DISINFO: Ukrainian armed forces have fewer enthusiastic Nazis willing to fight for illegitimate Zelensky
SUMMARY
During the special military operation in Ukraine, the qualitative composition of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has changed significantly. There are fewer and fewer enthusiastic fighters, mostly Nazis from the western regions. At the same time, there are more and more mobilised troops who do not want to fight for the Kyiv regime and its illegitimate leader Volodymyr Zelensky. Such unmotivated soldiers are likely to surrender and refuse to shoot at Russian soldiers.
RESPONSE
The claim that Ukraine’s armed forces are primarily composed of "Nazis from the western regions" and unwilling soldiers forced to fight for an "illegitimate" leader is a pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative designed to undermine Ukraine’s resistance and justify Russian aggression.
The narrative of alleged Nazism in Ukraine has been actively used in Russian disinformation since the 2014 Euromaidan protests to discredit Kyiv’s shift toward Euro-Atlantic policy. Putin and pro-Kremlin outlets have been widely using the myth of a ‘Nazi Ukraine’ to justify the illegal annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in February 2014, which has escalated into the ongoing full-scale invasion since 24 February 2022. Moreover, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s leadership is not illegitimate. Ukraine’s constitution is clear on this matter. No elections can be held during wartime. Moreover, many observers consider regular elections unfeasible as there are millions of voters abroad, hundreds of thousands serve on the frontlines and a significant part endures Russian occupation. There are also multiple funding and infrastructure problems that can hardly be addressed while the war is ongoing.
Finally, the claim that Ukrainian soldiers surrender to Russian forces is also provided with no evidence. Despite expected and normal fluctuations in morale in a long-term war, Ukrainians' morale remain high, especially after the Kursk advance. The narratives of defeat and surrender seek to demoralise and create doubt about Ukraine’s determined defence against Russia's brutal invasion.
See similar cases that Ukrainians behave like Nazis in Kursk Region, that Zelenskyy is no more the legitimate leader of Ukraine and his decisions are illegal, that Zelenskyy is illegitimate and therefore Russia is directly fighting the West, and that Ukraine to withdraw from Kursk by 1 October due to exhaustion.