Kremlin Disinformation? Demark Denies Losing F-16 Pilot Over Ukraine
An online media watchdog wrote: “The entire story of the killed F-16 instructor was completely fabricated.”
For nearly three years, misinformation and disinformation have been employed by both sides in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The truth has been stretched—citing high-end casualty estimates of the other side—or downplayed, such as not acknowledging friendly losses. However, Russia has clearly taken a lead in the spread of disinformation campaigns, which are often supported by pro-Kremlin military bloggers (mil-bloggers).
On Saturday, RT International reported that Danish F-16 pilot Jepp Hansen was killed during a recent Russian military strike.
“Sources within Russian law enforcement have reportedly told the agency that Hansen died during an attack on a training center in the city of Krivoy Rog in Dnepropetrovsk Region in central Ukraine,” the Russian news outlet stated.
Kyiv and Denmark were quick to dispute the claims. It would seem this is another case of disinformation, directed by the Kremlin and its online proxies.
Social Media Response—Fuel to the Fire
Soon after the initial reports circulated, various accounts on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, claimed that Hansen’s death was confirmed by the Danish military, and photos of the officer were soon posted.
However, the Danish Ministry of Defense did not acknowledge that any F-16 pilots were providing training in Ukraine, nor did it “confirm” one’s death. Instead, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen told the Danish Ritzau Bureau and Berlingske news sites, “No Danish soldiers have been killed in Ukraine. It is a totally false story that is running in the Russian media—probably to discredit Denmark and its support to Ukraine.”
Poulsen further labeled it a “large-scale false influence and misinformation campaign” directed by the Kremlin. “It is a serious attempt to manipulate the information environment at a time of heightened tensions. I take this [accusation] very seriously. But it is unfortunately part of a reality in the very serious security political situation we currently face.”
The online media watchdog GeoConfirmed, which tracks the war in Ukraine and other conflicts also conducted an investigation into the matter, reported on X: “The entire story of the killed F-16 instructor was completely fabricated—a deliberate and calculated disinformation campaign designed to spread false information about a purported incident involving a Danish F-16 instructor in Ukraine and put pressure on the support by Denmark to Ukraine by influencing the narrative.”
Russia Disinformation Campaigns
Pro-Kremlin accounts on social media have made numerous dubious claims. It was just last week that a Russian Telegram channel suggested that eight Ukrainian generals owned homes in the Los Angeles area that were destroyed in the recent wildfires.
Last summer, social media reports also suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spent $15 million to buy a Mercedes 770 automobile that was previously owned by Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, while another alleged that Zelensky’s wife purchased a Bugatti sports car.
However, it should be noted that some Russian mil-bloggers have also been more forthcoming about actual Russian losses than the Kremlin has acknowledged. It was in October 2024 that the Telegram channel of the Russian-based Fighterbomber first reported that a Ukrainian F-16 Fighting Falcon had successfully shot down a Russian Aerospace Force’s Sukhoi Su-34 (NATO reporting name Fullback).
Such reports, which verify Western claims, further make it murky to know what is the truth and what is fiction. The truth is seen as the first casualty in war, but it dies many deaths.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
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