The Claim:
The Kremlin-aligned Russian tabloid, Komsomolskaya Pravda, has published a wild conspiracy theory falsely asserting that wounded Ukrainian soldiers are being transported to NATO-run hospitals, where their organs are purportedly systematically removed and sold on the black market. Russia has persistently promoted narratives that falsely allege Ukraine’s involvement in harvesting organs from fallen soldiers, women, and children, as well as using mobile cremators to dispose of the evidence since the beginning of the latest phase of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Narrative Context:
For the domestic Russian audience, the primary objectives of this narrative are to dehumanize Ukraine’s army and its citizens. Secondly, it aims to justify Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The narrative seeks to instill fear among Ukrainians and Ukrainian soldiers by suggesting that if soldiers are wounded at the front, their organs will be removed in hospitals behind the lines and sold by allegedly corrupt superiors. This strategy is also designed to erode public support for the Ukrainian government and armed forces, fostering dissent within the military ranks.
This narrative has been consistently propagated by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and various media platforms since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. NATO has also been the target of similar Russian government narratives.
Facts:
In April 2022, British and American intelligence services and Canada’s Communications Security Establishment publicly identified, exposed and rejected this false Russian narrative.
There is no credible evidence to support this Russian government conspiracy.
