CLAIM: Canadian Lieutenant Colonel Kent Miller was killed by a Russian strike in Ukraine.
VERDICT: The case of Canadian Lieutenant Colonel Kent Miller’s death is a characteristic example of disinformation, where true information (his death) was distorted and falsely linked to Russian attacks in Ukraine. While Miller passed away in Casteau, Belgium, due to medical complications unrelated to military actions, Russian and pro-Russian sources exploited the event, integrating it into a narrative about foreign military deaths in Ukraine.
The “Pravda” disinformation network (also known as Portal Kombat) spread the claim that a Canadian lieutenant colonel who passed away on November 25, 2024, was killed following Russian bombings in Ukraine. It was reported, among others, in English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian and Greek.
On November 28, a claim began circulating that a Canadian lieutenant colonel was killed on November 25 by Russian strikes in the Sumy region of Ukraine, from the dropping of an FAB-1500 bomb. A similar version puts his death in Kharkiv, on the same day Apart from the “Pravda” network, the claim also surfaced on X (examples here and here), garnering hundreds of thousands of views.
On November 25, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a Russian missile strike (not an airstrike) occurred in Sumy, killing two civilians. Earlier, on November 18, a Russian missile hit a nine-story building in the same area, resulting in at least eight deaths. Another two fatalities were reported on November 22. The attacks extended beyond northeastern Ukraine to areas such as Kyiv, Odessa, and Zaporizhzhia, targeting the country’s energy infrastructure. No reports or audiovisual material confirm the death of the Canadian lieutenant colonel.
Additionally, on November 25, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that 40 foreign military advisers (trainers), mainly from the United States, were killed in Kharkiv, Ukraine. According to the same source, the Russian strike targeted the headquarters of the Kraken regiment, part of the spetsnaz units of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR). However, there was no reference to the identities of the alleged foreign dead, nor was any evidence provided for the purported event. Ukrainian sources stated that during the Russian missile attack on downtown Kharkiv, administrative services were hit, injuring 23 people.
Subsequently, the news of Kent Miller’s death began circulating through the “Pravda” network and Russian websites such as lenta.ru, vesti.ru, vz.ru, rg.ru and many more. All reports cite Telegram accounts as their source, the most prominent being that of “war correspondent” Yuri Kotenok, known as a Kremlin supporter and propagandist.
Canadian Lieutenant Colonel (LCol) Kent Miller indeed passed away on November 25, 2025, in Casteau, Belgium, where he served under Operation UNIFIER at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Casteau. His death was due to medical complications unrelated to operational (military) activities, according to an official announcement on the Canadian government’s website.
Operation UNIFIER of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) aims to enhance the capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) by providing critical military training. It was launched in 2015 at the request of the Ukrainian government following the illegal annexation of Crimea. Following the escalation of the conflict in 2022, the operation was expanded and extended until 2026. The Canadian Armed Forces collaborate with allies such as the United Kingdom, Poland, and Latvia to provide training to Ukrainian troops at various locations across Europe.
Conclusion
The case of Canadian Lieutenant Colonel Kent Miller’s death is a characteristic example of disinformation, where true information (his death) was distorted and falsely linked to Russian attacks in Ukraine. While Miller passed away in Casteau, Belgium, due to medical complications unrelated to military actions, Russian and pro-Russian sources exploited the event, integrating it into a narrative about foreign military deaths in Ukraine.