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.
Manipulation: IAEA Denies Russian Troops Mined Zaporizhzhia NPP
In fact, the IAEA did not deny, but confirmed the fact that the Zaporizhzhia NPP was mined by Russian troops. A press release on the organization’s website said that Zaporizhzhia NPP was mined around the perimeter and in some places inside the plant, which does not meet safety standards. The organization could not confirm the fact that the cooling pond on the territory of the plant was mined as of June 15, when IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi was visiting the plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency called the situation with nuclear safety at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant extremely unstable.
Fake: The West is Stealing Art Objects From Ukraine
Ukraine decided to temporarily evacuate sixteen Byzantine icons from the
Khanenko Museum to the Louvre due to continuous Russian shelling of the
civilian infrastructure and cultural heritage sites. The Ministry of
Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine assures that the icons will
return home as soon as the situation allows. As a reminder, in October
2022, as a result of a Russian missile attack, the historical building and
interior decoration of the Khanenko Museum were damaged.
Accounting error on military support does not mean US sent Ukraine $6.2 billion by mistake
The U.S. committed about $78 billion in humanitarian, financial and military assistance to Ukraine from January 2022 to February 2023, the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German-based research organization that tracks nations’ support of Ukraine, reported.
The U.S. total included $47 billion in military aid. That figure ranked highest among all nations and 14th as a percentage of gross domestic product.
A Pew Research Center poll in June of U.S. adults age 18 and older found that 31% of respondents said the U.S. is providing the right amount of aid to Ukraine, 28% said too much and 16% said not enough.
The Pentagon did not say that it mistakenly sent Ukraine $6.2 billion in cash.
We rate the Facebook post False.
Fake: Cholera in Lower Reaches of Dnipro Caused by US Biolabs
Ukrainian Ministry of Health assesses water quality in the reservoirs of Kherson, Odesa, and Mykolaiv regions on a daily basis, and the epidemic situation is currently under control, with no outbreaks of infectious diseases in the affected areas. The narrative about the US biolabs is not confirmed either by specialized experts from different countries or by international organizations working to reduce the threat of proliferation of mass destruction weapons.
Fake: Ukraine’s President Zelensky Disappointed with Country’s Counteroffensive
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not issued any statements about
any counteroffensive “failure”. He has stressed that the war in Ukraine is
“not a Hollywood movie” and that the lives of Ukrainian citizens are at
stake.
Fake: Russia Will Restore Kakhovka Power Plant in a Year
According to Ukrhydroenergo, which Kakhovka Hydropower Plant is a subdivision of, the station blown up by the Russian occupiers was completely destroyed and cannot be restored. The construction of the new hydroelectric power station will last at least five years, provided that Ukrainian specialists work 24/7.
Fake: Olena Zelenska Received an Israeli Citizen Passport
The document circulating online is fake. This is evidenced by the many errors in the so-called passport, in particular, the misspelled Hebrew name, surname, nationality and birth place of Olena Zelenska, as well as the validity period of the document.
Manipulation: Defense Minister Reznikov Doesn’t Expect Too Much From Ukrainian Counteroffensive
Minister Reznikov did not make such statements in his interview with the Nashe Vremya media outlet, but only said that this counteroffensive would not be a lightning campaign like the Kherson and Kharkiv campaigns, and that Ukrainian commanders would gradually accomplish their tasks.
This video does not show Mexican cartel members with US weapons smuggled from Ukraine – Truth or Fake
Social media users are sharing a viral video that allegedly shows US Javelin anti-tank missile systems, destined for Ukraine, in the hands of Mexican cartel members. The artillery in question is not a Javelin; experts conclude that the cartel members in the video are carrying another type of weapon. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Did RFK Jr. Claim That Ukraine Has Cost U.S. $8 Trillion?
A representative for Kennedy Jr. told Newsweek via email that “the candidate misspoke.”
They added: “What he meant was that spending on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars totaled $8 trillion. He apologizes for the misstatement.”
Whatever Kennedy Jr.’s intended message was, the lack of detail does appear to have caused some to believe that the U.S. has spent $8 trillion on Ukraine which is, quite clearly, not correct.
Fake: Ukrainian Intelligence Chief Budanov Felt Into a Coma
The website of the German media Stern has no articles about Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov falling
into a coma and being hospitalized in Germany. In addition, neither the
press center, nor the medical service of the Bundeswehr, nor the German
Defense Ministry, nor the Berlin police were able to provide any
information regarding the hospitalization of the head of Ukrainian
intelligence. According to Ukrainian authorities, Kyrylo Budanov is well
and performing at his job. In addition, the intelligence office published
several videos with the head of intelligence already after the missile
attack on Kyiv on May 29. This, according to the Russian media, was the
cause of Budanov being seriously injured.
Does Video Show Ukrainian Armed Forces Training Child Soldiers?
Social media users started sharing a video that supposedly showed Ukrainian child soldiers trained to fight in the war with Russia.
Claim that a Mexican cartel has weapons sent to Ukraine lacks evidence
An U.S. podcast host misrepresented a Mexican TV newscast by saying that a Javelin the United States sent to Ukraine ended in the hands of a Mexican cartel.
That’s not what the Spanish-speaking anchor said.
Experts also say the supposed cartel member is carrying an AT4, not a Javelin.
A TikTok video claimed to show a cartel member in Mexico carrying a Javelin that the U.S. sent to Ukraine.
We found no evidence that a Mexican cartel obtained U.S. weapons destined for Ukraine. Experts told PolitiFact that the man in the video is carrying what appears to be an AT4 weapon, not a Javelin.
We rate this claim False.
No, Ukraine’s military is not camouflaging tanks as houses
An October 2020 article from the news outlet RBC-Ukraine said the car was decorated to look like a Ukrainian village house. The car motor was hidden, and the driver’s seat was built into the floor. Side mirrors that would normally be on a car were replaced with cameras inside the structure, RBC-Ukraine reported.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, there have been numerous false and misleading claims about the war and both countries’ military units.
We rate the claim that a Ukrainian tank is using a house as camouflage False.
Did Members of Ukraine’s Armed Forces Help Make This Bollywood Video?
A viral tweet described the video as “war propaganda in the style of Bollywood dance videos.”
Fake: Germany’s Rheinmetall Shares Fall Drastically After Ukraine’s Failed Counteroffensive
Data from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange data shows that the value of
Rheinmetall group’s shares fluctuated, and no sharp drops have been noted.
The Ukrainian military highly appreciates the quality of German weapons,
and Rheinmetall AG is planning to increase production, as demand for its
products is growing, driven by the Russian war in Ukraine.
Fake: Ukraine Wins the Scythian Gold Case Due to Nazism and Occultism in Europe
Ukraine is the legal owner of the Crimean museums exhibits, which is confirmed by international law and multiple decisions of various courts. In Ukraine, the process of accumulating historical artifacts is not ideological.
No, this video is not ‘proof’ that Ukraine destroyed the Nova Kakhovka dam – Truth or Fake
A viral video on Twitter purports to show “clear indication that Ukraine was the original culprit” behind the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam. Even though both Russia and Ukraine are blaming each other for the destruction of the dam, the video in question is not recent and has nothing to do with the dam breach. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Video shows Russia blew up farm machinery, not Leopard 2 tanks – Truth or Fake
Russia’s ministry of defence published a Telegram video allegedly showing its “successful destruction” of several Ukrainian tanks, including Leopard 2 battle tanks. But analysis of the video shows several holes in this argument, and the “tanks” share more similarities with agricultural machinery. Vedika Bahl explains in this edition of Truth or Fake.
Does Video Show Proof That Ukraine Drowns Its Citizens on Purpose?
Social media users shared an old video to spread a false narrative about the Nova Kakhovka dam explosion in Russian-occupied Ukraine.




















