Category Escalation / WWIII

Old photos circulate after Russian forces attack Ukrainian nuclear power plant

Two photos have been shared in a report that links them to a fire at a Ukrainian nuclear power plant following a Russian attack in March 2022. However, the images -- viewed thousands of times -- have been shared in a misleading context. Both photos predate the Russian attack: one image has circulated in reports since 2011 about an oil refinery fire in Japan, while the other has circulated in reports since January 2022 about a Russian military drill.

Read MoreOld photos circulate after Russian forces attack Ukrainian nuclear power plant
Viral Photo of Russian Bomber Shows Incident from 2020

Viral Photo of Russian Bomber Shows Incident from 2020

Amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Russia over the invasion of Ukraine, a misleading photo posted March 22 on Facebook shows an American fighter jet intercepting a Russian bomber near Alaskan airspace. But the incident was not related to the current situation in Ukraine; the photo appeared in an article published in Aero Magazine in June 2020.

Read MoreViral Photo of Russian Bomber Shows Incident from 2020

Old military training drill video falsely passed off as footage of US soldiers fighting in Ukraine

A video of soldiers jumping out of a plane with parachutes has been shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook in South Africa alongside a claim that it shows US paratroopers joining the war in Ukraine. But this is false: the footage, which has been viewed millions of times, has been online since at least 2016 and features US soldiers performing parachute drills at the Pope Army Airfield in North Carolina.

Read MoreOld military training drill video falsely passed off as footage of US soldiers fighting in Ukraine

No, this document doesn’t show classified Ukrainian military orders to attack the Donbas region

The document isn't classified, and there are no direct statements in it about an attack on the Donbas. It makes references to a training camp on the opposite side of the country.

Our ruling
Russian officials shared a Ukrainian document on Twitter with claims that it showed secret, classified orders for a military offensive on the Donbas region in southeastern Ukraine.

This is wrong. There is no proof that the document is classified, and there are no direct statements in it about an attack on the Donbas. The document makes references to a training camp on the opposite side of the country.

We rate claims about a document showing a planned military offensive in the Donbas False.

Read MoreNo, this document doesn’t show classified Ukrainian military orders to attack the Donbas region

Inaccurate posts claim NATO countries giving warplanes to Ukraine

Social media posts claim that three NATO countries will give 70 warplanes to Ukraine to aid the fight against invading Russian forces. This is misleading; while Kyiv said Poland, Bulgaria and Slovakia would provide the aircraft, officials from all three countries denied that they would do so.

Read MoreInaccurate posts claim NATO countries giving warplanes to Ukraine

This is fictional footage from a 2016 drill, not a recent BBC report on the Ukraine-Russia crisis

Footage of what looks like a news report has been circulating on Facebook in Nigeria claiming to show a BBC reporter broadcasting on the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis and warning of an impending nuclear war. But this is false; the video has been online since at least 2016. Furthermore, the BBC confirmed the footage is fictional.

Read MoreThis is fictional footage from a 2016 drill, not a recent BBC report on the Ukraine-Russia crisis

Old air crash photo shared in posts about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Social media posts and news reports about Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine have repeatedly shared an image of a burning jet alongside a claim that "six Russian fighter planes" were shot down. Whilst Ukraine's military said it had shot down six Russian aircraft on the first day of the invasion, the image has been shared in a false context. The photographer who captured the original image told AFP it was taken in 1993. The image corresponds to reports from 1993 about a crash involving Russian aircraft during a UK airshow.

Read MoreOld air crash photo shared in posts about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Pictures show various Russian ballistic weapons but not its new “Satan 2” missile

Images of three different missile systems have been shared widely on Facebook alongside a claim that Russia recently unveiled a new weapon that could eradicate every living being on Earth. But this is false: the weapons featured in the posts are old and do not show the fearsome new RS-28 Sarmat, also known as Satan 2, which will only enter service towards the end of 2022, according to experts.

Read MorePictures show various Russian ballistic weapons but not its new “Satan 2” missile