Canada’s Military Trained Ukrainian Fascists. Now It’s Claiming “Russian Disinformation.”
A report from George Washington University reveals that the Canadian Armed Forces trained a far-right Ukrainian group. Despite corroboration by its own internal documents, the Canadian military is calling the report “Russian disinformation.”
A group of uniformed men pose in a photo posted to neo-Nazi group Centuria’s Telegram. (GWU)
Last year, a report published out of George Washington University (GWU) revealed that members of a Ukrainian far-right group, the Military Order of Centuria, boasted online about receiving NATO training at the Hetman Petro Sahaidachny National Army Academy. Despite newly unearthed documents showing that Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) officials initially admitted the report was credible, Canada’s military is now trying to claim — without evidence — that the report contained “doctored” photos to support “Russian disinformation.”
At best, the fact that CAF made this allegation without clear evidence or even specific examples suggests the military does not take the issue seriously. At worst, it signals a cynical attempt to exploit a chaotic information environment in order to deflect scrutiny from Canada’s military operations. In either case, the CAF’s claim about the report baselessly throws researchers and journalists’ reputations — and their personal safety — under the bus.
Training Nazis
The GWU report, published in September 2021, documents Centuria members promoting white nationalism, throwing Nazi salutes, and praising members of the SS. In a 2020 Telegram post, the group stated that its objective was to “attain the highest ranks inside the Armed Forces [of Ukraine]” and to “hold significant influence within the structure of the Armed Forces.” The group is also linked to Ukraine’s notorious far-right Azov movement. In 2021, Centuria boasted about forging ties with “foreign colleagues from such countries as France, the United Kingdom, Canada, the US, Germany, and Poland.” The GWU report prompted an internal review last year, but the CAF ultimately denied it had trained the group — without providing any details.
This article is for subscribers only. Please login or subscribe to access our full archives and beautiful print and digital magazine starting at just $3 a month.