Is it true that the Foreign Minister of Ukraine recognized Kyiv’s involvement in the undermining of the Crimean bridge?

Many Russian media reported that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmitry Kuleb in a conversation with the Russian Prandonchers Vova and Lexus admitted that the explosion of the Crimean bridge was organized by Kiev. We checked whether this conclusion can really be made from Kuleba’s statements.

On October 13, several Russian federal media reported that Dmitry Kuleba recognized Kyiv’s involvement in the undermining of the Crimean bridge on October 8. Such headlines published, for example, “Vedomosti","RIA Novosti","Moscow Komsomolets" And "Vesti. Crime". They made this conclusion from Video -experts Kuleba with Russian prains Vova and Lexus, who called the Minister on behalf of the ex-USA of the United States in Russia Michael McFola. On the day of the publication of the video prankers, they invited to "Channel One", Where the presenter summed up the words of Kuleba (4:25):" ... all the attacks in Belgorod and in Crimea - and the explosion of the Crimean bridge was October 8 - this is the work of the hands of Ukraine. Here is an official recognition. ” The Telegram channel made the same conclusion "War with fakes". Users social networks Same reacted On the news: “We already knew that for the murder of Dasha Dugina and behind the explosion of the Crimean bridge there were these bastards. Now, as they say, fixed on the film. ”

Alexei Stolyarov and Vladimir Kuznetsov, known as Lexus and Vovan, are Russian prankers (Prank - Rozygrysh, English), who, with the help of fake video calls, play celebrities, politicians and public figures. According to their own words, they work for the Rutube Internet platform belonging to Gazprom, are engaged in “civil intelligence” and “political prank”. Some sources They thinkthat the duet is mainly plays Critics of the Russian regime, trying to decide to achieve compromising confessions.

October 13, Vovan and Lexus laid out Video recording Their conversation with the Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmitry Kuleboy. They called him on behalf of the former US ambassador to the Russian Federation Michael McFol, speaking in Russian with a fake American accent. Kuleba has not yet confirmed or denied that he became a victim of pranks. But by many signs we consider the video of the real one, albeit to the installation: personnel directly before and after fragment About explosions in the Crimea were trimmed.

In the glued fragment of Kuleb, he says: “If, for example, you ask me who explodes something in the Crimea or in Belgorod, then in a private communication-how much it can be private in Zoom-I will tell you that yes, we are.” It was this statement by the media that interpreted as the recognition of Kuleb in the involvement of Kyiv in the undermining of the Crimean bridge. Some media also Approvedthat the recognition sounded in response to a specific question: “Did Ukraine organize a terrorist attack on the bridge in the Crimea and in a warehouse in the Belgorod region?” But in fact, the Crimean bridge in a 21-minute “full” video was never mentioned. It was only about Crimea.

Prankers: What do you think: Crimea is a goal or is it not the next goal?

Kuleba: No, I think that Crimea is not the immediate operational goal.

Prankers: But there are attacks, I know, there is intelligence and there are cases of sabotage. I am aware that a certain work is being done there. And now many people are in Russia precisely from intelligence.

(Shrovetide of the frame.)
Kuleba: If, for example, you ask me who explodes something in the Crimea or in Belgorod, then in a private communication-how much it can be private in Zoom-I will tell you that yes, we are.
(Shrovetide of the frame.)

Speech about the explosion of the Crimean bridge in this video could not go in the first place because the video was recorded even before the explosion. In the beginning of the interview (0:55) Kuleba says that in the first half of October he is going to a working tour of Africa, which should Pass From 3 to 12 October. Therefore, the video was recorded earlier on October 3, while the explosion of the bridge occurred on October 8. At the time of the explosion of the Crimean bridge, Kuleb was just in the very tour that he had to interrupt Due to the escalation of the conflict.

Most likely, by explosions to Crimea, Kuleb meant missile strikes on the Crimean air base, which occurred 9, 16, 26 and 28 Augustus, September 30 And October 1. On the day of publication of the Armed Forces officially They took it Responsibility for only one explosion in Saki on August 9. Ukraine has not yet officially officially admitted guilt for the rest of the explosions in the Crimea and the Belgorod region, as for the undermining of the Crimean bridge, except for tweet clearly satisfied by the incident of Mikhail Podolyak. Nevertheless, even such a statement cannot be considered an official admission of guilt. But Russian President Vladimir Putin the next day after the explosion accused Special services of Ukraine.

Thus, Kuleba did not plead guilty to Ukraine in the incident on the Crimean bridge. Most likely, the source of the error was the incorrect interpretation of his words about Ukrainian operations in the Crimea, which fit into the Russian political narrative.

Image on the cover: "Channel One"

Not true

What do our verdicts mean?

Read on the topic:

1. Meduza. “Glamoro must go to totalitarianism” Prankers Vovan and Lexus told Medusa about their activities
2. Is it true that the crying Russian tourist from the viral video “I don’t want to leave Crimea” left the Crimea due to explosions?