No, Ukraine is not calling on Ukraine-origin Canadians to join fight against Russia

By: Soham Shah
August 16 2023

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Context

Posts circulating on social media claim that the defense minister of Ukraine, Oleksiy Reznikov, has called on Canadian citizens of Ukrainian origin to join the war against Russia. 

The photo has been shared with the caption, “Zelenskyy rounding up more cannon fodder.” The caption then adds a translation of the post, attributing the quote to the Defense Minister of Ukraine, Oleksiy Reznikov.

The headline of the post, originally in Russian, reads, “Ukraine plans to mobilize 30,000 Canadians." The text of the photo translated similarly reads, “‘A huge number of ethnic Ukrainians live in Canada, one of the largest national communities. Now, when the historical Motherland needs them, they should be here. They are citizens of Canada, but first of all, Ukrainians. We will ask the Canadian government to send us 30,000 men of draft age, — Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov.” Archive links of these posts can be accessed here and here

However, the defense minister of Ukraine has made no such statement, and the claim is false.

In fact

Logically Facts found no evidence of any such statement by Ukrainian Minister Oleksiy Reznikov in the form of public statements or news reports. 

John Babcock, Spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada, told Logically Facts, “Canada has not received such a request from Ukraine.”

Yuriy Sak, an adviser to Ukraine’s Defence Minister, told Reuters that this photo was a “Cheap fake.” Logically Facts has also contacted the Ukrainian government, and this story will be updated if and when we receive a response.

Canada claims to have provided military and monetary support to Ukraine to the tune of 8 billion dollars since the beginning of the invasion. The National Post has reported that many Canadians have joined the fight from Ukraine's side of their own accord, although Canada has now barred its soldiers from joining Ukraine’s foreign legion.

 The verdict 

We mark this claim as false as the Ukrainian minister has not made any such statement, and both Canadian and Ukrainian authorities have denied receiving or making any such request.