DISINFO: Terrorist groups around the world feed on Western weapons sent to Ukraine
SUMMARY
Terrorist groups from all over the world feed on the supplies of Western weapons leaked from Ukraine. This contributes to the growth of terrorism at a global level.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about corrupt Ukraine reselling Western weapons to illicit actors. This is a baseless claim that Russian officials have been regularly making since the beginning of the war with the goal of undermining international support for Ukraine’s self-defence.
This narrative is frequently tailored to current events, from criminal turf wars in Scandinavia to riots in France to the Hamas attacks against Israel on 7 October 2023 to drug cartel wars in Mexico. Russia’s disinformation operation has included forged BBC and Bellingcat videos about Ukraine sending weapons to Hamas, and fake ads on the Dark Web, amongst others.
Multiple Western governments have implemented oversight procedures for the gun 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.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that Western weapons are being sold by Ukrainians on the darknet, that the Pentagon proved that Ukraine is stealing Western weapons, that Western weapons for Kyiv go to Islamic terrorists and drug cartels, or that weapons supplied to Kyiv are distributed among criminal groups in Europe.