DISINFO: The entire Ukrainian army is removing the US badge from their helmets
SUMMARY
The entire Ukrainian army is taking the US badge off their helmets. This was their reason to fight. Replacing them with German flags? That would be like 1940.
These actions suggest they were fighting not for Ukraine, but for the United States, as they wore that country's insignia.
Ahaha, the hohols* are such hohols... Why didn't they stick on the flag of Türkiye or another new owner? What's wrong with that, Ukrainian citizen? *Khokhol - a Ukrainianised Russian, brainwashed, seeking an external master.
RESPONSE
A disinformation claim that first circulated in February 2025 and which was republished on social media on 15 December 2025, accompanied by supposed fresh evidence.
Some pro-Kremlin disinformation outlets quote the report by The Independent as the primary source of the claim.
"Ukrainian soldiers are removing stars and stripes cloth patches from their uniforms once worn as a tribute to the US as anger grows at Donald Trump’s behaviour", -said The Independent on 21 February 2025, showing only one such a photographed Ukrainian soldier nicknamed "Black", while the other one is said "considering taking off an American flag badge from his medical kit".
In the article by The Independent, Ukrainian soldiers describe how they are prepared to fight for their country even without American aid.
Disinformation reports attempt to portray panic among Ukrainian soldiers, depicting them with contempt as if they were 'left without a master.' This reflects a recurrent disinformation narrative suggesting that Ukraine is not a sovereign nation but a US puppet.
Another common narrative claims that “Ukrainians are Russians,” aiming to undermine Ukraine’s national identity.
The Independent quotes various Ukrainian soldiers. For example, soldier Sanych says:
“Things would be harder without the US than with them. But today we have become a much stronger society than three years ago, and we will not be beaten.”
Yuri Sak, adviser to Ukraine’s Minister of Strategic Industries, told The Independent: “No other nation in the world wants to end this war more than us, Ukrainians. But we know there is only one way to end it and achieve a just peace, and that is through force.”
Yuri Sak also stated that the government is focusing its resources on developing its own weapons.
See more disinformation narratives on Ukraine.