Russian propaganda is spreading another fake, claiming that in Ukraine soldiers will allegedly be buried using “Nazi symbols.” The claim concerns temporary grave markers at the National Military Memorial Cemetery near Kyiv, which was opened in August this year. Propagandists describe the crosses on the grave markers as a “copy of German World War II burials with swastikas” and assert that such symbols do not exist in Ukrainian military symbolism or awards. StopFake debunks this fake.

Temporary grave markers and their origin

The photographs used by Kremlin media to support their accusations show temporary grave markers. These structures are installed only for the period while the ground settles, after which they will be replaced with permanent monuments. The permanent grave markers will follow two designs approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine: a Cossack cross or a slab with a rounded top. Neither of these has anything to do with Nazi symbolism.

The temporary grave markers are a modern interpretation of the Cossack cross – a symbol that has been used for the burial of Ukrainian Cossacks since the 16th century. This type of cross is widespread at historical Cossack cemeteries that have survived to this day and is part of Ukraine’s cultural heritage.

The Cossack cross in modern symbolism

The propagandist claim that the Cossack cross is not used in Ukrainian military symbolism or awards is false. Examples of medals featuring the Cossack cross – such as the Knight’s Cross, Cross of Honor, and For Assistance to the Defense – can be found on the official website of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. In addition, this symbol is present on the flag of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which confirms its widespread use in Ukrainian heraldry.

Ukrainian traditions at the heart of the memorial

The chief architect of the National Military Memorial Cemetery project, Serhii Derbin, emphasized that the design of the complex is based exclusively on Ukrainian burial traditions:

“Ukrainian culture has its own unique burial traditions, which we took as the foundation for creating a modern memorial complex. We are not copying foreign models but developing our own military aesthetics, drawing on our history”.

Thus, accusations of “Nazi” symbols at a Ukrainian military cemetery are yet another attempt at disinformation that does not stand up to fact-checking. The Cossack cross is a historical Ukrainian symbol with no connection whatsoever to Nazism.

A video is circulating on Polish social media, particularly on Facebook and TikTok, claiming that Ukrainians can receive a minimum pension in Poland, including the so-called 13th and 14th pensions, after just one day of work. At the same time, the video claims that Poles who have worked for 25 years allegedly are not entitled to similar payments. This information has caused significant public reaction: the video has been viewed more than 1.1 million times, received around 600 shares, 1,800 reactions, and over 200 comments, some of which contain anti-Ukrainian sentiment. Polish fact-checkers from Demagog examined these claims and debunked the fake.

Analysis of the issue

The comparison of pension rights for Ukrainians and Poles in the video is manipulative, as it selectively uses information and compares different types of employment contracts. For Ukrainians, the form of employment is not specified, while for Poles the video mentions mandate contracts or self-employment, which until 2026 are not counted toward pensionable service regardless of citizenship. This creates a false impression that Ukrainians have privileged access to pensions.

Can Ukrainians receive a pension after one day of work?

The claim that Ukrainians can receive a minimum pension after one day of work in Poland is false. To qualify for a minimum pension in Poland, the following conditions must be met:

A single contribution paid to the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) does give the right to a pension, but its amount is calculated proportionally based on the length of service and contributions. Therefore, after one day of work, the pension would not correspond to the minimum pension guaranteed for a full contribution record.

Aggregation of service periods

Under the 2012 agreement between Poland and Ukraine, insurance periods accrued in Ukraine can be added to Polish service periods when determining eligibility for a pension. However, this does not mean automatic entitlement to the full minimum pension. If the total service and contributions do not meet the requirements, ZUS calculates payments proportionally. Only if all conditions are met (service length, age, residence) can the pension be topped up to the minimum level.

Financial data

According to ZUS, in July 2024, 824,500 Ukrainians (66.1% of all insured foreigners) were covered by pension and disability insurance in Poland. In 2024, ZUS paid 1.36 billion zlotys to foreigners, of which 840.8 million zlotys went to Ukrainians, including 90 million zlotys in pensions. Subsidies topping up pensions to the minimum level for Ukrainians in 2024 amounted to 16.2 million zlotys for about 900 people per month. For comparison, in 2023 such subsidies were paid to 800 people, totaling 11.4 million zlotys. This indicates the limited scale of such payments.

Why this is disinformation

The video circulating on social media manipulates comparisons by ignoring that the same rules regarding pensionable service and employment conditions apply to both Poles and Ukrainians. Claims about receiving a pension after one day of work are false, as payments depend on contribution history and the amount paid in. This fuels anti-Ukrainian sentiment by creating a false impression of unfair “privileges” for Ukrainians in Poland.

Russian propagandist Telegram channels are spreading a fake screenshot allegedly referencing a Ukrainian media outlet. The post claims that a serviceman of the 22nd Separate Mechanized Brigade killed a homeless man with whom he had been drinking alcohol in Sumy Oblast. This information is disinformation aimed at discrediting Ukrainian soldiers, as established by fact-checkers from VoxCheck.

Debunking the fake

The spread of such fakes is part of Russian propaganda efforts aimed at attributing fabricated crimes to Ukrainian soldiers. This manipulation is intended to create a false impression of immoral behavior by Ukraine’s defenders.