Fact checks: from across the internet
Ukraine Fact Check presents fact checks on Ukraine in two different ways. Our team works to:
1. index and tag existing fact-check articles from reputable sources from across the internet;
2. compile and publish original fact check articles, based our team’s own research into a subject.
Below, you can find the fact-check articles published by other websites across the internet.
Disclaimer: Ukraine Fact Check was not involved in producing the articles listed below. The information presented in them may be incorrect, incomplete, or misleading. As with any other type of article, read with a critical eye, check sources, and seek other opinions before making up your mind on important topics.
Fact Check: Russian Nuclear Bomber Attacks Ukraine? 2024 Video Shared With False Claim
Claim: Russian nuclear bomber attacks Ukraine️ following the latter’s large-scale drone strikes on June 1, 2025, targeting multiple airbases deep inside Russia.
Fact: Video dates back to November 21, 2024, when Russia fired its intermediate-range ballistic missile, targeting the Pivdenmash industrial plant in Dnipro, Ukraine.
Fake: McDonald’s Condemns Use of Their Brand in Ukraine’s Defense Ministry Ad | StopFake
Both the CBS video and the company’s so-called comment on the issue are fake.
Fact Check: Image Does NOT Prove Ukrainian Government Issued ‘Rules For Reporters’ Photographing Zelenskyy In Turkey In May 2025 | Lead Stories
Does a viral image confirm that the Ukrainian government issued new rules prohibiting taking pictures of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from certain angles? No, that’s not true: Talking to Lead Stories, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Embassy in the United States referred to the image as “fake”. The “rules” were self-contradictory and lacked any specific identifying information tying it to Ukrainian officials.
PTI Fact Check: Old Ukraine video shared to falsely claim ‘Adampur military base damaged in Pakistani airstrike’
Multiple social media users recently shared an image claiming it depicted a key military installation in Punjab’s Adampur that suffered damage due to Pakistan’s airstrikes in the region. In its investigation, the Desk found that the viral image reportedly depicted Russian S-400 missile launch units destroyed by a Ukrainian airstrike in occupied Crimea in April 2024. An old and unrelated image was falsely shared on social media as recent with a false claim.
Video shows Russian drone striking Ukraine, not Indian drone intercepted by Pakistan | Snopes.com
The footage does not depict Pakistani forces shooting down an Indian drone. Rather, it shows a Russian drone falling outside Kharkiv, Ukraine.
Fake: Friedrich Merz Will Come to Russia for The Victory Day Parade – Berliner Zeitung | StopFake
Propagandists distorted the content of the publication. In fact, the columnist expressed his personal opinion on why such a move would be appropriate from a political point of view.
FACT CHECK: 2014 Ukraine protests not a ‘coup’
The post provides no evidence for its claims and instead links to a digital book that claims to have ‘hidden insights from the esoteric realm’
Fake: Zelenskyy Exempted Relatives of Galicia Division Soldiers from Conscription | StopFake
This “decree” is fake and does not appear on the official website of the President of Ukraine. The “document” contains glaring formatting and structural inconsistencies and attributes powers to the head of state that he does not possess: exemption from conscription on the basis of kinship is not provided for by Ukrainian law. Meanwhile, an authentic decree numbered 273/2025 does exist, but it concerns the awarding of the title Hero of Ukraine and has nothing to do with military recruitment – its content has been completely falsified to create a manipulative narrative.
Manipulation: “Portrait of Petliura Hangs Instead of Icon” in UOCC Church | StopFake
Representatives of Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St. Andrew in Toronto have denied claims that a portrait of Symon Petliura hangs in the sanctuary or that the Ukrainian historical figure is being honoured as a “saint”. The portrait of Petliura is in a parish hall, not on the altar, and is therefore not an icon. Furthermore, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC) is an independent church under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and is not a parish of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).
Fake: 87.3% of Women Who Fled Ukraine Filed for Divorce | StopFake
This information is not true. Ukraine’s Justice Ministry has not published such statistics. According to the department, the number of divorces has overall increased in the country, but not so drastically.
Clip does not show Zelenskyy performing comedy routine for Putin – Full Fact
What was claimed: A video shows Russian president Vladimir Putin laughing with his face in his hands during a comedy routine in which Volodymyr Zelenskyy appears to play the piano with his penis, before he became president of Ukraine.
Our verdict: False. These two clips are from different events and have been edited together to misleadingly make it appear as if President Putin was in the audience for the routine.
German news outlet did not report Russian spies had US defence secretary’s phone number – Full Fact
What was claimed: According to Der Spiegel, German intelligence have just arrested two suspected Russia spies who had US defence secretary Pete Hegseth’s private phone number in their mobiles.
Our verdict: A spokesperson for Der Spiegel confirmed it did not publish such a story.
Elaborate Prince Harry disinfo push aims for mass media confusion | AAP
WHAT WAS CLAIMED: A BBC report reveals a Russian missile victim who met Prince Harry is a fraud.
OUR VERDICT: False. The BBC report is fake and the boy is a genuine victim of a Russian missile attack.
Fake: Hotline for Complaints About “Loud Ukrainian Refugees” Set Up Lisbon | StopFake
There is no evidence that such ads were posted in Lisbon.
Fake: Olena Zelenska Bought Princess Diana’s Dress for $2.9 Million | StopFake
The story by the British tabloid The Sun on this topic is fabricated, and the comment by a royal expert in it is taken from an old video on a completely different topic.
Fake: Zelensky Was the Last Who Pope Francis Spoke To – Ukrainian Media | StopFake
In reality, the Ukrainian media did not report such information, and the “debunking” publication on Politico is fabricated.
Fake: Zelensky Will Force Partners to Pay for Disposing Obsolete Military Equipment They Gave Ukraine | StopFake
This whole news is made up. Zelensky has never made such statements, and the text itself is full of logical errors.
Fake: Cardinal Faskifo Promised to Seize All of Putin’s Assets in Vatican Bank if Elected Pope | StopFake
No such cardinal exists, and his photo was generated by artificial intelligence. In addition, the Vatican Bank does not hold accounts for governments, foreign individuals or clients unrelated to the Catholic Church or the Holy See.
Fake: In Ukraine, Men Run Away from Military Conscription with Easter Baskets – Video | StopFake
There is no evidence in the video of the presence of the TCC, military personnel or document checks. In fact, the ‘Easter races’ are a regional tradition: it is believed that the first person to return home after church will have good luck and prosperity on their land for the next year.
Fake: Head of Ukrainian Orthodox Church Claims Pope Died for Supporting Russia | StopFake
On the contrary, Metropolitan Epiphanius expressed his sincere condolences on the Pope’s death, noting that Pope Francis had dedicated his life to serving God, spreading the Christian faith and launching numerous humanitarian initiatives to help those in need.