Ukraine is the target of an LGBT propaganda campaign, designed to undermine the moral fiber of the population, strengthen the influence of external forces in this country and subvert the army. Promoted by a pro-Russian politician, the narrative picks up on anti-LGBT rhetoric embedded in Russia’s anti-EU campaign.
NEWS: “The aggressive LGBT propaganda, amplified by the destruction of the education system, is meant to destroy morality and boost foreign control, Opposition Platform – For Life deputy, Ilya Kyva, has told the press.
“There is a systematic propaganda of the scourge called LGBT. It’s a tendency and a strategy to systematically destroy our statehood and society, steeped in fascism and homosexuality. At the same time, our education is under attack. And not just external aggression, but this domestic nonsense will destroy our country much faster than the war”, the Ukrainian official said.
Ilya Kyva pointed out the authorities are contributing to this extremely damaging process.
“Today, the authorities are trying to please their masters through various actions. But LGBT is not our religion, it is an imported form of subculture that is being imposed on our society on a systematic basis. The purpose is to divide us, because many people will disagree. The authorities are setting up an LGBT army unit as well, to have a free army. But free of what? Free of morality? We have to resist this phenomenon”, the MP also said.
NARRATIVES: 1. LGBT “propaganda” undermines the moral fiber of society. 2. The West is imposing LGBT ideology on Ukraine to strengthen its control over this country. 3. There is an LGBT unit in the Ukrainian army.
BACKGROUND: This anti-LGBT narrative is part of a broader campaign orchestrated by the Kremlin, addressing both the public at home and audiences in other states, with a view to staining the image of the European Union. The propaganda focuses on the opposition between the so-called “Garyopa”, a sort of modern-day Sodom, a space of damnation promoting homosexuality (some fake news actually speak of legalizing pedophilia) and the Russian World, a space of the “traditional”, “healthy” God-fearing family. The narrative is also given increased visibility via the Russian Orthodox Church, which disseminates this type of discourse outside the country as well, considering the Patriarchy of Moscow has a number of archdioceses in other countries as well.
In Ukraine, this type of rhetoric has equally been boosted by pro-Russian parties, and Ilya Kyva is a representative of this current. As a matter of fact, in his statement to the press, the Russian MP also referred to “fascism” allegedly impregnating Ukraine. This is one of the narratives Russia has been promoting very assertively as part of its information war designed to justify its acts of aggression against Ukraine. First of all, it speaks of an attempted coup of fascist groups in Kiev, prior to the capturing and annexation of Crimea by Russian forces. Subsequently, during the conflict in Donbass, a number of fake news were spread concerning the presence of Ukrainian fascists on the frontlines and their alleged war crimes.
PURPOSE: To stain the image of the West and soften the EU’s appeal. To undermine Ukrainians’ confidence in their own government (depicted as serving the interests of foreigners who attack the moral fiber of society), as well as the army, which for the last seven years has been engaged in the conflict in Eastern Ukraine.
WHY THE NARRATIVES ARE FALSE: The West and the EU don’t have an official pro-LGBT agenda, but merely foster the observance of human rights and the rights of minorities, including sexual minorities. There has never been a special unit for LGBT military in the Ukrainian army.
GRAIN OF TRUTH: There are some Ukrainian military who have openly declared their affiliation to the LGBT community.
OFFICIAL REACTIONS: “This fake news is designed to drag the Ukrainian army into a new public scandal, there’s no doubt about it”, the Department for Public Relations of the Ukrainian Ground Forces has told Veridica.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense announced that all citizens who wish to enroll must follow the same procedures, as there is no special treatment for members of various minorities.
