DISINFO: The West is forcing Ukraine to send minors to the front
DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS
Disclaimer

This disinformation claim was broadcast on the date mentioned above. Due to the EU decisions  to temporarily restrict the spread and dissemination of RT, Sputnik and other instruments used to manipulate information and promote disinformation about the invasion of Ukraine inside the EU, access to the link may not work inside the EU.

DISINFO: The West is forcing Ukraine to send minors to the front

SUMMARY

The initiatives of the former British Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, to recruit young individuals into Ukrainian armed forces suggest the West's intention to depopulate Ukraine. Mr. Ben Wallace recommended that Ukraine enlist as many young individuals as possible into their military forces to kill them.

Wallace was referring to the mobilisation of teenagers starting from 16 years of age. Even though such actions are prohibited by international laws, the West will turn a blind eye.

RESPONSE

Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative regarding Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.

In his column for The Telegraph, the former UK Defence Secretary discussed the advance of the Ukrainian army on the battlefield. At the same time, Ben Wallace did not make any statements about the need for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to 'mobilise young teenagers due to the failure of the counteroffensive.' On the contrary, Ben Wallace emphasised that Ukraine is winning this war: Ukrainian forces are 'slowly but surely' breaking through Russian positions, and the Russian army 'is cracking,' writes Wallace.

In order for Ukraine not to lose its victorious momentum, Wallace believes, Western allies must not only continue, but also increase the pace of the transfer of weapons to the Ukrainian army. In turn, writes the former UK Defense Secretary, Ukraine needs to reconsider the scale of mobilization in the country, thus responding to Russian mobilisation.

'Ukraine can also play its part. The average age of the soldiers at the front is over 40. I understand President Zelenskyy’s desire to preserve the young for the future, but the fact is that Russia is mobilising the whole country by stealth. Putin knows a pause will hand him time to build a new army. So just as Britain did in 1939 and 1941, perhaps it is time to reassess the scale of Ukraine’s mobilisation,' writes Ben Wallace.

It was this quote from the former UK Defence Secretary that the Russian media manipulated, although Wallace did not make any statements about the “need to mobilise teenagers into the Ukrainian army.”

See a similar case - Ukraine sends pregnant women to the front line and Ukraine is training pensioners as tank crews because its military reserves are gone.

Embed

Disclaimer

This disinformation claim was broadcast on the date mentioned above. Due to the EU decisions  to temporarily restrict the spread and dissemination of RT, Sputnik and other instruments used to manipulate information and promote disinformation about the invasion of Ukraine inside the EU, access to the link may not work inside the EU.

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

    Your opinion matters!

    Data Protection Information *

      Subscribe to the Disinfo Review

      Your weekly update on pro-Kremlin disinformation

      Data Protection Information *

      The Disinformation Review is sent through Mailchimp.com. See Mailchimp’s privacy policy and find out more on how EEAS protects your personal data.