Ukraine Embassy slams Russia's claim of Filipino recruitment for war

The Ukraine Embassy in Manila categorically denied Russia's allegation that Filipinos are being recruited to fight alongside Ukrainian troops, calling the accusation a "baseless fabrication" and part of Moscow's broader disinformation efforts in Southeast Asia.

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In a statement issued on Friday, November 28, the embassy rejected the claim made by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, who alleged that Filipino nationals were being enlisted by a US-based security company for deployment to Ukraine.

Zakharova also alleged that Filipino recruits were being promised around US$5,000 or around P293,000 monthly pay and trained by “American instructors” in “San Fernando.”

“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.

The embassy said that the narrative was neither accidental nor isolated but part of a “systematic disinformation campaign” aimed at discrediting Ukraine and its defense forces.

Ukrainian officials noted that similar fake recruitment stories also emerged this week in South Korea.