UKRAINE SMUGGLES WESTERN WEAPONRY
Myth: Ukraine smuggles weapons, provided by its Western allies, to third parties (including HAMAS or South American cartels).
Fact: No credible evidence supports this allegation, and both U.S. and NATO officials have confirmed multiple times that Ukraine properly uses the weapons it receives. Ukraine has strict tracking measures, including end-use monitoring and on-the-ground verifications, to prevent illicit arms diversion. Investigations by the EU, Interpol, and the Pentagon conducted in 2023 have found no proof of weapons trafficking from Ukraine.
This narrative originates from Russian propaganda to undermine Western support for Ukraine. Fact is, HAMAS relies on Iranian and Soviet-era weapons, like those produced nowadays in Russia, but not Western arms, while South American cartels prefer commercially available U.S. and Brazilian firearms. No verified reports indicate Ukrainian weapons appearing in these groups’ arsenals.