Russian propaganda fabricates claim about Ukrainian military using uniforms of deceased foreign "mercenaries"

Propagandists fabricated photos from OLX marketplace

Russian propaganda has falsely claimed that a mobilized Ukrainian service member was allegedly given the uniform of a deceased Czech "mercenary." Russian Telegram channels shared the story alongside photos highlighting a chevron with the Czech flag and two purported bullet holes on a jacket. The propagandists alleged that the "Czech soldier" had been killed by Ukrainians he was serving with.

This claim is entirely false. The uniform shown in the photos does not match the standard used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Ukraine's military personnel wear a five-color digital camouflage known as "pixel." In contrast, the uniform depicted in the propaganda images features a four-color pattern inconsistent with Ukrainian standards.

Secondly, the image used in the propaganda post was manipulated with graphic editing software. The jacket shown in the post matches a listing on the OLX platform, a popular online marketplace. The ad, published on October 20 by a seller named "Nikolai," offers a used Czech military jacket without any bullet holes or damage. Propagandists used photos from this listing to construct their narrative.

Third, foreigners serving in Ukraine's Armed Forces are not mercenaries but legally recognized combatants. Since 2016, a Ukrainian presidential decree has allowed foreign citizens to enlist in the Ukrainian Armed Forces under voluntary contracts, including within the Territorial Defense Forces. Furthermore, on February 27, 2022, a few days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the formation of the International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine, specifically for foreigners volunteering to defend Ukraine.

This fabricated story seeks to manipulate public opinion by promoting three key false narratives. The first is the improper equipment of Ukrainian soldiers. The second is that foreigners should not join the Ukrainian Defense Forces because they are poorly treated. The third narrative concerns the use of mercenaries in Ukraine. Propagandists persistently attempt to fabricate evidence of illegal military formations in Ukraine to discredit international partners and justify missile and drone strikes against civilian areas. They falsely claim these attacks target foreign "mercenaries" fighting for Ukraine, rather than civilian populations.

Earlier, Ukrinform debunked a Russian fake about "NATO mercenaries," which was used to justify the shelling of the Aurora Hotel in Kryvyi Rih.

Dmytro Badrak