No evidence Putin is abandoning the war in Ukraine

As Russia appears ready to annex parts of Ukraine that its troops have occupied, a recent Facebook post defies reality, suggesting instead that Russian President Vladimir Putin is abandoning the invasion. 

"Putin is fleeing the war!" the Sept. 27 post says. "Russian people raised the flag of rebellion!" 

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Contrary to waving a white flag, Putin is becoming more directly involved in the war’s strategic planning, The New York Times reported Sept. 23, "including rejecting requests from his commanders on the ground that they be allowed to retreat from the vital southern city of Kherson." 

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stated on February 24, 2022 in a Facebook post

Video shows footage from Russia invading Ukraine.

Putin has also recently drafted about 300,000 more reservists to the front lines. News reports have said that people who wouldn’t normally be called up for service are being tapped to fight, angering some Russians. But there’s no sign that Putin is "fleeing the war." 

We rate that claim False.