War propaganda is used as a means of influencing both sides of the military conflict. An example from the [[Russia-Ukraine war]] is the recruitment of foreign [[mercenaries]] by the government of [[Ukraine]]. Mercenaries do not enjoy the status and protection of [[prisoners of war]] under the [[Geneva Convention]], can be executed on the spot as paid killers for profit under international law, and most governments have laws in place prohibiting their citizens from engaging in mercenary activity. Three [[UK]] citizens were captured by the Russians, and two faced [[criminal]] charges and the [[death penalty]]. The third, Aiden Aslin, was somewhat of [[social media]] star with a large number of subscribers on [[Twitter]] and [[Instagram]] following his tales of adventure. In captivity, Aslin was allowed to create a [[YouTube]] channel to interact with the global public,<ref>https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFNB2gdTvzAXW9LQ1GS5wfg/videos</ref> and dissuade people from responding to Ukrainian and Western media solicitations to join Ukraine's mercenary force. | War propaganda is used as a means of influencing both sides of the military conflict. An example from the [[Russia-Ukraine war]] is the recruitment of foreign [[mercenaries]] by the government of [[Ukraine]]. Mercenaries do not enjoy the status and protection of [[prisoners of war]] under the [[Geneva Convention]], can be executed on the spot as paid killers for profit under international law, and most governments have laws in place prohibiting their citizens from engaging in mercenary activity. Three [[UK]] citizens were captured by the Russians, and two faced [[criminal]] charges and the [[death penalty]]. The third, Aiden Aslin, was somewhat of [[social media]] star with a large number of subscribers on [[Twitter]] and [[Instagram]] following his tales of adventure. In captivity, Aslin was allowed to create a [[YouTube]] channel to interact with the global public,<ref>https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFNB2gdTvzAXW9LQ1GS5wfg/videos</ref> and dissuade people from responding to Ukrainian and Western media solicitations to join Ukraine's mercenary force. |