FACT CHECK: Does Image Show A Pregnancy Military Uniform For Ukrainian Soldiers?
A post shared on social media purportedly shows a Ukrainian military uniform that has been designed for pregnant women.
View this post on Instagram
Verdict: False
The claim is inaccurate. The body armor is designed for all women, not specifically pregnant women.
Fact Check:
The spending bill approved by Congress to avert a government shutdown did not include funding for the Ukraine war, ABC News reported. The Pentagon is urging lawmakers to reconsider their decision on funding Ukraine and to add on to the $43.9 billion in aid the U.S has given.
The Instagram post purports a new uniform has been designed for use by pregnant women in the Ukrainian military. The post shares an image of a woman in armor while several men watch.
The caption reads, “This is where your money is going. To put pregnant women on the battlefield.”
This claim is inaccurate. There is no credible news report that suggests this uniform is designed to be used by women who are pregnant. In the corner of the image is a twitter handle @maria_avdv. Maria Avdeeva is a national security expert who shared this video on her twitter account saying it is for women, not pregnant women. She said, “Presentation of body armor specially designed for women – a long overdue initiative.”
News outlet Ukrainska Pravda reported that the body armor was designed for women. They did not specify that this was for use by pregnant women. (RELATED: House Judiciary Committee Democrats Post About Impeachment Witness Lacks Context)
However, there are reports that pregnant women are fighting in the Ukraine. Radio free Europe reported that a woman had her uniform tailored for her pregnancy. Also, the U.S military did unveil maternity flight suits prototype a few years ago for women in the U.S. Navy.
This is not the first time misinformation has been shared online. Check Your Fact debunked a claim that Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy suspended players for kneeling during the National Anthem.
