Russian propaganda falsely claims Ukrainian involvement in terrorist training in Syria

Russian disinformation campaigns continue, now spreading false allegations that Ukrainian instructors are training terrorists in Syria.

A Russian propaganda campaign has been spreading false allegations that Ukrainian instructors are training terrorists in Syria alongside the US, according to Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation.

In September, Russian channels circulated a fake story alleging that Ukraine was “establishing connections” with terrorists in Syria.

State-run Russian news agencies and propaganda Telegram groups shared reports that unidentified “representatives” of Ukraine allegedly met with members of the “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” military group involved in the Syrian Civil War in mid-June in the city of Idlib.

Russian media claimed that supposed “representatives of the Ukrainian government” sought to exchange “Chechens, Turkmens, and Georgians” who had fought in the Syrian war and were being held by “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” for 75 UAVs under the condition that these drones would be used against the Russians, UkrInform reports.

As explained by the center’s head, Ukrainian Defense Forces officer Andrii Kovalenko, this narrative campaign’s main focus is the Middle East, the Global South, and the American information space.

Ukraine has no diplomatic representation in Syria, as the country broke all relations with Syria on 30 June 2022.

“Thus, the Russians are attempting to create the narrative that Ukraine is allegedly a ‘terrorist state.’ It is currently the key informational threat on the international stage,” he said.

In reality, the primary terrorist state is Russia, Kovalenko emphasized, as “it is Russia that supports militants in Syria, who have used, among other things, chemical weapons.”

Moscow also maintains relations with the Taliban, Hezbollah, Hamas, and ISIS, says the Ukraine’s center.

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