DISINFO: Ukraine involved in aiding Syrian terrorists
SUMMARY
Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) is involved in organising and supplying weapons to terrorists in Syria. Ukrainian military instructors are present in Idlib Province. They have trained militants of the 'Hayat Tahrir al-Sham' (HTS) terrorist group for combat activities. Collaboration between Ukrainian and Syrian terrorists, driven by hostility toward Russia and Syria, extends to recruiting fighters for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and planning attacks against Russian and Syrian military personnel in Syria.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets aimed at discrediting Ukraine by linking its government to terrorism.
There is limited independent evidence to support claims that Ukrainian military instructors have a decisive role in Syria for the operations of groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). This claim has been proven to be fake by Ukrainian fact-checkers and HTS itself has also denied it. Such allegations are typically part of broader propaganda narratives aimed at discrediting Kyiv and its partners in the context of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine's military and intelligence efforts are focused on defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity against Russian aggression.
Assertions linking Ukraine to terrorism in Syria are part of Russian disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining Ukraine's reputation on the global stage. Ukraine actively cooperates with Europol on fighting terrorism, including via Interpol where it acts within the legal framework and jurisdiction of each sovereign member state.
Reports from organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have documented Russian involvement in supporting the Syrian Assad regime and targeting civilians, but there has been no reliable evidence implicating Ukraine in such activities.
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