Images have been circling social media in Africa claiming "the Ukrainian Postal Service is now issuing stamps with the face of the WW2 Wafen SS Nazi Galicia cretin Yaroslav Hunko." However, Ukraine has never published stamps with Hunko's face on them.
Although Russia has largely outlawed foods made from genetically modified organisms, they are still allowed in research, and there are some exceptions for imports. There is also no evidence that those who grow or sell GMOs are treated as terrorists, as claimed in spurious social media posts.
A video has been circling social media of Putin warning the U.S. to not involve themselves in the war between Israel and Hamas. The video contained accompanying English subtitles. But, the subtitles were fabricated, and the video was originally recorded December 2022 regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Canada's recognition in parliament of Canadian-Ukrainian World War II veteran Yaroslav Hunka, who fought on the side of the Nazis, sparked public outrage in September 2023. Pro-Russian social media accounts seized the moment, alleging that Ukraine had released a postage stamp to immortalise Hunka. But the claim is false: AFP Fact Check found that the barcode on the stamp belongs to another series of Ukrainian stamps. Ukraine's national postal service also confirmed the Hunka stamp does not exist.
A video of uniformed soldiers and tanks flying white flags taken in Ukraine is circulating on social media. It shows a temporary ceasefire in order to swap prisoners, not Ukrainian troops surrendering.
A viral video circulating on Russian-speaking social media accounts claims to show weapons that Ukraine sent to Hamas before the group's attack on Israel. The same images were also used in a fabricated report belonging to a fake media investigation. In this edition of Truth or Fake, Vedika Bahl debunks these claims, with support from two weapons and open source intelligence experts.
Meta, the parent company of social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, as well as X, formerly known as Twitter, have responded to a letter from EU Commissioner Thierry Breton urging caution over an increase in disinformation and illegal content. Both social media giants have said they've taken action on social media posts that violate EU law. Also in this edition: Argentinian presidential candidates play the blame game on currency devaluation and US auto workers escalate their strike.
A video circulating on X, as well as several Russian media outlets, claims Olena Zelenska's "Russian passport" was discovered in a raid of the couple's flat in occupied Crimea. However, there are several inconsistencies suggesting its inauthenticity, including the photograph and serial number. Vedika Bahl explains in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Pro-Russian social media accounts have been circulating an image of what they say is a Ukrainian postage stamp showing a Ukrainian veteran who fought alongside the Nazis in World World II. It turns out, however, that this isn"t a real stamp.
Russian propaganda is linking the current bedbug outbreak in Paris to Ukrainian refugees. To "prove" this false narrative, pro-Russian accounts on social media are sharing fabricated French media publications from Le Figaro, Libération and Contrepoints, falsely claiming that "parasite experts believe that the bedbug epidemic in Paris is linked to the influx of Ukrainian refugees in the capital". We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.