2017 Photo of a Ukrainian Soldier in a Cage Is Recirculating
The Claim
A photo shows Ukrainian prisoners from the Azov battalion imprisoned in cages similar to dog cages.
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Social media users have recently circulated a photo purporting to show Ukrainian prisoners from the Azov battalion imprisoned in cages similar to dog cages.
Description: The claim and the photo being shared online.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulated claim and discovered it to be misleading. The photo was previously published in May 2017. It depicts a Ukrainian soldier from the 54th Brigade who was imprisoned for his constant use of alcohol.
Azov Battalion
The Azov battalion was established in 2014, at the beginning of the war against pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. It was integrated into the National Guard of the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior Affairs.
The battalion was founded by right-wing activists and initially recruited volunteers, some of whom were part of the so-called "right-wing sector," a far-right Ukrainian nationalist organization. The main headquarters of the Azov Battalion is in Mariupol.
Russia's Control of Mariupol
The claim circulated following Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's announcement on Thursday, April 21, that "Russia's army has taken control of the besieged Ukrainian coastal city of Mariupol, except for the Azovstal steel plant." US Vice President Joe Biden, on the other hand, questioned the Russian declaration's veracity.
Translated by Wesam Abo Marq
