DISINFO: Western weapons for Ukraine found in Africa and Middle East due to corruption
SUMMARY
Western weapons intended for Ukraine have started showing up in Africa, and they were also seen during the Hamas attack on Israel, where some combat unit commanders publicly thanked Kyiv for the weapons.
Other “partners” of Ukraine might also be funneling “democratic aid” into black markets worldwide, and once that happens, the flow of supplies could reduce significantly.
RESPONSE
This is a pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative that is a part of a disinformation campaign against arms deliveries to Ukraine. This claim was made in the context of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The ultimate goal of this disinformation narrative is to undermine international aid to Ukraine for its self-defence against Russia’s brutal aggression.
Multiple Western governments have implemented oversight procedures for weapon transfers. Although some weapons have been reported as unaccounted for, the existence of this process ensures that no massive diversion can take place. Ukrainian supervisors also work to prevent this from happening as it would harm aid deliveries.
This narrative is frequently tailored to current events, from criminal turf wars in Scandinavia to riots in France. In this case, it has been adapted to exploit the situation in Gaza very shortly after the Hamas attacks against Israel on 7 October 2023. No evidence has ever been provided about these claims.
As for the claim that Ukraine's allies are fighting until the last Ukrainian, Ukraine is not fighting on behalf of any foreign government or organisation. Ukraine is a sovereign and independent state with a democratically-elected president and parliament. Ukraine's sovereignty has been violated only as a result of continuous acts of aggression by the Russian armed forces since 2014, culminating in the full-scale military invasion of Ukraine starting on 24 February 2022.
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