No, This Video Does Not Show Syrian Volunteers Ready To Fight for Russia in Ukraine
The Claim
A video depicts Syrian volunteers on their way to Russia to help in the war in Ukraine.
News posted on
Emerging story
Social media users have shared a video purporting to show Syrian volunteers on their way to Russia to fight in Ukraine after the Kremlin announced on March 1, 2022, that volunteers from Syria and Middle Eastern countries would be allowed to fight for Russia in Ukraine.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar has investigated the claim and found it to be misleading.
Using Google Image Reverse Search, we found out that a Russian news website also posted the video on March 11 with a caption in Russian. The video was attached to a report on Syrian rallies supporting Moscow and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The website stated that the video was from Syria and did not mention that people in the video are Syrian soldiers volunteering or on their way to Russia.
Description: The website did not mention that the people in the video are volunteers.
The website posted another video of Syrian students at Syrian University expressing their support for the “Russian military operation in Ukraine.”
Description: The website posted another video of students supporting Russia.
According to Syrian news websites, students and professors of Aleppo University have participated in a solidarity stand with Russia and expressed their “rejection of the US and Western policies aiming at undermining its security.”
Other news outlets have reported on Russia's sourcing of Syrians to fight in Ukraine. Claims related to Syrian people preparing to enter Ukraine are circulating, especially after Putin’s call for volunteers. But this video was not about Syrian volunteers on their way to Russia.
