Category Fact checks / debunkings

Watch out, this isn’t a real American ad campaign calling for homeless people to fight in Ukraine

A call for homeless Americans to join the Ukrainian front? That"s what these advertisements shared on Twitter since April 2023 claim to show. Publications in several languages claim that a poster in the New York subway is offering financial benefits to those who are down on their luck - by fighting in Ukraine. However, there are several visual inconsistencies in the poster that point to it being fake. Plus, Ukrainian authorities have denied the existence of any such campaign.

Read MoreWatch out, this isn’t a real American ad campaign calling for homeless people to fight in Ukraine

Fake: Ukraine’s Population Falls to 20 Million

As of January 2023, Ukraine's population ranged from 28 to 34 million people, according to Ukraine's Ptoukha Institute for Demography and Social Studies. Temporarily occupied territories are not included in the calculations. The United Nations Population Fund meanwhile cited a figure of 36.7 million people, taking into account the temporarily occupied territories.

Read MoreFake: Ukraine’s Population Falls to 20 Million

Debunking Zelensky’s ‘luxury real estate’ assets – Truth or Fake

On the sidelines of President Volodymyr Zelensky's European tour, online claims went viral that the Ukrainian president has purchased luxury villas in Crimea, Italy and England with Western military aid money. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Read MoreDebunking Zelensky’s ‘luxury real estate’ assets – Truth or Fake

Old video of Russian tank toppling over at military parade resurfaces in Ukraine war posts

An old video of a Russian tank toppling over at a military parade has been viewed tens of thousands of times in posts that misleadingly claim the driver who overturned the vehicle subsequently avoided being sent to the front line in the war against Ukraine. The clip -- which recirculated shortly after a military parade in Moscow in May 2023 -- corresponds with media reports from 2018 about an accident at another event in the western Russian city of Kursk.

Read MoreOld video of Russian tank toppling over at military parade resurfaces in Ukraine war posts

FACT CHECK: Did Vladimir Putin Collapse After Suffering A Heart Attack? | Check Your Fact

Verdict: False
The screenshot appears to be digitally fabricated, as the headline neither appears on the outlet’s website nor its social media accounts. A reverse image search reveals the photos were created using artificial intelligence (AI).

Read MoreFACT CHECK: Did Vladimir Putin Collapse After Suffering A Heart Attack? | Check Your Fact

Video Fake: Ukrainian Refugee Complaining About Living in Europe

The video circulating online is satirical and its author is not and has
never been a 'Ukrainian refugee in Europe.' The woman from the video
permanently lives in Ukraine and films many satirical sketches on TikTok.
However, Russian propaganda used the 48-second joke video to once again
discredit Ukrainian refugees.

Read MoreVideo Fake: Ukrainian Refugee Complaining About Living in Europe

Old video falsely shared as anti-Putin protest in Russia in May 2023

A video has surfaced in social media posts that falsely claim it shows protesters rallying against Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in May 2023. While Russians have genuinely protested against Putin's war in Ukraine, the footage shows an anti-Kremlin protest in May 2013.

Read MoreOld video falsely shared as anti-Putin protest in Russia in May 2023

Fake: NATO Certain Ukrainian Counteroffensive Will Fail

Former Commander of US Forces in Europe, Ben Hodges, said nothing about the "future failure" of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. On the contrary, the general expressed cautious optimism regarding the effectiveness of the Ukrainian army in operations against Russian occupiers.

Read MoreFake: NATO Certain Ukrainian Counteroffensive Will Fail