Category Fact checks / debunkings

Nova Kakhovka dam breach: Old image resurfaces to falsely illustrate today’s damage – Truth or Fake

An image from a November 2022 explosion in the Nova Kakhovka dam is going viral. Some users claim that it shows the precise moment Russian forces blew up the dam, while others say it shows the destruction of the dam by Ukrainian armed forces. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Read MoreNova Kakhovka dam breach: Old image resurfaces to falsely illustrate today’s damage – Truth or Fake

No evidence Mexican cartel obtained US weapons destined for Ukraine

Social media users are claiming Mexican TV reported that anti-tank missile systems the United States sent to Ukraine ended up in the hands of a Mexican cartel. This is false; the claims are based on a mistranslation of the segment, which showed a man sporting apparent gang insignia carrying the same type of military-grade weapon used in Ukraine -- but did not say the artillery was diverted from Kyiv.

Read MoreNo evidence Mexican cartel obtained US weapons destined for Ukraine

What’s behind this fake advert calling on North Africans to fight in Ukraine to get EU citizenship

Since May 21, a number of posts online have been claiming that an advertisement posted on the British jobs website Adzuna offers proof that Western countries are recruiting mercenaries in Africa and the Middle East to go and fight in Ukraine. However, we investigated and determined that this post isn't real.

Read MoreWhat’s behind this fake advert calling on North Africans to fight in Ukraine to get EU citizenship

False claim uses video game footage to illustrate ‘possibilities of Russian aviation’ – Truth or Fake

A viral video claims to show the impressive maneuvers of a Russian pilot. The video is actually an extract from a highly realistic combat simulator video game that has been continuously used in fake claims. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Read MoreFalse claim uses video game footage to illustrate ‘possibilities of Russian aviation’ – Truth or Fake

Claim of 1 million Ukrainian soldiers dead has no official backing

Reuters reported in April that leaked documents allegedly from U.S. intelligence agencies estimated as many as 354,000 Ukrainian and Russian soldiers have died or been injured in the war. Reuters has not been able to independently verify the documents, and U.S. officials said some files appeared to be altered.

The Facebook video's claim that 1 million Ukrainian soldiers have been "wiped out" is much higher than any official reported estimates. So we rate this claim False.

Read MoreClaim of 1 million Ukrainian soldiers dead has no official backing

Ukraine: fake NYC subway ad calls homeless Americans to “join” the war – Truth or Fake

Viral photos on social media showed a fake advertisement in the New York City subway system calling for the city's homeless to join the fight in Ukraine. Vedika Bahl explains this misinformation, in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Read MoreUkraine: fake NYC subway ad calls homeless Americans to “join” the war – Truth or Fake

Fake: Document Says that Ukrainian General Requests Additional Burial Plots at the Zaporizhia Cemetery…

This "letter" has been forged, as evidenced by numerous gross errors in the text and vocabulary not typical of official documents. Specifically, the "letter" incorrectly states the addressee's official position and the location of the cemetery for victims of World War II, and the surname of the secretary of the Zaporizhia city council is misspelled.

Read MoreFake: Document Says that Ukrainian General Requests Additional Burial Plots at the Zaporizhia Cemetery…