Danish Ministry of Defence Debunks Russian Fake News About Alleged Death of F-16 Instructor

On January 18, Russian outlets, including TASS, reported that a Danish F-16 instructor was killed during a missile strike in Ukraine. In response, the Danish Ministry of Defense issued a statement denying the claim, calling it disinformation.

In an official statement, Danish Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen said:

“There are no Danish soldiers who have been killed in Ukraine. This is a false story circulating in Russian media – likely to discredit Denmark. I take this very seriously.”

He emphasized that such disinformation is part of broader influence campaigns amid the current serious security situation.

The fake news reportedly originated from Russian sources citing a fabricated Danish social media profile to substantiate their claims. This aligns with a pattern of disinformation efforts designed to undermine international support for Ukraine and its partners.

In a post on Twitter, the Danish Ministry of Defense directly addressed the issue:

(Translation: “The Minister of Defense debunks a false Russian story about a killed Danish F-16 instructor. A story is currently circulating in Russian media that a named Danish F-16 fighter jet instructor was killed yesterday in a missile attack in Ukraine.”)

The ministry reiterated its commitment to transparency and urged the public to verify information from credible sources, especially during times of heightened geopolitical tension.