Category Ukraine

When Russian propaganda mimics French news to spread disinformation – Truth or Fake

For several months, at least six fake anti-Ukraine covers of the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo have been circulating online, especially on Russian Telegram channels. Now a fake news report, attributed to French media outlet 20 Minutes, falsely accuses Russian independent journalist Ilya Ber of being behind these Charlie Hebdo covers. We debunk this false news report in this edition of Truth or Fake.

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VIDEOFAKE: Budanov announced a plan to exterminate 3 million Crimean residents after the victory

The video was edited. This phrase was assembled from several different answers of Budanov. In an interview for the documentary film "Year" by journalist Dmytro Komarov, published on May 19, 2023, Kyrylo Budanov revealed his plans to travel to Sevastopol after victory. However, he added that the process of reintegrating Ukrainian territories would be lengthy.

Read MoreVIDEOFAKE: Budanov announced a plan to exterminate 3 million Crimean residents after the victory

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

FALSE: Zaluzhnyi attended a wedding instead of a meeting with NATO

On May 10th, military serviceman Maksyim Alekseev posted on his personal Facebook page about his own wedding. Zaluzhnyi held the ceremony and Maksym expressed gratitude to the Commander-in-Chief. The post is accompanied by a series of photos from the actual wedding ceremony. Alekseev also mentioned that the wedding took place earlier, "not today, not yesterday".

Read MoreFALSE: Zaluzhnyi attended a wedding instead of a meeting with NATO

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

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