Category Misconceptions

Russian spokesman’s statement ignores centuries of Russian attacks

Historians cite upwards of a dozen examples dating back to the 1500s in which Russia or the Soviet Union attacked another country without being militarily attacked first.

• Russia may offer various justifications for why it attacked another country in these instances, but each of these examples involved militarily unprovoked actions by Russia or the Soviet Union.

Our ruling
Peskov said, "Russia has never attacked anyone throughout its history."

Historians cite upwards of a dozen examples dating back to the 1500s in which Russia or the Soviet Union attacked another country without being militarily attacked first.

Russia may offer various justifications for why it attacked another country in these instances, but contrary to Peskov's statement, each of these examples did involve militarily unprovoked actions by Russia or the Soviet Union.

We rate the statement Pants on Fire.

Read MoreRussian spokesman’s statement ignores centuries of Russian attacks

When Putin’s fans share fake videos of him to make him look tough – Truth or Fake

Vladimir Putin's online followers love sharing videos or photos of the Russian president that play up his strongman image. But sometimes in doing so, they share fake and manipulated videos - which then go viral. The Truth or Fake team take a look at two examples.

Read MoreWhen Putin’s fans share fake videos of him to make him look tough – Truth or Fake

How can you spot a fake profile picture on social media? – Truth or Fake [Outdated]

Whether it's on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, there are plenty of fake accounts. People using these accounts hide behind a fake avatar and incite debates or mock other users. Sometimes even the profile pictures are completely fabricated - they're not real people. In this episode, the Truth or Fake team shows you how to spot these fake photos. [Ed. note: As of 2024, spammers can use AI to create profile pics that can't be identified using this technique.]

Read MoreHow can you spot a fake profile picture on social media? – Truth or Fake [Outdated]

The pro-Russian propaganda hiding in your TikTok feed – Truth or Fake

Just like on any social media platform, there's a lot of disinformation to be found on TikTok. But whereas Facebook and Twitter have flagged some accounts as potentially biased or untrustworthy, TikTok allows these videos to pop up in people's feeds. This week, Truth or Fake takes a look at a video about Syria doing the rounds on TikTok.

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Fake: Flag with Nazi Swastika in Ukraine

On September 20, the official Twitter account of the Permanent Mission of Russia in Geneva published a photo entitled "Modern Ukraine. Human Rights on the Upgrade", showing a building with Ukrainian and Nazi flags.

However, this photo has been "wandering" around the Network under different titles for a long time. Let us recall that it was taken during the shooting of a movie in Kharkiv in 2011.

Read MoreFake: Flag with Nazi Swastika in Ukraine