Category Fact checks / debunkings

Fake: Biden Quote Criticizing Ukraine’s Government

Some social media accounts circulated this text, claiming it was a real quote from a speech that President Biden gave in Warsaw on Saturday, March 26.

President Biden however, did not say these words, not during his Warsaw speech, nor during any of his other public appearances. StopFake analyzed his public speeches as well as transcripts of meetings with media for the period of Februarty 24 through March 26, 2022. We did not find this criticism or any similar criticisms to have been uttered by the American President regarding the Ukrainian government.

On the contrary, an analysis of Biden's speeches shows that the statements circulated on the Internet contradict the position of the White House and what the US President has actually said.

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James Bond promo footage of choir in Russia falsely linked to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine

A video circulating online after Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine has racked up tens of thousands of views alongside a claim it shows members of the "Russian army choir" being arrested for singing about peace in Russian President Vladimir Putin's hometown of Saint Petersburg. In reality, the video corresponds to old footage published in reports since 2015 about a stunt staged to promote the James Bond film "Spectre".

Read MoreJames Bond promo footage of choir in Russia falsely linked to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine

Fake: Odesa Levee Wired with Explosives

Russian media and pro-Russian Telegram channels are claiming that Maksym Marchenko, the head of Odesa's Regional Military Administration, whom they refer to as the "Nazi governor" ordered the Khadzibey levee north-west from Odesa be wired with explosives. Ukraina.ru, Zavtra.ru and other pro-Kremlin publications also featured similar reports. According to the Russian media "the Nazis will blow up the levee in the event of a Russian attack and put the blame Russian saboteurs"

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Fake: Injured Child Not from Mariupol

The young girl pictured in the photograph taken at the Zaporizhzhia Children's Hospital is 13-year-old Milena, who was evacuated from Mariupol. This photograph was published in the French newspaper Liberation. After being wounded in the jaw, Milena was placed in an induced coma. As of March 26, some 65,000 people were able to escape the besieged port of Mariupol through Ukrainian organized humanitarian corridors.

Read MoreFake: Injured Child Not from Mariupol

Old video of Russian paratroopers jumping from plane shared with false claim about ‘invasion of Ukraine’

A video viewed more than a million times has been shared alongside a claim it shows Russian troops parachuting into Ukraine following Moscow's invasion of its pro-Western neighbour in February 2022. While there have been reports of Russian paratroopers being deployed as part of the invasion, this video has circulated since 2014 in a social media post about a military exercise conducted in Russia.

Read MoreOld video of Russian paratroopers jumping from plane shared with false claim about ‘invasion of Ukraine’

Misleading posts link old Russia protest video with Ukraine invasion

A video of a violent clash between demonstrators and police officers has been viewed tens of thousands of times on social media alongside a claim it shows Russians protesting against Putin's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. But while thousands were detained across Russia over Ukraine protests, the video had been shared in a misleading context. The footage has previously circulated in reports since January 2021 about a Chechen student who fought with riot police in Moscow during protests calling for the release of a Kremlin critic.

Read MoreMisleading posts link old Russia protest video with Ukraine invasion

Prez. Zelensky expressing the “V sign” gesture over Prez. Putin is an Altered Image – Factcrescendo Sri Lanka – English

Fact Crescendo found out the image viral on social media claiming Prez. Zelensky showing the "V sign" gesture over Putin's head was actually a digitally altered meme. The meme was digitally created using two separate stock images taken during the Normandy Four Summit held in France 2019 in which Russian and Ukrainian leaders were seen posing separately along with French Prez. Emmanuel Macron

Read MorePrez. Zelensky expressing the “V sign” gesture over Prez. Putin is an Altered Image – Factcrescendo Sri Lanka – English