Category Aid to Ukraine

No, Russia didn’t capture a US Patriot missile launcher to give to China

Did Russia really capture a bunch of US missiles in Ukraine and give them to China? No, but posts featuring that bit of fake news have been garnering thousands of views on social media since May 13. Many of these posts feature a photo said to show these missiles in China. While the photo was indeed taken in China, it actually shows a non-operational replica of these missiles, according to military experts interviewed by our team.

Read MoreNo, Russia didn’t capture a US Patriot missile launcher to give to China

Posts Misrepresent Federal Response, Funding for Hurricane Helene Victims

In a misleading Oct. 3 Instagram post, conservative commentator Benny Johnson wrote, "We can send BILLIONS to Ukraine but Americans who have lost everything only get $750 dollars?!" The Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided more than $210 million in immediate assistance to communities affected by Hurricane Helene, which the Department of Homeland Security secretary has described as the start of "a multibillion-dollar, multiyear recovery." The $750 payment is an initial payment survivors may receive while FEMA determines eligibility for its many other offerings within the Individual Assistance Program.

Read MorePosts Misrepresent Federal Response, Funding for Hurricane Helene Victims

No, this video doesn’t show a Russian air strike on a NATO arms convoy

A video of a massive fire circulated widely on social media in late April along with captions claiming it showed a strike by the Russian army on a NATO weapons convoy en route to Ukraine. However, it turns out that this is an old video that wasn't filmed anywhere near Ukraine.

Read MoreNo, this video doesn’t show a Russian air strike on a NATO arms convoy

Debunking false rumours that Ukraine sold Russia its French-made artillery – Truth or Fake

Social media users have been sharing false claims that the Ukrainian army sold two of the heavy-duty CAESAR howitzers - given by France - to Russia for $120,000 per unit. In this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl, we look into the source of these rumours - which are based on false posts from two years ago - and why the outlet behind them is not trustworthy.

Read MoreDebunking false rumours that Ukraine sold Russia its French-made artillery – Truth or Fake

DISINFO: Ukrainians are ungrateful: they attacked Russians and now they attacked the bridge in Baltimore

This accident has been used as a pretext to advance the narrative that Ukrainians are ungrateful to those who have helped them, particularly Russia. The notion that Ukrainians have benefited from Russia and are now ungrateful is incorrect. The Telegram channel odshbr_79 is a Russian fake channel imitating the official Ukrainian channel of the 79 окрема десантно-штурмова Таврійська (79th Separate Amphibious Assault). The only difference in the names of the channels is the underscore character, which the Russians used.

Read MoreDISINFO: Ukrainians are ungrateful: they attacked Russians and now they attacked the bridge in Baltimore

UNFOUNDED: Zelenskyi decided to appropriate the money of Ukrainian refugees

These claims are unfounded. The President proposed to direct the funds to the state budget so that the Ukrainian authorities could independently distribute them among Ukrainian refugees. He explained that after the full-scale aggression by the Russian Federation, Ukrainians took their money with them, which still remains in Europe.

Read MoreUNFOUNDED: Zelenskyi decided to appropriate the money of Ukrainian refugees

DISINFO: Borrell admitted that the EU is driving Ukrainians to slaughter for its own benefit

The disinformation is based on an interview with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell to CNN, published on March 25, 2024. Josep Borrell discussed the policy of support for Ukraine from the EU and the United States. In the context of his visit to the United States in March 2024, Borrell warned that the coming months would be decisive for Russia's war against Ukraine and called on allies to urgently help Kyiv. Borrell emphasised that support for Ukraine is extremely important for allies, not just as a "show of love for the people of Ukraine," but as a contribution to the defence capability of Ukraine and NATO countries. Josep Borrell once again noted that the consequences of Russia's theoretical victory in Ukraine will be catastrophic for the EU and Russia will not stop.

Read MoreDISINFO: Borrell admitted that the EU is driving Ukrainians to slaughter for its own benefit

DISINFO: The West uses Ukraine to destroy Russia

A broad coalition of nations including the EU and the US supports Ukraine with military equipment and economic aid. Kyiv's Western partners help Ukraine to liberate all of its occupied territories and restore its sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders of 1991. Ukraine is acting in self-defence against the Russian invasion as enshrined in the UN Charter Article 51. Ukraine receives only conventional weapons. Nuclear arms and other means of mass destruction are not supplied to Ukraine.

Read MoreDISINFO: The West uses Ukraine to destroy Russia

DISINFO: Russia has been pushed to a war with Ukraine

Russia and Putin are responsible for the war in Ukraine. It was Putin's personal decision to invade Ukraine and start the largest military conflict in Europe since WWII. Russia's aggression against Ukraine was unprovoked and unjustified. Contrary to Russian claims, Ukraine had not planned to attack Russia, and did not commit genocide in the non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Ukraine was striving to implement the Minsk Agreements, but the Moscow-backed military formations there were constantly disrupting their implementation.

Read MoreDISINFO: Russia has been pushed to a war with Ukraine

DISINFO: Using Taurus missiles on Crimean Bridge would violate German constitution

The German Constitution does not restrict the state's right to deliver military aid to third countries, as long as such deliveries are approved by the federal government. The only constitutional provision which even remotely concerns this issue is Article 26 (1) on securing international peace.

Read MoreDISINFO: Using Taurus missiles on Crimean Bridge would violate German constitution