BOOM

Trending Searches

    SUPPORT
    BOOM

    Trending News

      • Fact Check 
        • Fast Check
        • Politics
        • Business
        • Entertainment
        • Social
        • Sports
        • World
      • Law
      • Explainers
      • News 
        • All News
      • Decode 
        • Impact
        • Scamcheck
        • Life
        • Voices
      • Media Buddhi 
        • Digital Buddhi
        • Senior Citizens
        • Videos
      • Web Stories
      • BOOM Research
      • BOOM Labs
      • Deepfake Tracker
      • Videos 
        • Facts Neeti
      • Home-icon
        Home
      • About Us-icon
        About Us
      • Authors-icon
        Authors
      • Team-icon
        Team
      • Careers-icon
        Careers
      • Internship-icon
        Internship
      • Contact Us-icon
        Contact Us
      • Methodology-icon
        Methodology
      • Correction Policy-icon
        Correction Policy
      • Non-Partnership Policy-icon
        Non-Partnership Policy
      • Cookie Policy-icon
        Cookie Policy
      • Grievance Redressal-icon
        Grievance Redressal
      • Republishing Guidelines-icon
        Republishing Guidelines
      • Fact Check-icon
        Fact Check
        Fast Check
        Politics
        Business
        Entertainment
        Social
        Sports
        World
      • Law-icon
        Law
      • Explainers-icon
        Explainers
      • News-icon
        News
        All News
      • Decode-icon
        Decode
        Impact
        Scamcheck
        Life
        Voices
      • Media Buddhi-icon
        Media Buddhi
        Digital Buddhi
        Senior Citizens
        Videos
      • Web Stories-icon
        Web Stories
      • BOOM Research-icon
        BOOM Research
      • BOOM Labs-icon
        BOOM Labs
      • Deepfake Tracker-icon
        Deepfake Tracker
      • Videos-icon
        Videos
        Facts Neeti
      Trending Tags
      TRENDING
      • #Operation Sindoor
      • #Pahalgam Terror Attack
      • #Narendra Modi
      • #Rahul Gandhi
      • #Waqf Amendment Bill
      • #Arvind Kejriwal
      • #Deepfake
      • #Artificial Intelligence
      • Home
      • World
      • Photos From 2015, 2017 Shared As...
      World

      Photos From 2015, 2017 Shared As Ukrainian Children Ready To Fight Russia

      The pictures were taken in 2015 and 2017 at a youth paramilitary camp on the outskirts of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv.

      By - AFP |
      Published -  27 March 2022 4:17 PM IST
    • Boomlive
      Photos From 2015, 2017 Shared As Ukrainian Children Ready To Fight Russia

      A series of photos of children wearing military fatigues and brandishing weapons is circulating in multiple posts online which claim they are Ukrainian children training to fight after Russian invaded Ukraine in February 2022. In fact, the pictures were taken in 2015 and 2017 at a youth paramilitary camp on the outskirts of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv.

      "War is a curse. Children take up arms to save their motherland. Child soldiers of Ukraine," reads a Sinhala-language Facebook post published on February 25.

      Screenshot of the Facebook post captured on February 27, 2022

      The photos were shared in multiple Facebook posts alongside the same claim, as seen here and here as well as on news sites.

      However, the photos have been shared in a misleading context.

      Youth paramilitary camp

      Reverse image searches of the photos led to image archives of The Associated Press (AP) news agency and the European Pressphoto Agency (EPA).

      Two of the photos shared in the misleading posts were taken on July 14, 2017 by AP and featured in a photo essay titled "Ukraine Groomed to Fight", as seen here and here.

      "Students at a paramilitary camp for children sing the Ukrainian national anthem before the start of exercises outside Kiev, Ukraine," the caption for the first photo reads in part.

      "As the deadly conflict in eastern Ukraine entered its third year, some parents in Ukraine are anxious to make sure their children are ready to fight it, instead of swimming and playing volleyball," it added, referring to Moscow's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014 and its support of separatist forces in the east of Ukraine.

      The second photo caption reads: "A student at a paramilitary camp for children calls the rank to attention outside Kiev, Ukraine."

      Below is a screenshot comparison of the photos from the misleading posts (left) and AP's archive (right):

      Screenshot comparison of the photos from the misleading posts (L) and the AP archive (R)

      A post published on the Associated Press Images blog on August 4, 2017 featured the identical collection of photos.

      The blog text reads: "The Azov volunteer battalion's members have been fighting on the eastern front, becoming notorious for their far-right views. It has set up a two-week paramilitary program for children, and as of early August, more than 850 children have received training at seven Azov camps across the country."

      The Azov Battalion is a volunteer paramilitary group founded in 2014 that has been fighting Russian-backed rebel groups in eastern Ukraine. It set up a paramilitary training camp called 'Azovets', founded by a former Azov commander.

      Reverse image searches of the remaining photos led to a series taken by the European Pressphoto Agency on August 12, 2015, as seen here, here, here, here, here and here.

      Below are screenshot comparisons between the photo in misleading posts (left) and the EPA archives (right):

      Screenshot comparisons between the photos in misleading posts (L) and the EPA archives (R)

      The captions say the photos were taken at an Azovets "youth military-patriotic summer camp" on the outskirts of Kyiv.

      A news article on the camp by the Kyiv Post said children as young as seven attended the camp.

      "Kids at this summer camp aren't just playing soldiers – they're getting actual military training from soldiers who have fought on the front line in Russia's war against Ukraine," it said.

      (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by BOOM staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

      Tags

      Russia Ukraine ConflictFake NewsUkrainefake newsFact Check
      Read Full Article
      Claim :   Children being trained to fight Russian soldiers
      Claimed By :  Posts on social media
      Fact Check :  False
      Next Story
      Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
      Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker. Please reload after ad blocker is disabled.
      X

      Subscribe to BOOM Newsletters

      👉 No spam, no paywall — but verified insights.

      Please enter a Email Address
      Subscribe for free!

      Stay Ahead of Misinformation!

      Please enter a Email Address
      Subscribe Now🛡️ 100% Privacy Protected | No Spam, Just Facts
      By subscribing, you agree with the Terms & conditions and Privacy Policy connected to the offer

      Thank you for subscribing!

      You’re now part of the BOOM community.

      Or, Subscribe to receive latest news via email
      Subscribed Successfully...
      Copy HTMLHTML is copied!
      There's no data to copy!