Illustration: Truthmeter.mk
This article was first published by Truthmeter.mk (North Macedonia), within the framework of Western Balkans Anti-Disinformation Project.
It is not true that the war in Ukraine is a war of the European Union, as the post wants to portray. Such a claim supports pro-Kremlin disinformation suggesting that Russia is not to blame for the war in Ukraine and that the war was initiated by the EU and NATO, while Russia is merely defending itself
We analyze a Facebook post that says:
$25,000 for recruitment in Ukraine and an additional $25,000 for a year in war… Where does Ukraine get money from after having already burdened hundreds of its own generations with debt because of this war instigated by the EU…
It is not true that the war in Ukraine is a war of the European Union, as the post wants to portray.
This claim supports pro-Kremlin disinformation that Russia is not to blame for the war in Ukraine, that the war was started by the EU and NATO, and that Russia is only defending itself. On February 24, 2022, Russian troops launched an attack on Ukraine ordered by President Vladimir Putin, who announced a “special military operation” in the early hours of the morning, despite warnings from world leaders that the move could lead to the largest war in Europe since 1945.
The attack was preceded by Russian President Putin’s decision on February 21, 2022, to recognize the independence of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics, which have been under the control of pro-Russian separatists since 2014. This decision allowed Putin to directly send Russian military units to Eastern Ukraine, where sporadic clashes between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists were already underway.
Since the beginning of Russia’s aggressive military invasion of Ukraine, Kremlin propaganda has repeatedly attempted to distort the narrative, or rather, to impose a series of justifications for its attacks. The truth is that it was Russia that carried out an unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
The EU provides military and financial assistance to Ukraine, which has the right to defend itself from the Russian military invasion and protect its territorial integrity.
Since February 2022, the European Council and the Council of the European Union have been meeting regularly to discuss the situation in Ukraine from different perspectives.
Russia must stop its atrocious war immediately. The European Union will stand by Ukraine with steadfast support for as long as it takes, stated the European Council conclusions of 9 February 2023.
EU leaders have repeatedly called on Russia to immediately cease its military actions, unconditionally withdraw all forces and military equipment from Ukraine, and fully respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence. They stressed Ukraine’s right to choose its own destiny and praised the people of Ukraine for their courage in defending their country.
The EU has shown unity and strength and provided Ukraine with humanitarian, political, financial, and military support.
As for the benefits received by those who sign up for the military, the Ukrainian government on February 11, 2025, approved a scheme that allows volunteers aged 18 to 24 to sign one-year contracts that include basic military training, specialist training, and an adaptation course in a military unit. The recruits will receive a one-time bonus of one million hryvnias (about $25,000) paid in installments: 200,000 upon signing the contract, 300,000 upon completion of training, and 500,000 upon discharge. In addition, they will receive a monthly salary of 120,000 hryvnias (over $2,800).
From all of the above, we can conclude that the post we are analyzing is untrue.
