CLAIM: France sent troops to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war.
AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. The French Foreign Ministry said in a statement on X that France has not deployed troops to Ukraine, calling the claim “disinformation.” Reports of the deployment cited a May 3 blog post by Stephen Bryen, a deputy undersecretary for the Department of Defense during the Reagan administration.
THE FACTS: Social media users are pointing to the blog post as proof that French troops have been sent to fight Russia alongside Ukraine as the war continues in its third year.
“France has sent its first troops officially to Ukraine,” the blog post reads. “They have been deployed in support of the Ukrainian 54th Independent Mechanized Brigade in Slavyansk. The French soldiers are drawn from France’s 3rd Infantry Regiment, which is one of the main elements of France’s Foreign Legion (Légion étrangère).”
After AP's missing students investigation, children return to school
This is the surprising risk of Ozempic NO ONE talks about
These 15 AP photos capturing migrants' struggle were honored with a Pulitzer Prize
Julia Fox and Law Roach team up for a sustainable fashion competition show
Lawsuit alleges decades of child sex abuse at Illinois juvenile detention centers statewide
Redfin agrees to pay $9.25 million to settle real estate broker commission lawsuits
Skye Wheatley hosts reunion with her I'm A Celebrity co
Signatures submitted for 'top two' primary election in Republican