A false narrative is spreading across Chinese social media platforms, claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent his son to fight in Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The posts suggest that Putin is following in the footsteps of Chairman Mao Zedong, who allowed his son to fight in the Korean War. A video circulating on social media shows Putin pinning a medal on a young man in a military uniform, leading to speculation that he is Putin’s son. However, the man in the video has been identified as Senior Lieutenant Stepan Belov, who was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation at a ceremony in December 2022. While Putin’s family is largely mysterious, he has confirmed having two daughters, Katerina Tikhonova and Maria Vorontsova, who were sanctioned by Western countries in response to Moscow’s actions in Ukraine.
The false information about Putin’s son being sent to war has been circulating on platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and X, mostly in Chinese. However, a reverse image search of a frame from the video reveals the true identity of the man, Stepan Belov, who was being honored by Putin at the awards ceremony. Belov was born in 1996 in Oktyabrsky, Republic of Bashkortostan, but there is no evidence to suggest that he is Putin’s son. Putin’s family has been the subject of speculation and rumors, with reports suggesting that he may have secret children from previous marriages and extramarital affairs, though none of this has been confirmed. His daughters, Katerina and Maria, have faced sanctions from Western nations due to their connections to Putin.
The video of Putin awarding Belov the title of Hero of the Russian Federation has been misinterpreted as evidence of Putin sending his son to fight in Ukraine. This misinformation can have serious consequences, as it contributes to a false narrative about the Russian president’s actions and intentions in the conflict. While it is true that Chairman Mao Zedong allowed his son, Mao Anying, to fight in the Korean War, there is no evidence to suggest that Putin has done the same with his own children. The spread of false information on social media highlights the role of disinformation in shaping public perceptions of world events and political figures.
The Kremlin has posted a video of the awards ceremony on its website, naming Belov as the recipient of the Hero of the Russian Federation title. Various news reports and websites have identified Belov as a distinguished Russian citizen born in Oktyabrsky. Despite the speculation surrounding Putin’s family and personal life, there is no conclusive evidence to support the claim that he has sent his son to participate in the war in Ukraine. The use of misleading information and misinterpretation of events on social media platforms can have wide-reaching implications, influencing public opinion and shaping the discourse surrounding global conflicts and political figures.
In conclusion, the false narrative circulating on Chinese social media about Putin sending his son to war in Ukraine is based on misinformation and misinterpretation of a video showing Putin awarding a medal to Senior Lieutenant Stepan Belov. While Putin’s family remains mysterious and the subject of speculation, there is no evidence to support the claim that he has sent his son to fight in the conflict. The spread of false information on social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook underscores the risks of disinformation in shaping public perceptions and attitudes towards world events and political leaders. It is crucial to verify information before sharing it online to prevent the spread of false narratives and misinformation.
