Category Fact checks / debunkings

No, ‘hundreds’ of bodies of NATO soldiers were not repatriated from Ukraine

Recent months have seen a spike in disinformation about NATO and Ukraine's allies on social media, following French President Emmanuel Macron's comments on sending Western ground troops to fight in Ukraine. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Read MoreNo, ‘hundreds’ of bodies of NATO soldiers were not repatriated from Ukraine

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: Crocus Hall terrorists confess Ukraine was involved in attack

U.S officials have intelligence that the Islamic State group's Afghan affiliate, IS-Khorasan, is responsible for the Moscow attack. "ISIS bears sole responsibility for this attack. There was no Ukrainian involvement whatsoever," White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement.

Read MoreDISINFO: Crocus Hall terrorists confess Ukraine was involved in attack

DISINFO: Ukraine war could spill over to Europe, the US has an interest in this

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine that attempts to deny Ukraine's sovereignty, falsely presents the on-going war against Ukraine as a civil war, and finally falsely claims that Ukraine is a tool of the US and the West to weaken Russia.

Read MoreDISINFO: Ukraine war could spill over to Europe, the US has an interest in this

Anonymous accounts use right-wing channels to spread misinformation | AP News

These influencers frequently spread misinformation and otherwise misleading content, often in service of the same recurring narratives such as alleged voter fraud, the "woke agenda" or Democrats supposedly encouraging a surge of people through illegal immigration to steal elections or replace whites. They often use similar content and reshare each other's posts.

Read MoreAnonymous accounts use right-wing channels to spread misinformation | AP News

DISINFO: Alleged Bucha massacre is fake

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative trying to whitewash Russia's war crimes during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

There is a significant amount of evidence that Russian troops committed war crimes and atrocities in Bucha. The evidence includes satellite images, photos, videos, and witness testimonies. Russia's claims that video footage showing dead bodies on the streets of Bucha is staged have been fact-checked and debunked by the BBC, Bellingcat, The Atlantic Council, Mediazona, the Insider, Sky News, the New York Times and others.

Read MoreDISINFO: Alleged Bucha massacre is fake

DISINFO: Zelensky cancelled 2024 election because he realised he would have lost

Ukraine has been in a state of full-blown war since 24 February 2022, the day Russia openly invaded Ukraine. It did so unprovoked and under absurd pretexts.

President Zelenskyy's reported decision to postpone next year's presidential poll was made in accordance with current Ukrainian legislation. Article 19 of the 2015 Ukrainian law "On the Legal Regime of Martial Law" directly prohibits the holding of presidential and several other types of elections during wartime.

According to the results of a nationwide poll published on 7 February 2024, Zelenskyy is the most popular public figure in Ukraine, with 69% approval.

Read MoreDISINFO: Zelensky cancelled 2024 election because he realised he would have lost