US troops have been brought to Chișinău in order to take part in the war in Donbass against Russia, a Russian source writes, while the story was also picked up by propaganda channels in Chișinău. The narrative is aimed at inducing the idea of a Western aggression in the region. The Moldovan Ministry of Defense has labeled the information fake news.
NEWS: “400 American military arrived in Moldova and are to be deployed to Odessa, in case Ukrainian authorities launch hostilities in Donbass”. The article was published by VERSIA.RU, EADAILY.COM and was redistributed by MEJDURECIE.MD. According to the source, the military supposedly checked in with the Zentrum hotel in downtown Chișinău. “After the Pentagon failed to take control of Crimea, Odessa has become a strategic outpost for the Americans in their war against Russia. But since the Ukrainian Constitution forbids the creation of foreign military bases on this country’s territory, the facilities that are being built are presented as mere training centers, whereas the contingent is small, so as not to antagonize the Russian military”, versia.ru writes, claiming that the deployment of US troops was agreed upon during the visit to Chișinău of Robin Dunnigan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State on October 4. The deployment of troops supposedly started in late September, says the aforementioned source, also claiming that three American carriers unloaded troops in Chișinău.
NARRATIVE: American soldiers were brought to the Republic of Moldova in order to take part in the war in Donbass. Disinformation regarding NATO is regularly distributed on Moscow’s propaganda channels. In the Republic of Moldova, the narratives claiming pro-European parties are being controlled by the Americans and the West emerged ever since the election campaign, and continued to be promoted long after the victory of Maia Sandu’s party. Veridica debunked several fake news claiming that the new administration and Maia Sandu and to force the Republic of Moldova to join NATO to the detriment of national interests and drag the country in armed conflicts against Russia, etc.
BACKGROUND: This is one of the favorite narratives of propaganda and disinformation efforts coming from the Kremlin – the danger of NATO, the war in Donbass, dragging other states in the region in a war against Russia, etc.
The situation in the region took a turn for the worse after Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula and in 2014 started a war in Donbass, eastern Ukraine. Over 14,000 people have been killed in the 7-year conflict. Russia is trying to shift the blame for the victims in eastern Ukraine on Kiev, saying Ukraine wants a war against Russia.
PURPOSE: To induce the idea of a Western and American aggression in the region and create the impression that the new pro-European government in Chișinău wants to involve Moldova in a military conflict. To fuel phobias against NATO and the Americans.
WHY THE NARRATIVE IS FALSE: The Ministry of Defense has denied the information in the article carried by Mejdurecie.md, according to which 400 US troops allegedly arrived in the Republic of Moldova in order to fight in the conflict in Ukraine. Press officer Ala Diaconu told Veridica.ro that the article is fake news.
At the end of September, the National Army received a batch of military equipment donated by the US Government, but this has nothing to do with the arrival of American military in the Republic of Moldova. The American aircraft was not carrying 400 military, as you can see in the photos taken at the event marking the reception of the equipment and published by the US Embassy in Chișinău.
As regards the visit to Chișinău of the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Robin Dunnigan over October 4-5, the US official held talks with president Maia Sandu about Moldovan-American bilateral relations, including development assistance programmes in the Republic of Moldova funded by the USA. Robin Dunnigan also met with Prime Minister Gavrilița, with graduates of exchange programmes run by the Embassy and discussed economic opportunities with representatives of the US Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, the US official had a number of meetings in Tiraspol as on behalf of the USA in the 5+2 negotiations format overseen by the OSCE. Robin Dunnigan’s agenda included no meeting at the Ministry of Defense.
GRAIN OF TRUTH: The Army of the Republic of Moldova received a batch of military equipment from the Government of the United States of America worth 5 billion USD aimed at implementing the Plan for the Development and Transformation of the National Army, in line with the National Defense Strategy and the Defense Capacity Building Initiative (DCBI) Package.
OFFICIAL REACTIONS: The representative of the Ministry of Defense has dismissed the information published in the article picked up by Mejdurecie.md. Press officer Ala Diaconu told Veridica.ro the article is a fake.
