DISINFO: Ukrainian tanks decorated with Nazi crosses

This is a disinformation case which is part of a broad narrative claiming that Russia is fighting Nazis in Ukraine.

In reality, the white crosses shown on the video are not a Nazi symbol. Such crosses were often depicted on the flags of various Cossack regiments. Unlike these white crosses, German ones on tanks and other military equipment were quite distinct. Actually, crosses of various forms and shapes are very widespread symbols in Christian nations all over the world. They can be found during religious ceremonies, on national flags and coats of arms, and in other spheres of life. No wonder that some of these crosses can resemble each other.

Ukraine is not a Nazi states, nor is Nazism its official ideology. A ban on Nazi and Communist ideologies was issued there In 2015. As in any other society, there are people of right-wing views in Ukraine. But far-right groups enjoyed a very limited presence during the Euromaidan and had poor results in the 2014 presidential and parliamentary elections. The "Right Sector" candidate received 0.7% of the vote in the May 2014 presidential elections, and the party received 1.8% of the vote in the October 2014 parliamentary elections. In the 2019 election cycle, far-right candidates fell short of the 5% minimum guaranteeing entry into parliament.

Read more disinformation cases about so-called “Nazi Ukraine”.