The Department of Foreign Affairs reiterated that no recruitment program for Ukraine exists. (File photo)
MANILA – Malacañang has rejected as “fake news” a claim circulated by the Russian Foreign Ministry that the United States is recruiting Filipinos to fight in the war in Ukraine. Palace officials said the allegation has been publicly denied by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Embassy of Ukraine in Manila and the German Embassy, with no independent evidence supporting the story.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro relayed the Ukraine Embassy’s categorical dismissal of the claim. Castro emphasized that the embassy confirmed that no recruitment program involving Filipino nationals exists and that reports circulating online have no factual basis.
The controversy began after Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told reporters in Moscow that representatives of a United States-based security company were allegedly carrying out recruitment activities in the Philippines for deployment to Ukraine. Russian state media reports also claimed that supposed recruits were being offered high monthly salaries and that former police officers and retired military personnel were given priority. Zakharova further alleged that recruits were being issued Schengen work visas through the German Embassy in Manila before being transferred to European countries and eventually sent to Ukraine.
Ukraine Embassy: Claims are fabrications
The Embassy of Ukraine in Manila rejected the Russian assertions and labeled them as fabrications. Ukrainian officials said the statements did not correspond to reality and appeared to be part of a recurring pattern of disinformation aimed at undermining Ukraine’s international partnerships. The embassy added that similar narratives had appeared in other countries and were already disproven by Ukrainian missions overseas.
Ukraine’s embassy stressed that it does not conduct any form of military recruitment among Filipino nationals and encouraged the public to rely on verified statements rather than unverified online posts.
DFA warns against illegal recruitment
The DFA said the viral reports circulating on social media are false and should not be taken at face value. Officials urged Filipinos to remain vigilant against illegal recruitment schemes and to refrain from engaging with posts that promise fast, high-paying overseas jobs, particularly those linked to conflict areas. The agency reiterated that all overseas employment must go through licensed recruitment channels and that unverified job offers placing Filipinos in dangerous situations violate Philippine law.
While the DFA has not reported any confirmed cases linked to the alleged scheme, the department continues to issue reminders about the risks posed by unauthorized recruiters and online scams.
German Embassy: Visa allegations untrue
The German Embassy in Manila also denied the claim that Schengen visas issued in the Philippines were being used as a pathway to deploy Filipino recruits to Ukraine. The embassy said the allegations were unfounded and inconsistent with European visa regulations. Officials emphasized that Schengen visas do not authorize employment in any form and that work visas undergo strict review.
Germany’s denial reinforces the coordinated rejection issued by Manila and Kyiv.
No evidence of recruitment pipeline
Independent reporting from multiple Philippine and international outlets has found no evidence that a recruitment pipeline exists. The allegations remain based solely on Russia’s statements, with no documentation or verifiable accounts supporting the involvement of any American company in the Philippines.
Government agencies have urged Filipinos, particularly retired security personnel who may be vulnerable to fraudulent offers, to verify any overseas job opportunities through official channels.
For now, the Philippine government’s position is clear. The claim that the United States is recruiting Filipinos for the war in Ukraine has been firmly rejected by Manila, Kyiv and Berlin and remains unsupported by any independently verified information.
