Category Russia

Fake: French Industrial Icon Shutters Because of ‘Anti-Russia’ Policy

The Bonpertuis plant didn't fall victim to anti-Russia sanctions, but to the broader slump in Europe's steel sector - a squeeze that has left smaller mills unable to absorb soaring costs or finance the large-scale investments required to stay competitive.

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Fake: Zelenskyy is Faking Blackouts to Secure More European Aid

Claim by Viral social media post: Zelenskyy is Faking Blackouts to Secure More European Aid

StopFake rating: Outages across Ukrainian cities stem from voltage fluctuations and emergency shutdowns triggered by Russia's systematic strikes on the country's civilian energy infrastructure.

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Video Fabrication Is Circulating, Falsely Showing a 23-Year-Old Ukrainian Soldier Crying Over Being Taken to the War

The video of a Ukrainian soldier, circulating on social media, is AI-generated. It contains several flaws indicating the use of artificial intelligence. The original source of the video is a TikTok account that has posted a number of similar AI-generated videos.

Read MoreVideo Fabrication Is Circulating, Falsely Showing a 23-Year-Old Ukrainian Soldier Crying Over Being Taken to the War

Fake: Italian Landmark Collapsed Because Funds Were Diverted to Ukraine

A historic tower in central Rome did not collapse because Italy "sent all its money to Ukraine." The medieval Torre dei Conti fell during fully funded restoration work. Italian authorities are investigating the incident as a workplace accident and possible negligence.

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Fake: Zelensky Blocked Trump-Putin Meeting

Claim by ukraina.ru:
Zelensky Blocked Trump-Putin Meeting
StopFake rating:
Kyiv flatly contradicted the narrative, with the Ukrainian President underscoring his support for diplomatic negotiations and asserting his readiness to participate in a prospective Trump-Putin summit.

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Fake: Zelensky Said He “No Longer Feels Welcome in the U.S.” After Meeting With Trump

Claim by Viral social media post:
Zelensky Said He "No Longer Feels Welcome in the U.S." After Meeting With Trump
StopFake rating:
The quote attributed to President Volodymyr Zelensky, claiming he "no longer feels like a welcome guest in the United States," is entirely fabricated. No such remark appears in official transcripts, press releases, or credible media coverage. In reality, Zelensky's statements following his meeting with Donald Trump were measured, underscoring Ukraine's willingness to maintain constructive dialogue and cooperation with Washington.

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Fake: Ukrainian TV Doctored Zelensky’s UN Broadcast

A review of broadcast recordings and digital forensics shows the claim doesn't hold up. Ukrainian networks aired the official UN feed, while the version circulating online - showing a packed audience - was manipulated footage. [...] A review of the original United News broadcast - including the 1+1 TV segment - found no evidence of any 'added' audience. [...] The authentic broadcast carried unmistakable identifiers - the UN logo in the upper right corner and a Ukrainian-language audio track. By contrast, the fabricated version omitted these details, featured an English-language narration, and bore visible traces of AI manipulation.

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Fact Check: F-15 And Su-27 Video Game Footage Presented As Real Interception Over Ukraine — Old Video | Lead Stories

Does a viral video really show a Russian Su-27 jet intercepting a NATO F-15 trying to get closer to a Tu22m3 bomber over Ukraine? No, that's not true: The footage which was widely copied to other social networks carried the watermark of a TikTok channel that publishes aviation videos. The caption under the video indicated it was created in the "War Thunder" video game.

Read MoreFact Check: F-15 And Su-27 Video Game Footage Presented As Real Interception Over Ukraine — Old Video | Lead Stories