Category Fact checks / debunkings

Tweets distort Biden’s comments on tanks, Ukraine and World War III

President Joe Biden announced on Jan. 25, 2023, that the U.S. is sending 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine.

Earlier in the war, almost a year ago, Biden said, "The idea that we're going to send in offensive equipment and have planes and tanks and trains going in with American pilots and American crews, just understand … that's called 'World War III.'"

A widely shared meme shortened Biden's quote to make it appear as if he said sending tanks alone to Ukraine would cause World War III.

A meme shared in a tweet claimed that in March, Biden said, "The idea that we're going to send in tanks to Ukraine, that's called World War III." Biden announced the U.S. will be sending M1 Abrams tanks about 10 months later.

The quote is edited to leave out the full context of Biden's comments. He said the U.S. would not be sending offensive equipment and planes, tanks and trains with U.S. pilots and crews.

We rate the claim False.

Read MoreTweets distort Biden’s comments on tanks, Ukraine and World War III

Fake: Ukrainian Servicemen Given Vouchers Instead of Salaries

There are no vouchers issued as "payment for service in the Armed Forces of
Ukraine". Russian propagandists took a military bond Ukraine issued in 2014
and created fake, claiming that this document is issued to Ukrainian
military in lieu of salary payments.

Read MoreFake: Ukrainian Servicemen Given Vouchers Instead of Salaries

Posts falsely link Texas video to Ukraine conflict

A video of a flock of birds swooping over a freeway in the US state of Texas has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in online posts that falsely claim it shows a murder of crows in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in January 2023. The claim circulated online during the 11th month of Russia's war in Ukraine.

Read MorePosts falsely link Texas video to Ukraine conflict

Debunking claims that US Abrams tanks were seen in Poland – Truth or Fake

In a video circulating on social media, some users claim to show American M1 Abrams tanks and military infantry vehicles in Poland, allegedly heading to Ukraine. These false claims began to circulate online on January 25, when President Joe Biden announced that US Abrams tanks would be delivered to Ukraine. We tell you where this video was actually filmed in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Read MoreDebunking claims that US Abrams tanks were seen in Poland – Truth or Fake

Manipulation: Electricity Rerouted from Schools and Kindergartens to Elite Resorts

Claims that electricity is redirected from schools and kindergartens to elite resorts is a manipulative distortion of reality. For two days in a row, several towns in the Khust district of the Transcarpathian region allegedly were not affected by the regional power outage schedules. According to the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration chairman, there are indeed recreation centers in these towns. However, it is extremely difficult to establish a causal relationship between these events, since recreation centers are located throughout all of Transcarpathia, and not only in the Khust region. It is impossible to selectively reroute electricity from schools and kindergartens to recreation centers.

Read MoreManipulation: Electricity Rerouted from Schools and Kindergartens to Elite Resorts

Fake: US Colonizes Ukraine for its Titanium Deposits

A recent Russian fake cites a Newsweek article which allegedly claims that the US is colonizing Ukraine for its titanium reserves. The Newsweek article however does not contain a single word about any such colonization. On the contrary, the article claims that Russia could launch large scale military operations against Ukraine also with the aim of seizing the country's mineral deposits.

Read MoreFake: US Colonizes Ukraine for its Titanium Deposits

Manipulation: Ukraine and the West Preparing Terrorist Acts in Crimea

Russian unleashed a full-scale war against Ukraine, occupied Crimea and other territories, thus making Russian military bases located in occupied Crimea legitimate targets for the Ukrainian military. The narrative that "NATO is fighting against Russia" is one of the most widespread Kremlin fakes that Stopfake has repeatedly debunked. Ukraine is standing up to Russian aggression and fighting the Russian invading forces, and not some "collective West".

Read MoreManipulation: Ukraine and the West Preparing Terrorist Acts in Crimea

Debunking a Ukrainian MP’s strange visit to Thailand – Truth or Fake

Mykola Tyshchenko, a Ukrainian MP, has been expelled from the war-torn country's ruling party over a trip to Thailand earlier this month. The trip came to light through an encounter that was organised with the MP by the Ukrainian embassy in Thailand. Traces of this event were later deleted online. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Read MoreDebunking a Ukrainian MP’s strange visit to Thailand – Truth or Fake

Manipulation: UN Dissatisfied With Western Tanks Sent to Ukraine

Russian media reports claiming the United Nations is not pleased with the West providing tanks to Ukraine are a manipulation. UN Secretary-General spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said that the processes currently observed in Russia's war against Ukraine are not leading to peace. However, he did not express "dissatisfaction" with the supply of Western tanks to Ukraine. On the contrary, Dujarric emphasized that he meant "a just peace in accordance with the UN Charter and in accordance with international law." This, in turn, entails the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from the entire territory of Ukraine within its 1991 internationally recognized borders.

Read MoreManipulation: UN Dissatisfied With Western Tanks Sent to Ukraine