The quote from Valerii Zaluzhnyi’s speech to Ukrainian soldiers being trained in the UK was taken out of context. The former commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces did not claim that Ukrainian soldiers “have no chance of survival.” While General Zaluzhnyi did encourage soldiers not to fear death, he emphasized that “war will be afraid of those that are ready to join it.” He also stressed the importance of practical skills, experience, courage, and mutual support among comrades for successful combat operations.
Social media and Russian sites are circulating claims that the former commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, told Ukrainian soldiers training in Britain not to fear death because they have no chance of survival. This information is allegedly based on a report by the British newspaper The Sun. Some pro-Russian channels attribute the spread of this information to another British newspaper, The Times.
“Why aren’t you on the front line yourself? These Zaluzhnyis, Zelenskyys and Yermaks are all scum,” the propaganda channels comment.
In reality, this information is manipulative. Valerii Zaluzhnyi emphasized the importance of fighting for Ukrainian independence and indeed urged them not to fear death during his speech to Ukrainian soldiers in the UK. However, he did not say that the soldiers had no chance of survival; instead, he remarked that “war will be afraid of those that are ready to join it.”
On November 19, 2024, The Sun published an article entitled Watch as Ukrainian troops training in UK are told to ‘kill without hesitation’ in stirring speech by ex ‘Iron General’. In the article, journalist Jerome Starkey summarizes that “Ukraine’s hero army recruits must learn to kill Russians ‘without hesitation’ their former commander in chief was warned.” According to General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, “When you see the enemy, kill him before he tries to kill you or your comrade.”
Based on The Sun’s piece, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who now serves as Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, actually stated that soldiers must learn not to fear death or facing the enemy. Zaluzhnyi emphasized that Russia’s war against Ukraine is getting harsher by the day, posing significant threats to life and leaving limited opportunities for those who lack adequate military skills. “But war will be afraid of those that are ready to join it,” Zaluzhnyi told the Ukrainian soldiers. So Zaluzhnyi did not say that the soldiers have no chance of survival. He merely emphasized the importance of practical skills, personal experience, and courage in the successful conduct of combat operations.
The Sun also provides an extended quote from the “Iron General,” as the author refers to Zaluzhnyi:
“You must learn here, first of all, to protect yourself. Learn to survive here. Second, look each other carefully in the eye. Remember each other. You must remember each other for the rest of your life. (…) On the battlefield look at the same comrade and try to save him. (…) When you see the enemy, kill him before he tries to kill you or your comrade. (…) Please learn this here: Love each other. And remember Ukraine,” said Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
Russian media and platforms once again attempted to promote a narrative of the futility of Ukrainian resistance and alleged heavy losses within the Ukrainian armed forces, with the aim of discrediting the Ukrainian military and officials while fostering despair within Ukrainian society.
StopFake continues to debunk similar disinformation in materials such as Fake: The West Reveals ‘Real Losses in Ukraine’, Fake: After Trump’s Election Victory, Ukrainian Military Surrendered More Often, Says ISW, and Fake: Ukraine Is Rife with Organ Trafficking.
