Canada and Russia clash in Ukraine Twitter spat
A pointed tweet claims Crimea for Russia and leaves eastern Ukraine 'conveniently unillustrated'

Russia's Nato delegation posted a tweet yesterday restating Russian ownership of Crimea during a bad-tempered Twitter spat with their Canadian counterparts.
The Canadian Nato delegation had posted a "helpful geography lesson" for Russian soldiers whom Moscow claimed had become lost and accidentally entered southeastern Ukraine. The tweet went viral yesterday and was retweeted 32,000 times.
Ukraine had released a video of the Russian paratroopers on Tuesday, claiming it had captured them inside its eastern border. Russian military sources said the men had crossed the border "by accident".
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In response to the claim, the official Twitter account for Canada's Nato delegation tweeted an image of the region, highlighting which parts were "Russia" and which parts were "not Russia".
Geography can be tough. Here’s a guide for Russian soldiers who keep getting lost & ‘accidentally’ entering #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/RF3H4IXGSp — Canada at NATO (@CanadaNATO) August 27, 2014
Russia responded with a tweet of its own, in which it declared sovereignty over the Crimean Peninsula – which is not recognised by most of the rest of the world.
The map also partly shades Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which have both declared their independence from Georgia.
Helping our Canadian colleagues to catch up with contemporary geography of #Europe @CanadaNATO pic.twitter.com/MjzRxpFFfN — Russians at NATO (@natomission_ru) August 28, 2014
Part of the area of eastern Ukraine that is currently experiencing heavy fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists has been "conveniently left unillustrated," the BBC says.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Store closings could accelerate throughout 2025
Under the Radar Major brands like Macy's and Walgreens are continuing to shutter stores
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: February 20, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku hard: February 20, 2025
The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Ukraine goes all out to woo young people into the army
Under The Radar New recruitment drive offers perks as morale and numbers fall
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Ukraine's mineral riches and Trump's shakedown diplomacy
The Explainer President's demand for half of Kyiv's resources in return for past military aid amounts to 'mafia blackmail tactics' and 'colonialism'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Munich Security Conference: will spectre of appeasement haunt old world order?
Today's Big Question Trump's talks with Putin threaten the international rules-based order, say critics
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Russia frees US teacher Marc Fogel in murky 'exchange'
Speed Read He was detained in Moscow for carrying medically prescribed marijuana
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff Published
-
Ukraine captures first North Korean soldiers
Speed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted videos of the men captured in Russia's Kursk region
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The return of history: is the West's liberal establishment crumbling?
Today's Big Question Justin Trudeau's resignation signals a wider political trend that has upended the liberal consensus
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Ukraine goes on offense in Russia's Kursk region
Speed Read A top adviser to President Zelenskyy said "the Russians are getting what they deserve"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published