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War in Ukraine: In 2023, Russian disinformation continued to dominate

Out of the 197 fact-checking articles our team wrote in 2023, 52 of them concerned the war in Ukraine. And 50 of those highlighted pro-Russian disinformation aimed at discrediting Kyiv and the Ukrainian war effort.

FACT CHECK: Facebook Video Does Not Show CNN Ad Mentioning Ukraine | Check Your Fact

The Facebook video purports to show a CNN advertisement mentioning Ukraine on a billboard in Times Square. Kyiv is all over. Will the Russians stop there or go further? Discover this and more on Political Briefing, the text of the alleged advertisement reads. The video's caption claims 'few people believe Ukraine will win' its ongoing war with Russia.

The video is not authentic, however. CNN spokesperson Emily Kuhn denied the video's authenticity in an email to Reuters.

FALSE: Verkhovna Rada has adopted a law that will make the English language the main language in Ukraine

This is not true. Doctors did not mention the figure of 30,000 deaths and injuries per month. This information was voiced by Yurii Lutsenko. According to estimates by researchers from the "Book of Memory of the Fallen for Ukraine," Ukraine's losses amount to over 30,000 deaths and about 100,000 wounded in 2022-2023.

FACT CHECK: Facebook Post Makes False Claim About Putin, Schwab | Check Your Fact

A post shared on Facebook claims Russian President Vladimir Putin purportedly declared World Economic Forum (WEF) chairperson Klaus Schwab to be a 'legitimate military target'

The claim is false and stems from a Dec. 13 article published by The People's Voice, a website that is known for spreading 'fake news.'

How pro-Russian ‘yacht’ propaganda influenced US debate over Ukraine aid

A website founded by a former US Marine who now lives in Russia has fuelled a rumour that Volodymyr Zelensky purchased two luxury yachts with American aid money. Despite the false claim, the disinformation plot was successful. It took off online and was echoed by members of the US Congress making crucial decisions about military spending.

It was an incredible assertion - using two advisers as proxies, Mr Zelensky paid $75m (£59m) for two yachts. But not only has the Ukrainian government flatly denied the story, the two ships in question have not even been sold.

No, Ukraine’s Zelensky did not buy a lavish mansion in Florida – Truth or Fake

A few days after Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Washington, social media accounts are claiming that the Ukrainian president recently bought a mansion in Florida. The posts show pictures of a lavish mansion and a document that looks like a US naturalisation certificate under his name. But both photos are fake: Zelensky did not buy a house in the US, nor did he become a US citizen.