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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Report on alleged Filipino recruitment to fight in Ukraine is fake news—DFA, embassy

Report on alleged Filipino recruitment to fight in Ukraine is fake news—DFA, embassy

Published Nov 28, 2025 06:56 pm
(DFA Photo)
(DFA Photo)
The report claiming that a United States agency is recruiting Filipinos to fight in Ukraine was fake news, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Ukraine Embassy in the Philippines said.
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed on Friday night, Nov. 28, that the Ukraine Embassy in the Philippines has denied the report.
"DFA Secretary Tess Lazaro says it is fake news according to (the) Ukraine Embassy," Castro said.
The clarification came after a one-minute clip showing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Spokesperson Maria Zakharova holding a briefing was posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Nov. 27.
The clip was accompanied by a caption, stating that a US agency was recruiting Filipinos for the Ukraine conflict with a $5,000 monthly pay.

'Baseless fabrication'

In a statement, the Ukraine Embassy has refuted the alleged recruitment of Filipino nationals, calling it a baseless fabrication which does not have an "actual foundation" and "do not correspond to reality."
"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. These claims have no factual foundation whatsoever and do not correspond to reality," the Embassy of Ukraine in the Philippines said on Friday night.
The embassy stressed that "Ukraine and the Philippines enjoy strong, friendly, and dynamic bilateral relations built on mutual respect, trust, and a shared commitment to international law" which was reaffirmed just yesterday during the telephone conversation between the President Marcos and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Ukraine Embassy claimed that it was "a part of systemic disinformation" aimed at discrediting Ukraine and its Defense Forces.
"The Russian insinuation concerning the Philippines is not accidental; it is part of a systematic disinformation campaign by the Russian Federation aimed at discrediting Ukraine and its Defense Forces," the embassy said.
It also cited a similar Russian fake news about supposed recruitment in the Republic of Korea just days ago, which has since debunked.
"Now Russian propagandists have decided to spread another fabricated story in the Philippines. This demonstrates a deliberate focus of Russian propaganda on the states of Southeast Asia," the embassy added.
Ukraine also called on all states and international partners to "handle information responsibly and not succumb to manipulations and falsehoods aimed at undermining stability and trust."

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