A 10-point list, which Russia uses to spin a false and dangerous narrative to justify its illegal actions in Ukraine."
1. On Russias claim that its agents are not active in Ukraine the State Department points out that the Ukrainian government has arrested more than a dozen suspected Russian intelligence agents and that those who have seized government building in eastern Ukraine were outfitted in bullet-proof vests, camouflage uniforms and were carrying weapons reminiscent of Russias illegal military intervention in Crimea in late February and its subsequent occupation.
2. On Russias claims that pro-Russia demonstrations are comprised exclusively of Ukrainian citizens acting of their own volition the list points out that this is not a grassroots Ukrainian civic activism as witnessed on Kyivs Maidan where a movement grew from a handful of student protesters to hundreds of thousands from all parts of the country and all walks of life. The State Department also underscores what its calls an open recruitment campaign on Russian internet sites for Russians to travel to Ukraine to incite unrest. It says there is evidence that protesters receive payment for such services.
3. On Russias claim that separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine enjoy broad popular support the list point that, according to opinion polls, the vast majority of people even in largely Russian-speaking parts of eastern Ukraine want to live in a united Ukraine and reject unification with Russia.
4. On Russias claim that the situation in eastern Ukraine risks spiraling into civil war, the State Department points out that there simply have not been large-scale protests in the region, and what is happening there now would not be happening without Russian disinformation and provocateurs fostering unrest.
5. On Russias claim that Ukrainians in Donetsk rejected the illegitimate authorities in Kyiv and established the independent Peoples Republic of Donetsk, the list point out that a broad and representative collection of civil society and non-governmental organizations in Donetsk categorically rejected the declaration.
6. On Russias claim it ordered a partial drawdown of troops from the Ukrainian border, the State Department points out that there is no evidence of any significant movement, and that an estimated 35,000-40,000 Russian troops remain massed along the border, in addition to approximately 25,000 troops currently in Crimea.
7. On Russias claim that ethnic Russians in Ukraine are under threat, the list, citing polling data, says there is no credible evidence supporting the claim. Moreover, it points out that the ethnic Russians most at risk are those who live in Russia and who oppose the authoritarian Putin regime.
8. On Russia claim that Ukraines new government is led by radical nationalists and fascists, the State Department says that Ukraines parliament, elected by all Ukrainian, has not changed since the fall of the regime of president Viktor Yanukovych, and that its current government was overwhelmingly approved by the legislature, including by members of the party Yanukovych headed prior to being ousted.
9. On Russias claim that ethnic minorities face persecution in Ukraine from the fascist government in Kyiv, the list points out that a number of ethnic and religious minorities have expressed a sense of safety under the new authorities in Kyiv.
10. On Russias claims that it is not using energy and trade as weapons against Ukraine, the State Department underscores that only in the past two weeks Russia raised its natural gas price for Ukraine by 80 percent and that it continues to restrict Ukrainian exports to Russia.
There has been no immediate reaction by Russia to the State Departments latest list.
http://www.voanews.com/content/us-lists-10-more-false-russian-claims-on-ukraine/1892650.html