Category International community

Fake: Ukraine’s Population Falls to 20 Million

As of January 2023, Ukraine's population ranged from 28 to 34 million people, according to Ukraine's Ptoukha Institute for Demography and Social Studies. Temporarily occupied territories are not included in the calculations. The United Nations Population Fund meanwhile cited a figure of 36.7 million people, taking into account the temporarily occupied territories.

Read MoreFake: Ukraine’s Population Falls to 20 Million

FACT CHECK: Did Vladimir Putin Collapse After Suffering A Heart Attack? | Check Your Fact

Verdict: False
The screenshot appears to be digitally fabricated, as the headline neither appears on the outlet’s website nor its social media accounts. A reverse image search reveals the photos were created using artificial intelligence (AI).

Read MoreFACT CHECK: Did Vladimir Putin Collapse After Suffering A Heart Attack? | Check Your Fact

Video Fake: Ukrainian Refugee Complaining About Living in Europe

The video circulating online is satirical and its author is not and has
never been a 'Ukrainian refugee in Europe.' The woman from the video
permanently lives in Ukraine and films many satirical sketches on TikTok.
However, Russian propaganda used the 48-second joke video to once again
discredit Ukrainian refugees.

Read MoreVideo Fake: Ukrainian Refugee Complaining About Living in Europe

Fake: NATO Certain Ukrainian Counteroffensive Will Fail

Former Commander of US Forces in Europe, Ben Hodges, said nothing about the "future failure" of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. On the contrary, the general expressed cautious optimism regarding the effectiveness of the Ukrainian army in operations against Russian occupiers.

Read MoreFake: NATO Certain Ukrainian Counteroffensive Will Fail

Fake: Greece Opposes Supplying Ukraine with Weapons

Greece pledged military assistance to Ukraine in resisting Russian aggression. The country's defense minister has stated that Greece 'will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.'

Read MoreFake: Greece Opposes Supplying Ukraine with Weapons

Fake: Ukrainians Forced to Join Estonian Military, Threatened With Deportation

In response to StopFake's request, the Ukrainian Embassy in Estonia claimed that Ukrainians are not being drafted into the Estonian army. The official website for refugees in Estonia has no information about this obligation for Ukrainian citizens as well.

Read MoreFake: Ukrainians Forced to Join Estonian Military, Threatened With Deportation

Manipulation: Ukraine Drives Up Criminal Activity in Eastern Europe

The April 24 article on the French news Atlantico website does not claim that crime in Eastern Europe has skyrocketed because of Ukraine. The story refers to the so-called Carpathian gray zone, an area used by criminal groups from various countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia, to traffic prohibited goods to the EU. According to Xavier Raufer, the article's author, the increased flow through the Carpathian zone is caused by Russia's war against Ukraine and its blockade of Ukrainian ports.

Read MoreManipulation: Ukraine Drives Up Criminal Activity in Eastern Europe

Putin didn’t ‘shut down’ all Russian oil to the U.S. It’s already banned.

This isn't accurate. The U.S. banned all imports of Russian oil, natural gas and coal in March 2022 after Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine.
A caption on an April 26 viral Facebook video claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin "just SHUTDOWN All Oil To The US, Collapsing The US Economy!"

Oil prices have dropped in recent days, but market experts credit that largely to weak demand and economic jitters over banking. This is the opposite of what would be expected with prices if this claim were accurate.

It's not. This claim is Pants on Fire!

Read MorePutin didn’t ‘shut down’ all Russian oil to the U.S. It’s already banned.