{A photograph} of a poster depicting a homeless man on a subway that reads “bored with dwelling on welfare?” reveals a real recruitment poster for the Worldwide Legion of Ukraine.
In early April 2023, {a photograph} of a poster apparently promoting the Worldwide Legion of Ukraine to American welfare recipients went viral. The earliest look of the picture of Snopes recognized comes from April 3, when a pro-Russian The Twitter account tweeted it with the caption, “Homeless People lured to Ukraine with guarantees of month-to-month wages and medical insurance.”
Although formatted in a method that would seem acquainted to viewers in former Soviet states, the cellphone quantity listed on the poster is that of the Embassy of Ukraine within the USA in Washington, DC A later iteration of the poster {photograph} that crops this suspiciously formatted quantity out of view went viral:
Halyna Yusypiuk, a spokesperson for the Embassy of Ukraine within the USA, informed Snopes by e mail that “Neither Ukrainian MFA [Ministry of Foreign Affairs]MOD [Ministry of Defense]nor the Embassy ever produced any supplies advertising and marketing the recruitment of US residents to the Legion,” including that “this episode” can be “investigated by native safety authorities.”
Even with out an official denial from Ukrainian officers, nevertheless, a number of options of the poster increase suspicions of its authenticity.
Mistaken Telephone Quantity Format
The image was taken, or was made to seem like it was taken, in some sort of unemployment advantages workplace. The 2 cellphone numbers within the high of the {photograph} are for the Idaho Division of Unemployment Labor and the Hawaii Division of Unemployment Insurance coverage. That is suggestive of a poster focusing on unemployed People.
Regardless of that not-so-subtle suggestion, the quantity an American must name to enroll is formatted in a method that’s fairly actually international to People. Nonetheless, the quantity’s formatting would look acquainted to Ukrainians and Russians. In truth, the format is the one which some official Ukrainian web sites use, and it’s much like how the Russian Embassies in America have posted their cellphone numbers to their residents.
The Ukrainian Embassy would, certainly, be the primary place to go if you happen to had been to enroll in the Worldwide Legion of Ukraine. That is about all of the alleged poster will get proper concerning the group, nevertheless.
Incorrect Information About Legion
The Worldwide Legion, shaped by a presidential decree following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, doesn’t take simply anybody — they require volunteers with not solely army expertise but additionally precise fight expertise.
Whereas there are little doubt numerous American veterans who’re unemployed or on welfare and who’ve fight expertise, the implication that the legion is actively recruiting from this pool is fake. It’s unclear what the poster’s writer means by “Worldwide Volunteer Standing,” however this doesn’t look like a title related to service within the legion. It’s also unclear what is supposed, within the context of energetic army obligation, by “medical insurance coverage.”
Service within the legion is way from profitable. In line with an early contract signed by a international legionnaire, the pay amounted to about $230 a month. In an emailed assertion, embassy spokesperson Yusypiuk informed Snopes:
After Russia launched large-scale aggression towards Ukraine on 24 February 2022 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky created the Worldwide Legion of Ukraine. It consists of international residents wishing to hitch the resistance towards the Russian occupiers and battle for international safety. […]
From the start of the conflict 1000’s of People approached the Embassy looking for extra info on learn how to be a part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. A lot of them signed contracts with the Ministry of Protection of Ukraine and are actually a part of our battle for freedom and independence.
They aren’t mercenaries who’re coming to earn cash. They’re individuals who signed an official contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine – individuals of excellent will who’re serving to Ukraine to battle for our independence. A few of them paid the very best value defending our joint values. Ukraine extremely values each member of the Legion in addition to all Americans who render help to Ukraine.
The purported recruitment poster, in different phrases, misrepresents the very group it alleges to talk for.
Inform-Story Indicators of Propaganda
Creating dubious-looking posters and posting the cellphone variety of a Ukrainian or American embassy is a Russian misinformation tactic that has already been employed through the conflict. In March 2023, for instance, Snopes examined claims {that a} “dementia heart” was promoting itself through the use of an image of Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The poster, which was not official, included the contact variety of the US Embassy in Moscow. Additional, highlighting or discussing the American welfare state, a polarizing matter in American politics, is a typical function of American-targeted Russian propaganda.
No matter its precise origin, nevertheless, the poster is just not official. Not solely is it riddled with suspicious errors, the Embassy of Ukraine within the USA has denied the authorship of, or help for, the poster. For these causes, we fee the declare as “False.”