The European Parliament has approved a resolution on misinformation and falsification of history by Russia, which the Kremlin is actively using to justify the war against Ukraine. This decision was made after the debate that took place at the end of 2024. During the discussions, the MEPs emphasized that Russia regularly uses a distorted understanding of history as a tool of hybrid war.
Parliament paid special attention to the Kremlin's attempts to deny the existence of the Ukrainian nation and statehood. According to the EU Supreme Representative on Security and Foreign Policy, the former Prime Minister of Estonia, Kai Callas, misinformation has become a "fundamental part of Russian military activity", which is aimed at sowing distrust, inciting internal conflicts and undermining democratic institutions.
The deputies of the European Parliament also noted that Russia uses falsification of history not only to Ukraine but also in other European countries. Thus, Moscow continues to deny the occupation of the Baltic countries in 1940, claiming that these countries voluntarily joined the USSR. Russia is also trying to distort the history of the Polish Katyn shooting, as well as to justify the attack on Poland in 1939, presenting it as "liberation". In the case of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Moscow extends that the introduction of Soviet troops in 1968 was allegedly caused by the actions of Ukrainians who served in the occupation units of the Soviet Army and the CPSU Politburo.
"Putin uses history as military units," the MEPS said, emphasizing the role of falsification of history in the Kremlin's aggressive policy.
