Fact check / debunking

Artwork falsely shared as ‘genuine Time magazine cover’ likening Russia’s Putin to Hitler

Social media posts circulating globally following Russia's invasion of Ukraine have shared an image with the claim that it shows a genuine Time magazine cover that depicts Russian President Vladimir Putin with the nose and moustache of Adolf Hitler. However, the image shows an artwork that was created by a graphic designer, who said it was not intended as a Time cover. The magazine has also told AFP that the image "is not an authentic Time cover".

Read MoreArtwork falsely shared as ‘genuine Time magazine cover’ likening Russia’s Putin to Hitler

Video of ‘fake Ukraine casualties’ shows filming for a TV show about a pandemic

Footage of a man and woman having fake blood applied has been viewed thousands of times in posts claiming it shows Ukraine "faking" civilian casualties following the Russian invasion. In fact, the clip was filmed in 2020 on the set of a series called "Contamin".

Read MoreVideo of ‘fake Ukraine casualties’ shows filming for a TV show about a pandemic

Ukraine invasion: False claims the war is a hoax go viral

Nearly two weeks after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the flow of false or misleading information about the war hasn't let up and now there are some outlandish theories being shared online.

Some have begun to circulate claims the war is a hoax, a media fabrication, or has been exaggerated by the West in terms of its scale.
We've examined some of them.

Read MoreUkraine invasion: False claims the war is a hoax go viral

Rothschild & Co. Has Office in Russia, Contrary to Conspiracy Claim on Social Media

Rothschild & Co. has an office in Moscow and has been operating in Russia since the mid-1990s. Yet posts on social media falsely claim that Russia has barred the Rothschild banking family from doing business in the country. The claim is an adaptation of an old conspiracy theory about the family.

Read MoreRothschild & Co. Has Office in Russia, Contrary to Conspiracy Claim on Social Media

Story that claims Putin bombed a Biden-owned villa and ‘hammered’ biolabs, pedophile rings is bogus

A story that claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin bombed a villa in Ukraine owned by President Joe Biden is bogus. It was created by a misinformation website that regularly publishes made-up stories. We found no evidence that Biden has a villa in Ukraine.

Claims about nefarious biolabs in Ukraine ' some supposedly "U.S. owned" ' are also fabricated, and part of disinformation efforts by Russians.

It's unclear what the blog is talking about in its reference to "pedophile rings," but it claims that Putin is wiping out "child trafficking covens" in Ukraine, and we found no evidence that these exist.

Read MoreStory that claims Putin bombed a Biden-owned villa and ‘hammered’ biolabs, pedophile rings is bogus

Ukrainian island defenders were captured by Russia, not killed

Social media posts, online articles and Ukraine's president hailed 13 of the country's border guards as heroes, saying they were killed on a small Black Sea island after rejecting a Russian warship's surrender demand. But Kyiv's navy later admitted the troops were captive rather than dead, and Moscow said dozens had surrendered.

Read MoreUkrainian island defenders were captured by Russia, not killed

Internet hoaxers falsely identify US comic Sam Hyde as ‘Ghost of Kyiv’

Social media users are sharing an image of what appears to be US comic Sam Hyde in a fighter jet cockpit as proof that he is the mythical 'Ghost of Kyiv' responsible for shooting down numerous Russian jets amid the country's invasion of Ukraine. This is false: while the existence of the viral 'Ghost of Kyiv' is unsubstantiated, AFP Fact Check found that an image of a US pilot has been edited to add Hyde's face. This claim has nevertheless been taken seriously by some social media users who are not familiar with the US comic. It is part of a long-running hoax linking the comedian to tragic events worldwide.

Read MoreInternet hoaxers falsely identify US comic Sam Hyde as ‘Ghost of Kyiv’

CNN report about Russian warplanes in Venezuela is from 2018 and unrelated to Ukraine war

A Facebook post shared thousands of times in Nigeria claims that Russia has sent two nuclear bombers to Venezuela, landing them in what it describes as the 'US backyard'. The claim, however, is misleading; while the events mentioned in a CNN report included in the post did take place, they happened in 2018 and have nothing to do with Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Read MoreCNN report about Russian warplanes in Venezuela is from 2018 and unrelated to Ukraine war

Old footage of Vladimir Putin does not show him ‘frustrated’ after Ukraine press briefing

A video of Russian President Vladimir Putin ignoring his official motorcade to go for a walk has been viewed millions of times on Facebook alongside claims that it shows his frustration following a recent press briefing related to the Ukraine invasion. However, this is false; the video is from 2013 and was taken after Putin attended the funeral of his long-time judo trainer.

Read MoreOld footage of Vladimir Putin does not show him ‘frustrated’ after Ukraine press briefing