Russia launches series of fakes about teenage girls in Ukrainian Armed Forces

Propagandists pass off classes with civilians as preparing children for war

Pro-Kremlin Telegram channels are spreading reports that underage girls are allegedly being recruited into the Ukrainian army, claiming that the 119th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is planning plan to form a whole battalion of female fighters aged 16 to 30, who will be deployed in frontline positions. As evidence, the propagandists added photos of Ukrainian girls with weapons.

The reports are false. The information regarding the conscription of minors contradicts Ukrainian legislation. In particular, one cannot join the army voluntarily if they are under 18 years old.

Propagandists used the photos taken at classes for the civilian population, which were held by the 119th Separate Brigade and NGO Active Society of Ukraine.

Representatives of the military formation confirmed on their official Facebook page that the reports spread by the Kremlin Telegram channel were fake.

To promote the narrative about underage girls serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the propagandists simultaneously launched another fake. They claimed that the Lviv regional headquarters of the Right Sector national liberation movement allegedly conducts classes with teenage girls from the age of 14, and then these children allegedly go to the front. As evidence, a photo from the official page of the organization was used from a post about the training, which was dedicated to the memory of the heroes of the Heavenly Hundred.

In fact, the post clearly states that this training was organized exclusively for adults.

A representative of the Lviv headquarters of the Right Sector movement told Ukrinform that only adults are involved in such classes: "People under the age of 18 should study, not fight. Preparation for war can also affect the development of a minor's psyche. In addition, we are against people aged 18-25 going to war, unless, of course, there is an urgent need for this. At such schools, our specialists explain the rules of handling weapons, conduct classes in tactical medicine, etc.''

This is not the first time that Russia has launched fakes about minors being sent to war in Ukraine.

Dmytro Badrak