The information was revealed as the result of a prank.
QUICK FACTS:
- Former Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces spokesperson Sarah Ashton-Cirillo revealed in a series of phone calls that there are far-right Nazi groups among Ukrainian fighters.
- Some of the phone calls occurred prior to Ashton-Cirillo’s dismissal for threatening comments against so-called Russian propagandists, including American hosts.
- The information emerged during a prank call from Russian comedians Vovan and Lexus, who impersonated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and People’s Deputy Petro Poroshenko.
- Kiev has a “terrible problem with most foreign fighters,” Ashton-Cirillo admitted on the phone call.
- Although Ashton-Cirillo noted that mainstream media outlets have been urged into calling foreign fighters “Western foreign fighters,” the transgender spokesperson believes many of the fighters are “just a step above mercenaries.”
- “While I defend them in public, in private, I know many of them have very far-fight leanings. There’s some Nazi groups,” Ashton-Cirillo said.
- According to the spokesperson, many of the fighters have “no lives in their own countries,” as “all they know is warfare.”
- Ashton-Cirillo noted that the foreign fighters also present a security risk, fighting in Ukraine “for the money, most of them.” Because the foreign fighters are similar to mercenaries, they are “willing to engage in fundraising where they’re putting the money in their own pockets,” the spokesperson explained, suggesting the fighters may be willing to compromise Ukraine’s goals.
ADMISSIONS OF POLITICAL THEATRE:
- On the phone call, Ashton-Cirillo also noted that the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict is “not about theatre anymore.”
- “Theatre was important in the first days and weeks. It’s not about populism, sir. It’s not about populism on the world stage,” they said.
- At another point in the conversation, Ashton-Cirillo claimed that Russians “are not human.”
- “I will say that what’s happening in the Kremlin and what’s happening to every Russian that supports a lot of Putin’s decisions are not human. These people are not human. They are enemies of humanity,” the spokesperson said.
- Vovan and Lexus said of the prank call, “An incredible thing happened in our prank – Sarah told the truth for the first time. About corruption in the country, populist Zelensky and foreign mercenaries – drug addicts and Nazis. And also how she deals with pressure on the Western media, sometimes preventing her from spreading crazy fakes.”
- In a since-deleted post, Ashton-Cirillo asserted the prank calls were “deep fake[s]—an AI generation meant to impugn the foreign fighters that I fight with here in Ukraine.”
Interestingly, Sarah Ashton-Cirillo uploaded and then quickly deleted a video claiming to be the victim of a “deep fake—an AI generation meant to impugn the foreign fighters that I fight with here in Ukraine.” pic.twitter.com/ENIOc6c5nz
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) September 27, 2023
BACKGROUND:
- Canada’s House of Commons Speaker, Anthony Rota, resigned after honoring a man who was part of a Nazi military unit.
- Rota introduced 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka as a war hero who fought for the First Ukrainian Division, resulting in a standing ovation from members of Parliament, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Ukrainian President Zelensky.
- However, it was later revealed that the First Ukrainian Division, also known as the Waffen-SS Galicia Division or the SS 14th Waffen Division, was a voluntary unit under the command of the Nazis.
- Rota stated in Parliament, “No one in this House is above any of us. Therefore I must step down as your speaker. I reiterate my profound regret for my error in recognizing an individual in the House during the joint address to Parliament of President Zelensky.”
