The so-called servicemen in the video are dressed in outdated Russian airborne troops uniforms. In addition, the news is spread exclusively by Russian resources, which is a sign that the video is staged.
A video message allegedly recorded by the Ukrainian military to Volodymyr Zelenskyi is circulating in the Russian segment of social networks, as well as media and Telegram channels. On it, one of the young men in military uniform and balaclavas addresses the president and demands that he stop making claims against Valery Zaluzhny. The man also states that Zelensky and “his friends, who took their children to Europe away from mobilization” are harming the army and if this does not stop, the military is ready to march on Kyiv and start an armed uprising.
Originally the video was published in the We want to live UA Telegram channel. Its author states that she saw the video on the Facebook page of one of her compatriots, but does not provide a direct link in order not to expose them to danger. This channel is most likely a Kremlin resource masquerading as the personal blog of a Ukrainian woman who lost her husband in the war and shares her thoughts on the political situation in Ukraine. The channel has only 341 subscribers, but the said publication gained 3,500 views, from where it was shared by other pro-Russian media. It is noteworthy that some resources published it two or even three times several days apart.
The video cannot be found in any Ukrainian media or sources, which makes one doubt its authenticity. After all, if the military really wanted to appeal to Zelenskyi, they would want the president or at least the general public to see this video — they would contact the media, ask their friends to spread this post on social networks, etc.
Proof that this video is staged by propaganda is also the uniform in which the “military” are dressed. This is not the uniform worn by the modern Ukrainian military. The camouflage of the soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is much lighter and has a yellowish color, while the Russian soldiers wear a dark green uniform.
The men are wearing the uniform with a print known under the name “oak”. The Ukrainian Armed Forces used this print from 1996 to 2014, but it was replaced by the “Ukrainian pixel” camouflage. Now it is used only by soldiers of the airborne troops of the Russian Federation.
This fake is part of a disinformation campaign aimed at destabilizing the internal political situation in Ukraine and staging a conflict between the government and the military. StopFake already debunked similar news in the stories Fake: Zelensky Accused Zaluzhny of Being Involved in Politics and Asked to Leave the Armed Forces and Fake: Zaluzhny “Disappeared” Because He “Began to Annoy the Government.”
