justify their military actions as defensive rather than aggressive.

Furthermore, the historical context shows that Ukraine has been striving for its independence and identity since gaining sovereignty in 1991. The ongoing conflict in the Donbas and the annexation of Crimea were initiated by Russia, which has consistently sought to undermine Ukraine's territorial integrity and political autonomy (source-2, source-5).

The credibility of sources supporting the claim that Ukraine started the war is often questionable, as they may be influenced by Russian propaganda. In contrast, reputable analyses from institutions like the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and historical accounts from various scholars provide a clearer picture of Russia's aggressive posture towards Ukraine (source-1, source-6).

Conclusion

The claim that "Ukraine started the war" is False. The evidence indicates that the war was initiated by Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, following years of escalating tensions and military actions by Russia against Ukraine. This narrative is often used to justify Russian aggression and does not reflect the reality of Ukraine's struggle for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Sources

1. Russia's War in Ukraine: Identity, History, and Conflict
2. Background - Russo-Ukrainian War
3. Russia - Ukraine Crisis: Timeline of Crisis and Updates
4. Russia's War in Ukraine: Identity, History, and Conflict
5. Russian invasion of Ukraine
6. A timeline of Ukraine's history - NPR
7. Timeline: The events leading up to Russia's invasion of Ukraine
8. Russia-Ukraine War | Casualties, Map, Causes, & Significance | Britannica