Category International community

Two old photos show Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, not Russia attacking Ukraine

Two images of huge explosions among residential buildings have been shared hundreds of times on social media alongside a claim that they show Russia's attack on Ukraine. But the claim is false: the photos show Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip in 2018 and 2021.

Read MoreTwo old photos show Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, not Russia attacking Ukraine

The 2012 photo shows a Palestinian girl confronting an Israeli soldier, unrelated to Ukraine conflict

Three photos have been shared thousands of times on Facebook in Tanzania and Kenya alongside a claim that they show a young Ukrainian girl confronting a Russian soldier. But this is false: the images are screenshots from a YouTube video of Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi challenging an Israeli soldier in the occupied West Bank in 2012.

Read MoreThe 2012 photo shows a Palestinian girl confronting an Israeli soldier, unrelated to Ukraine conflict

These images were taken during the 2008 Georgia-Russia war, not in Ukraine

Facebook posts asking for prayers for victims of the war in Ukraine, accompanied by photographs of suffering civilians, have been shared dozens of times in Kenya and Tanzania. But these posts are misleading; the pictures actually show victims of the 2008 war between Georgia and Russia.

Read MoreThese images were taken during the 2008 Georgia-Russia war, not in Ukraine

Old image of food truck in Canada shared in posts about Sikhs giving support in Ukraine

As Russian troops invaded Ukraine, an image of a food truck was shared thousands of times in social media posts that claimed it shows members of the Sikh community offering free food to people affected by the conflict. However, the photo was shared in a false context. While there have been reports by Indian media outlets about a Sikh humanitarian organisation offering support to people who have fled war-torn Ukraine, the image of the food truck shows a Sikh community initiative in Canada.

Read MoreOld image of food truck in Canada shared in posts about Sikhs giving support in Ukraine

Old air crash photo shared in posts about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Social media posts and news reports about Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine have repeatedly shared an image of a burning jet alongside a claim that "six Russian fighter planes" were shot down. Whilst Ukraine's military said it had shot down six Russian aircraft on the first day of the invasion, the image has been shared in a false context. The photographer who captured the original image told AFP it was taken in 1993. The image corresponds to reports from 1993 about a crash involving Russian aircraft during a UK airshow.

Read MoreOld air crash photo shared in posts about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

False subtitles added to Putin’s Ukraine war declaration video to suggest African states are next

A video of Russian President Vladimir Putin addressing the press has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook posts alongside the claim that he has declared war on African countries - including Kenya and South Sudan - for commenting on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The claim is false; Putin's speech in Russian makes no mention of Africa. The clip was taken from his televised address on February 24, 2022, when he announced Russia's decision to invade Ukraine.

Read MoreFalse subtitles added to Putin’s Ukraine war declaration video to suggest African states are next

Fake CNN screenshot misleads on war in Ukraine

Social media posts claim US broadcaster CNN misrepresented an image of a 2015 explosion as being from the 2022 war in Ukraine. But the image shows an explosion in Kyiv and was released by the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 24, 2022, and the channel said the alleged screenshot of a CNN report featured in the posts is fake.

Read MoreFake CNN screenshot misleads on war in Ukraine

This video shows a Libyan military jet shot down by rebels in 2011

A video of a plane engulfed in flames and falling from the sky has been viewed more than 1.5 million times in social media posts that claim it shows a Russian fighter jet shot down by Ukrainian forces in February 2022. In reality, the video predates the Russian invasion of Ukraine and shows a Libyan jet targeted by rebels in 2011.

Read MoreThis video shows a Libyan military jet shot down by rebels in 2011

Video with inaccurate subtitles does not show ‘Putin praising Pakistan PM Imran Khan’

A video has circulated in social media posts that claim it shows Russian President Vladimir Putin praising Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan after the two leaders met in Moscow on the day Russia invaded neighbouring Ukraine. The clip was viewed hundreds of thousands of times in posts by Pakistan-based social media users. In fact, the video's English-language subtitles have been misleadingly altered. In the original clip, Putin was shown criticising Ukraine.

Read MoreVideo with inaccurate subtitles does not show ‘Putin praising Pakistan PM Imran Khan’

Austrian climate change protest video misused in false posts about Ukraine conflict

As the civilian death toll mounted in Ukraine following Russia's invasion, a video was viewed hundreds of thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows a Ukrainian reporter inadvertently exposing fake war casualties in a live broadcast. This is false: the video shows a climate change protest in Austria that was staged weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine.

Read MoreAustrian climate change protest video misused in false posts about Ukraine conflict