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DISINFO: Ukrainian Soldier Willingly Joined Separatists

DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS

Tags:

TV Zvezda Eastern Ukraine Military Human rights War against Ukraine

DISINFO: Ukrainian Soldier Willingly Joined Separatists

SUMMARY

Sergeant Taras Hapliak from Ukraine’s 24th mechanized brigade deserted his post and surrendered himself to Russian militants in the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) because of the drunkenness of his colleagues.

RESPONSE

Taras Hapiak is a real person and a sergeant in the Ukrainian army. According to the Ukrainian Security Service, in March of 2017 he was captured by LPR militants. Hapiak was freed in a prisoner exchange on December 27, 2017. After his release he related how he was forced to record the video under torture. Further debunking by Stopfake.

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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