Washington (Times Of Ocean)- “False news” reports, which claimed three American troops were killed in eastern Ukraine, were denied by the US on Friday.
Three American soldiers were killed in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, according to a Russian newspaper which the United States calls it fake news.
“There is wide reporting that there were three U.S. soldiers who were killed in Donbas, which is patently false and a deliberate fabrication. There are no US soldiers in Ukraine,” State Department principal deputy spokeswoman Jalina Porter said at a briefing.
“The imagery used is – on this false reporting is from 2018, and those depicted in the picture returned safely to their home the next year in 2019. They are accounted for, safe, and not, as the article erroneously states, US mercenaries killed in Donetsk,” said Porter.
Russian newspaper Pravda has claimed three US “mercenaries” were killed in the Donetsk region, which along with Luhansk declared independence from Ukraine in late February.
Following their independence and Russia’s recognition, Ukraine was attacked militarily.
The Russia-Ukraine war, which started on Feb. 24, has drawn international condemnation, led to financial restrictions against Moscow and prompted a massive exodus of global firms from Russia.
The UN says 816 civilians have been killed and 1,333 injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the war, although the number is probably higher.
UNHCR reported that more than 3.27 million people have fled to neighboring countries.