Category Narratives

Fake: Corruption up by 500% in Ukraine Over Past Year, US Aid Not Reaching…

This claim about corruption levels in Ukraine is false. During a March 29 hearing in the US House of Representatives on Ukraine aid transparency and accountability oversight mechanisms, the inspectors general of three US government agencies involved in the delivery and distribution of aid to Ukraine stated that "there is no evidence that support for Ukraine has been used improperly". One year after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, international organizations tracking corruption have not recorded an increase in corruption in Ukraine. According to the Transparency International Corruption Index, Ukraine received 33 points in the 2022 rating, one point higher than 2the previous year.

Read MoreFake: Corruption up by 500% in Ukraine Over Past Year, US Aid Not Reaching…

Video edited to show ‘white substance’ on Zelensky’s desk

An edited video apparently showing cocaine on the desk of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has circulated on social media around the world. It is the latest in a string of disinformation targeting the leader since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The suspicious, powder-like pile did not appear in the original video posted on Zelensky's Instagram account.

Read MoreVideo edited to show ‘white substance’ on Zelensky’s desk

No, Defense Department didn’t award COVID-19 contract in Ukraine before virus emerged

This claim is inaccurate. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency, a U.S. Defense Department arm that works to deter attacks and emerging threats, in November 2019 awarded a contract for non-COVID-19 training support in Ukraine, the agency said.

An agency spokesperson said the contract's description was modified in 2020, months after the virus emerged, to focus on COVID-19 research. The Defense Department typically modifies contracts over time to address emerging needs.

The Defense Department did not pay for COVID-19 research in Ukraine before the virus emerged. We rate this claim False.

Read MoreNo, Defense Department didn’t award COVID-19 contract in Ukraine before virus emerged

No, there is no poster of Volodymyr Zelensky ‘snorting’ donations in Milan – Truth or Fake

A video circulating on social media shows a poster of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky apparently "snorting" cash donations from passers-by in Milan. But visual clues in the clip, and the complete lack of eye-witnesses, indicate that it is a fake.

Read MoreNo, there is no poster of Volodymyr Zelensky ‘snorting’ donations in Milan – Truth or Fake

Fake: US Permits Ukraine to Strike Russia’s New Territories

This information is fake. The White House did not permit Ukraine to strike Russian territory. On the contrary, the White House's National Security Council strategic communications coordinator John Kirby stated that the US does not 'enable or encourage' the Ukrainian Forces to strike outside Ukraine and will only assist the Ukrainian Forces in liberating their territories. Moreover, there are no new Russian territories, only the Ukrainian territories illegally occupied and annexed by Russia.

Read MoreFake: US Permits Ukraine to Strike Russia’s New Territories

Fake: Ukraine Stages Aspirational Videos to Raise Morale Among the Military

A video circulating online shows the filming of the short feature film 'Hope'. The behind-the-scenes videos were taken from the TikTok account of the director Artem Kocharyan, who currently lives in Latvia. The film is based on the real story of his Ukraine acquaintance - a pregnant girl who lost her family due to the Russian aggression.

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Is This Real Footage of Ukrainians Burning Russian-Affiliated Orthodox Church?

Miscaptioned.

Context: The video being shared was posted on YouTube around 10 years ago and is reportedly of a church being burned in Russia.

Read MoreIs This Real Footage of Ukrainians Burning Russian-Affiliated Orthodox Church?

Fake: UK Transfer of Uranium Shells to Ukraine is “Nuclear Escalation and a New…

The UK Ministry of Defence says depleted uranium is a standard component of
modern armaments and is not a nuclear weapon, and calls Russian statements
on the issue "deliberate disinformation". The British army has been using
depleted uranium in its armor-piercing shells for decades, and independent
scientific research has shown that depleted uranium impact on human health
and the environment is minimal.

Read MoreFake: UK Transfer of Uranium Shells to Ukraine is “Nuclear Escalation and a New…