An article published by the publication of a Russian government-controlled think tank, “Russia in Global Affairs”, repeats several Russian disinformation narratives that seek to undermine support for Ukraine and incite hate towards Canadians of Ukrainian heritage.
The Claims:
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“Canada’s Historical Connection to Nazism”:
- Canada allegedly knowingly welcomed thousands of Ukrainian Nazis after WWII as Cold War assets.
- “former SS members became prominent in politics and academia”
- “complicity of Canadian power circles in protecting Ukrainian Nazis”
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Canada’s role in Ukraine-Russia Conflict:
- Canada”has been at the forefront of efforts to turn the Ukraine against Russia.”
- “anti-Russian ethnic nationalism fomented in parts of the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada was exported to the Ukraine via NGOs, educational programs, and volunteers” including Chrystia Freeland.
- Canada encouraged Ukraine to act aggressively toward Russia, leading directly to war.
- Canada’s support of Ukraine is depicted as hypocritical given its own peaceful coexistence with the United States.
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Chrystia Freeland:
- The article emphasizes Freeland’s alleged connections to a pro-Nazi grandfather and claims she personally contributed to spreading nationalist sentiment against Russia in Ukraine.
The Facts:
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Historical immigration context:
- Canada did admit displaced Ukrainians and Europeans after WWII; some Europeans had nationalist backgrounds, and a few individuals were later identified as former Nazi collaborators – who were deported, including Hungarian, Imre Finta.
- During the Cold War, Canada’s Ukrainian diaspora advocated for the freedom of Ukraine and against Russia’s Soviet-era colonialism and mass human rights abuses.
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Canada’s involvement in Ukraine:
- Canada provides military training and aid to Ukraine through Operation UNIFIER, helping modernize and professionalize Ukraine’s armed forces.
- A small number of far-right individuals were historically part of Ukrainian armed units like the Azov battalion, but Canadian military explicitly states it does not knowingly train neo-Nazi units.
Narrative Context (Disinformation Objectives):
The article employs classic Russian disinformation narratives by leveraging real but isolated historical facts and recent controversies to project a distorted image of Canada’s current foreign policy and internal politics. This narrative includes:
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Equating Canada-U.S. Relations with Russia-Ukraine Relations:
- Suggests a moral equivalency: implying Russia’s invasion of Ukraine mirrors hypothetical U.S. aggression towards Canada.
- Conveys a narrative that if Canada expects peace with its powerful neighbour, Ukraine should do likewise—thus implicitly justifying Russia’s aggression against Ukraine as a natural consequence of Ukrainian policy.
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Weaponizing Historical Grievances:
- Leveraging historical Ukrainian diaspora activities in Canada to accuse contemporary Canadian leaders of Nazism, creating moral confusion and undermining support for Ukraine.
- Using the Freeland story as “proof” of institutionalized support for Nazism, aiming to delegitimize Canada’s position on Ukraine.
The article clearly contains multiple hallmarks of Russian narratives, using selective truths, exaggerations, and outright falsehoods, aligning with the Kremlin’s geopolitical narratives. It strategically mixes historical incidents with contemporary political controversies to present Canada as a malicious actor supporting Ukrainian extremism against Russia, while simultaneously attempting to trivialize Russian aggression by suggesting Ukraine provoked the invasion through Western incitement.
