Category Media taken out of context

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

DonMak eateries opened in Ukraine in 2016 after McDonald’s departure from pro-Russian cities

A Facebook post claims that Russia created its own version of McDonald's after the fast-food chain temporarily shut down operations in the country in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This is misleading; DonMak opened in Ukraine's separatist-controlled cities of Donetsk and Luhansk a few years after Russia's conflict with Ukraine in 2014. The images in the post were taken in Ukraine, not Russia, several years ago.

Read MoreDonMak eateries opened in Ukraine in 2016 after McDonald’s departure from pro-Russian cities

This footage shows a military exercise in the Netherlands in 2018

A video of military helicopters hoisting tanks into the air has been viewed millions of times in Facebook posts that claim it shows a Russian attack on a military base in Ukraine. The clip circulated as Russia intensified attacks in Ukraine. However, the footage actually shows a military exercise in the Netherlands in 2018.

Read MoreThis footage shows a military exercise in the Netherlands in 2018

Video appears to show Kenyan soldiers, not Russians

The soldiers seen in the video don't appear to be wearing Russian uniforms, an expert on land warfare said.

The uniforms appear to match those worn by soldiers in the Kenya Defence Forces.

A longer version of the video says the soldiers are members of the Kenyan military.

Our ruling
A video claimed to show Russian soldiers fleeing for safety after failing to fire a rocket-propelled grenade.

One expert told us the soldiers in the video don't appear to be Russian, based on their uniforms and lack of armbands. The uniforms do not seem to match ones in photos we found of Russian soldiers.

The uniforms appear to match those worn by the military in Kenya, based on images and a longer version of the video found on YouTube. We rate this claim False.

Read MoreVideo appears to show Kenyan soldiers, not Russians

Clip of man in body bag smoking is from the set of a music video, not ‘staged’ deaths in Ukraine

A TikTok video of a man smoking a cigarette in what appears to be a truck full of body bags has been viewed thousands of times in Facebook posts suggesting that deaths are being staged in the war in Ukraine. The claim is false; the clip shows the behind-the-scenes making of a music video for a song released by Russian rapper Husky in September 2020.

Read MoreClip of man in body bag smoking is from the set of a music video, not ‘staged’ deaths in Ukraine

Zelensky hit by false claim about ‘Nazi T-shirt’ after US Congress meeting

Following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's virtual meeting with US Congress, social media posts shared hundreds of times claimed he was wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with a "Nazi symbol". In fact, the symbol represents the Ukrainian military, according to an image comparison. A representative for the Ukrainian embassy in Thailand said it did not relate to Nazism.

Read MoreZelensky hit by false claim about ‘Nazi T-shirt’ after US Congress meeting

This photo shows a plane towed for a 2011 exhibit in Croatia

A photo of a tractor towing a military aircraft has been shared thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows a Ukrainian farmer capturing a Russian jet. While there have been reports of Ukrainian farmers making off with Russian military hardware, the picture was taken at an exhibit in 2011 to mark the anniversary of the armed forces of Croatia.

Read MoreThis photo shows a plane towed for a 2011 exhibit in Croatia

Video of crying boy at Polish border shared with misleading claim ‘he fled from Ukraine alone’

A video has been viewed millions of times online alongside a claim it shows a young Ukrainian boy crying helplessly after fleeing to neighbouring Poland "alone". This is misleading. Reuters news agency, which filmed the footage, told AFP that the boy was seen walking behind his mother in the second half of the video. The Polish Border Guard separately clarified that the boy was "with his family" when he crossed into Poland.

Read MoreVideo of crying boy at Polish border shared with misleading claim ‘he fled from Ukraine alone’

Photos of Nazi symbols in Ukraine are shared out of context – Truth or Fake

Several videos and photos are circulating online, lending credibility to Russian claims of a serious neo-Nazi problem in Ukraine. The problem here though is that the images and videos are a distortion of reality and, in some cases, completely fictional. We take a closer look in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Read MorePhotos of Nazi symbols in Ukraine are shared out of context – Truth or Fake