Ukraine: Pinoys not being recruited to join fight vs Russia
The Ukraine Embassy in Manila has denied a Russian official’s claim that Filipino nationals were being recruited to join Ukrainian troops in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war.
In a statement on Friday, the embassy called the claim a “baseless fabrication” and part of “Russian propaganda” in Southeast Asia.
“We reject and refute the baseless fabrications of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the alleged recruitment of Filipino nationals to participate in hostilities on the side of Ukraine,” it said.
These claims, it added, have no factual foundation and do not correspond with reality.
The embassy also noted that the insinuation was not accidental and could be part of a “systematic disinformation campaign” being waged by the Russian Federation to discredit Ukraine and its Defense Forces.
Similar rumor
It earlier said that Ukraine authorities learned about a “similar Russian fake news about supposed recruitment” in South Korea and officially debunked it.
“Now, Russian propagandists have decided to spread another fabricated story in the Philippines. This demonstrates a deliberate focus of Russian propaganda on the states of Southeast Asia,” it added.
According to the embassy, Philippine-Ukraine relations remain rooted in mutual respect and trust.
“Ukraine and the Philippines enjoy strong, friendly, and dynamic bilateral relations built on mutual respect, trust, and a shared commitment to international law,” it said.
“This was reaffirmed just yesterday during the telephone conversation between the Presidents of the two countries.”
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova claimed on Nov. 27 that representatives of an American security company have “launched a campaign in the Philippines to recruit local citizens” for the Ukrainian army.
German connection
She alleged that recruits who sign contracts “are issued a Schengen work visa at the consular section of the German Embassy in Manila.” They will then be transferred to other countries, including those within the European Union, such as Poland and Ukraine, upon arrival in Germany.
The same claim was categorically denied by German Ambassador to the Philippines Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke who described it as “baseless allegations.”
He explained that Schengen visas do not entitle the holder to take up employment in the Schengen area, and that the German Embassy only issues work visas for jobs in Germany.
