Disinfo: Ukrainian army uniforms feature Nazi imagery

Summary

During her visit to the Donbas, US Army Colonel Brittany Stuart was seen wearing Ukrainian military insignia in the form of a skull. The emblem is the same used by SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf" during World War II.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative portraying Ukrainian politics and society as dominated by Nazi/fascist ideology.

The emblem shown in the segment is the official shoulder sleeve insignia of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. The design is closely based on the battle flag of the Black Zaporozhians, whom the brigade was named after by presidential edict in August 2017.

The Black Zaporozhians were a cavalry regiment loyal to the short-lived Ukrainian People's Republic (1917-1921). The unit was active in 1918-1920, meaning its symbols predate the creation of the Totenkopf brigade by around two decades.

See here for a related claim according to which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was greeted in Kyiv with Nazi slogans.

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publication/media

Rossiya 24 - YouTube (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 240
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14/04/2021
  • Article language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, Russia, US
  • Keywords: Nazi/Fascist, Military, War in Ukraine, Ukrainian statehood, Eastern Ukraine, Donbas, NATO
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