Ukrainian soldiers do not use animals to clear mines. On the contrary, servicemen on the front lines are trying to remove abandoned farm animals from areas shelled by Russians.
Russian media are spreading fakes claiming that the Ukrainian military, allegedly suffering from a shortage of sappers, have resorted to an alternative method of clearing Russian mines from Ukrainian territories by intentionally letting livestock onto mined fields.
This Russian disinformation is based on an article by the English language Kyiv Post newspaper about abandoned farm animals in the war zone. There is no mention of Ukrainian soldiers leading animals to mine slaughter in the article, on the contrary, the story focuses on animals being killed and maimed by Russian mines and Ukrainian soldiers’ efforts to help them.
The article cites a Ukrainian serviceman who describes a herd of sheep that was moving through an area potentially mined by the Russian invaders.
‘We also came across a derelict herd of sheep — a very large herd. Nothing remarkable, but they were actively moving along the road looking for food. After they passed through an area, it was safe for the fighters to go. We knew there were no mines to get blown up on. We called them altruistic sappers [mine-clearing soldiers]’, the Ukrainian soldier said.
There is not a single word in the Kyiv Post story about Ukrainian Forces intentionally letting animals through potentially mined territory. A herd of sheep in search of food wandered into the war zone by itself. Russian media claims that the Ukrainian military intentionally let farm animals onto landmines is a fake, aimed at discrediting the Ukrainian army.
