Category Misconceptions

Video dates back to 2017 post about Estonian railway repairs, unrelated to EU sanctioning Russia

A video of a railway track being removed has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times after it circulated in posts that claim it shows Lithuania cutting off transit with a Russian exclave after the EU sanctioned certain goods in response to Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in 2022. Although Lithuania did follow the EU sanctions in blocking certain goods to Kaliningrad, the video has been shared in a false context. It was uploaded in a 2017 post about railway repairs in Estonia, years before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Keyword searches found no official reports about Lithuania removing the railway track.

Read MoreVideo dates back to 2017 post about Estonian railway repairs, unrelated to EU sanctioning Russia

Land documents claiming Ukrainian officials bought fancy properties in Switzerland are forged

A Swiss land registry official said that documents claiming to show purchases of luxury properties by Ukrainian officials are forged.

The documents contain errors, such as the wrong digit count in numbers identifying the property.

A Swiss newspaper said the false claims were the work of a blogger loyal to the Kremlin.

Our ruling
A website claimed that three high-ranking Ukrainian officials had purchased luxury property in the resort town of Gstaad, Switzerland.

A Swiss land registry official said the documents cited as evidence were forged; errors in them prove that they did not come from the registry, the official said.

We rate this claim False.

Read MoreLand documents claiming Ukrainian officials bought fancy properties in Switzerland are forged

Manipulation: EU Afraid of Ukrainian Weapon and Drug Smuggling

To strengthen border security in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, on July 11 the EU launched a Support Hub for internal security and border management in Moldova. Neither the program nor the announcement mention Ukraine reselling western weapons or being involved in drug trafficking.

Read MoreManipulation: EU Afraid of Ukrainian Weapon and Drug Smuggling

Fake: Ukrainian Refugees Cut Swastika in German Field

Ukrainian refugees are accused by Russian social media users of mowing a huge swastika into a field in Brandenburg, Germany. These accusations are unfounded. According to German media, the Nazi symbol, which has been banned in Germany since the end of WWII, could have been made by a local villager.

Read MoreFake: Ukrainian Refugees Cut Swastika in German Field

Altered magazine cover featuring Ukrainian president spreads online

Social media posts share an image that purportedly shows Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky riding a horse made of banknotes on the cover of Money, a US magazine. But no such cover was published; the image was altered from a 2016 issue, according to the magazine, which is now only available online.

Read MoreAltered magazine cover featuring Ukrainian president spreads online

No, a Ukrainian attack didn’t destroy a Moscow skyscraper

A fire broke out on the roof of a Russian skyscraper, according to state news, and was extinguished with minimal damage.

We found no evidence to support the suggestion that the incident is connected to the country's invasion of Ukraine.

A Polish news organization, also citing the Tass agency, said "the fire affected one square meter of space."

We didn't see any credible reports tying the fire to a Ukrainian attack, or any attack.

We rate this post False.

Read MoreNo, a Ukrainian attack didn’t destroy a Moscow skyscraper

Fake: US Forces Kissinger to Renege on Idea for Ukraine to Cede Territory to…

Kissinger did not suggest that Ukraine cede territory to Russia. He argued that in order to start peace negotiations with Ukraine, Russia must return to the positions that existed before the war began on February 24, 2022.

Read MoreFake: US Forces Kissinger to Renege on Idea for Ukraine to Cede Territory to…

Fake: Russian Defense Ministry: Ukraine Lost 234 Planes and 137 Helicopters since War Began

Russia's Defense Ministry claims to have shot down more planes and helicopters than Ukraine ever had. According to official data, all branches of Ukraine's Armed forces combined were armed with a much smaller number of aircraft than what the Russians claim to have shot down.

Read MoreFake: Russian Defense Ministry: Ukraine Lost 234 Planes and 137 Helicopters since War Began