Category War crimes

DISINFO: Russia destroyed a military store and command post in Kharkiv

A conspiracy theory being used as a justification for a potential war crime, accusing Ukraine of using its population as human shields.

There is no evidence to support the thesis that a military store and command post were hidden inside the shopping centre. Instead, all indications point to Russia deliberately attacking civilians using two guided bombs. Some videos show a strong fire and detonations inside the burning premises. However, all shopping centres containing construction materials and pressurised containers can burn intensely and have explosions inside. This does not prove that a command post or weapons storage was hidden inside.

Read MoreDISINFO: Russia destroyed a military store and command post in Kharkiv

DISINFO: Ukrainian secret service directly involved in Moscow terrorist attack on Crocus City

Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative depicting Ukraine as a terrorist regime. The claim was made in connection with the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack in Moscow, trying to link Ukraine to the terrorist attacks in Russia without presenting any evidence.

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for and shared video footage from the attacks, corroborating their claims of responsibility.

Read MoreDISINFO: Ukrainian secret service directly involved in Moscow terrorist attack on Crocus City

Fake: Five Years Ago, Russian Language was Banned in Ukraine and Linguistic Genocide Has Began

The legislation in Ukraine regulating the use of the Ukrainian language does not apply to personal communication or religion, and does not provide for any criminal liability for violations of its norms, "language patrols" or "language inspectors", as propaganda claims. Ukrainians themselves do not see any harassment of Russian-speaking Ukrainians, as evidenced by the results of opinion polls.

Read MoreFake: Five Years Ago, Russian Language was Banned in Ukraine and Linguistic Genocide Has Began

DISINFO: International law expert Polish judge Tomasz Szmydt assesses Ukraine’s war crimes

False claim made in connection with the case of Polish Judge Tomasz Szmydt, who fled to Belarus seeking "political asylum". For several months, he was observed by the Polish special services who suspected him of espionage in favour of Belarus and Russia.

Tomasz Szmydt is not an expert in International Public Law and has limited professional authority to accuse Ukraine of war crimes (see previous accusations in our database).

In 2019, as explained by DW: "Szmydt made headlines when he was identified as being a member of a group of judges waging a smear campaign on social media against other judges"

Read MoreDISINFO: International law expert Polish judge Tomasz Szmydt assesses Ukraine’s war crimes

FALSE: Mark Milley urged Ukrainians to conduct terrorist attacks on Russian territory

Mark Milley was referring to actions in the occupied territories, not Russia. The USA does not encourage Ukrainian forces to strike outside their own borders

Read MoreFALSE: Mark Milley urged Ukrainians to conduct terrorist attacks on Russian territory

DISINFO: Crocus Hall terrorists confess Ukraine was involved in attack

U.S officials have intelligence that the Islamic State group's Afghan affiliate, IS-Khorasan, is responsible for the Moscow attack. "ISIS bears sole responsibility for this attack. There was no Ukrainian involvement whatsoever," White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement.

Read MoreDISINFO: Crocus Hall terrorists confess Ukraine was involved in attack

DISINFO: Alleged Bucha massacre is fake

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative trying to whitewash Russia's war crimes during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

There is a significant amount of evidence that Russian troops committed war crimes and atrocities in Bucha. The evidence includes satellite images, photos, videos, and witness testimonies. Russia's claims that video footage showing dead bodies on the streets of Bucha is staged have been fact-checked and debunked by the BBC, Bellingcat, The Atlantic Council, Mediazona, the Insider, Sky News, the New York Times and others.

Read MoreDISINFO: Alleged Bucha massacre is fake

FALSE: Border guards have been allowed to kill fleeing evaders

There is no evidence that such a warning was actually issued. The likely primary source of the photo is the propaganda Telegram channel "Sheikh Tamir". The Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, referring to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, reported that the banner with the corresponding warning is fake, and Ukrainian border guards operate exclusively within the framework of current legislation.

Read MoreFALSE: Border guards have been allowed to kill fleeing evaders

DISINFO: Bucha is a Hollywoodian staging whose sole purpose was to stop peace negotiations

The retreat of Russian forces took place because they were losing the battle for Kyiv. They needed massive reinforcements to take the capital that were not available. However, the Kremlin presented this as a "gesture of goodwill" to allegedly facilitate negotiations in Istanbul.

Read MoreDISINFO: Bucha is a Hollywoodian staging whose sole purpose was to stop peace negotiations

DISINFO: Russian AI: Ukraine, US are behind deadly terrorist attack outside Moscow

U.S officials have intelligence that the Islamic State group's Afghan affiliate, IS-Khorasan, is responsible for the Moscow attack. "ISIS bears sole responsibility for this attack. There was no Ukrainian involvement whatsoever," White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement.

Read MoreDISINFO: Russian AI: Ukraine, US are behind deadly terrorist attack outside Moscow