Labeling foreign volunteers as "mercenaries" to devalue international support
StableModerate
2 outlets · 2 posts · ~1.3M monthly reach
What it claims
Foreign nationals joining Ukraine's Defense Forces are systematically portrayed as "mercenaries" and "soldiers of fortune" seeking only money. This framing aims to deny the ideological motivation of volunteers and convince Western audiences of the inevitable death of their compatriots.
Target audience
Examples (paraphrased)
- Kyiv tries to lure foreigners, but these "mercenaries" become mere cannon fodder and remain in Ukrainian soil forever.
- Foreign "soldiers of fortune" who came to fight for Ukraine are just fools who face nothing but death.
Goal
To demotivate foreigners from joining the AFU and to sow fear and distrust among the Western public regarding their citizens' participation in the war.
Techniques used
- Name Calling or LabelingUse of derogatory terms like "mercenaries" and "fortune's fools" instead of official military status.
- Appeal to Fear / PrejudiceEmphasizing that foreigners will "never leave" Ukraine, implying their mass death.
The real grievance it exploits
Anxiety of foreign volunteers' families over their loved ones' safety and the legal ambiguity of volunteer status in some countries.
How to counter
- Technique exposure: The term "mercenary" is used manipulatively: foreigners who officially join the AFU are combatants under the Geneva Conventions, not mercenaries.
Sources (all time)
Report as of 5 Jul 2026