Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) spreads disinformation about pacifists

Anyone who is committed to peace can only be considered an agent of Russia in the eyes of the Ukrainian military intelligence service, writes German journalist Bernhard Clasen in the article “Hybrid War vs. Peace. Ukrainian military intelligence wants to discredit the German peace movement”.

Yurii Sheliazhenko, leader of the Ukrainian pacifist movement, accuses his country’s military intelligence service, DIU (Defence Intelligence of Ukraine), of deliberately spreading disinformation against the peace movement.

On February 9, DIU published a statement on its website entitled “Putin’s Fan Club in Europe – The Kremlin Plans to Exploit So-Called ‘Pacifists’ at the Munich Security Conference,” warning of possible political interference of Russian intelligence services surrounding the Munich Security Conference with a leading role of individuals presenting themselves as peace activists.

This statement, according to Sheliazhenko, is “blatant disinformation” and an attempt to discredit the peace movement in Europe across the board.

The intelligence service’s statement names three individuals who allegedly control the European peace movement in Moscow’s interests: Elena Kolbasnikova, Max Schlund, and Wjatscheslaw Seewald.

However, Sheliazhenko points out that Kolbasnikova and Schlund are subject to a multi-year entry ban to the EU. Therefore, they could not possibly be active on the ground. According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Seewald is said to have fled to Russia.

Pacifists in no way support Russian aggression, Sheliazhenko said. The pro-Russian narratives claimed by the secret service are not found among the calls for the protests in Munich.

At the same time, the activist, who lives in Kyiv, emphasizes that Russia bears the main responsibility for the war. Russian aggression has caused massive destruction, power outages, and human suffering.

Beyond this specific case, Sheliazhenko expresses concerns about democratic development in Ukraine under wartime conditions. He warns of the increasing stigmatization of people with pacifist beliefs. The Constitution of Ukraine guarantees ideological diversity. Militarism must not become a compulsory national ideology. Criticism of arms race or advocacy for non-violent conflict resolution should not be equated with disloyalty, the activist argues.

In the long term, Sheliazhenko advocates for the development of stronger civilian, non-violent resistance structures – both in Ukraine and in other European countries. Nations should not view their security solely in military terms, but must also develop resilience of civil society and non-military forms of self-protection.

At the moment when the article of the German journalist was published, the DIU did not respond to a public information request submitted by Sheliazhenko asking to disclose on what concrete facts the DIU’s statement is based.