On 1 October 2025, the French outlet Valeurs Actuelles published an interview with the Chief of Staff of the French Army, General Pierre Schill. The interview focused on the strategic priorities of the French armed forces for the next two years. However, some Russian media outlets and pro-Russian Telegram channels distorted the content of this interview, presenting it as alleged evidence that France is preparing for combat operations against Russia.

This was reported by StopFake.

In particular, propagandist sources are spreading claims about a “possible war between France and Russia in the near future”, referring to supposedly urgent measures by the French army. As “proof”, they cite a phrase by General Schill about the need to be ready “at any moment, even this evening” – but this quote has been taken out of context.

In reality, in his interview the general emphasized not aggression or an attack on another country, but the need to maintain a high level of combat readiness of the French army. He was referring to possible participation in humanitarian missions, NATO operations, and the protection of allies within the framework of collective defense.

General Schill also outlined in detail the plans to modernize France’s ground forces in 2025–2026: upgrading weapons, introducing robotic and drone systems, strengthening cyber defense, and increasing the production capacity of the defense industry.

In addition, in November 2025 France will take part in the NATO joint exercise Dacian Fall in Romania, which is defensive in nature and aimed at strengthening the Alliance’s eastern flank in response to Russia’s Zapad 2025 maneuvers. These exercises are part of NATO’s routine training and are not intended for aggressive actions.

Thus, claims that France is preparing for a war with Russia are an example of disinformation actively promoted by pro-Kremlin sources in order to portray the West as an aggressor and to stoke fear in the information space.

Russian propagandist Telegram channels are spreading disinformation claiming that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are allegedly forming cavalry units to bypass Russian drones during assaults. As “evidence”, they use a short video showing a Ukrainian serviceman sitting on a horse. In reality, this is fake.

This was reported by Ukrinform.

The circulated video is not military footage but a parody promotional clip created as part of a recruitment campaign by the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade named after Ivan Sirko. The video includes a humorous reference to the iconic slogan from an Old Spice deodorant commercial – “Yes, I’m on a horse”. The original source of the video is the brigade’s official TikTok account, recruiting_92.

Interestingly, it is the Russian army that actively uses animals for military purposes. Propagandist reports feature horses and donkeys, as well as stories about riders being able to move two people on a single horse while “shooting back at drones”. Such materials are presented as evidence of the effectiveness of this kind of tactic.

The spread of fakes about “Ukrainian cavalry” is yet another attempt to discredit the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the eyes of the international audience. Russian propagandists manipulate the context to create an image of a supposedly technologically backward Ukrainian army, while at the same time concealing the use of similar methods by their own forces.