Latest fact checks & sources

The main threat to European countries, as before, is Russia – it was named as the key threat by the majority of respondents who participated in the Pew Research Center poll. In Poland, 81% of respondents consider Russia a key threat (versus 6% who named Ukraine as a possible threat), and in Hungary, 33% placed Russia in first place (versus 27% who named Ukraine as a threat).

In reality, an article in an Italian pro-Kremlin media outlet simply repeats the words of Russian propagandists – without any factual basis.

The NME outlet has not published any such video reports, and the visual design circulating online appears to be fabricated. Coldplay has not removed any posts in support of Ukraine – this is confirmed by both the band’s official social media pages and archived versions of their content.

Was American Derek Huffman killed in a drone strike while fighting for the Russian military in Ukraine in July 2025? A YouTube account used by his wife claimed in a comment that Huffman is alive and well. Another American acquaintance of Huffman also told Lead Stories that Huffman is alive, but definitive proof was not immediately available. Here’s what we know so far.

The assertion [by Russia’s Ministry of Defense] that Ukraine is orchestrating a provocation involving the explosion of 550 tons of ammonia in Novotroitske is unfounded. The ammonia pipeline in that area has been out of service since 2022, with the section in the Donetsk region fully decommissioned. It no longer contains any significant quantity of ammonia, making such a scenario technically impossible.

Footage of a blast in Ukraine has been falsely presented online as showing a scene from the 12-day war between Iran and Israel. The video matches visuals of a neighbourhood in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

However, while the West’s indecisive and dithering approach to the Ukrainian crisis may certainly warrant criticism, especially from the standpoint of the Ukrainians, there are ample grounds on which to contest the narrative that NATO has reneged on any of its formal obligations towards Russia under international law or provoked Russia by breaking a “gentleman’s agreement” entered into with the Russian state.

The possible differentiation of relatively “safe” Ukrainian regions is being discussed. Those who already live in Switzerland will not be affected by this change.

Ukraine’s President did not state that the bombs dropped on Iran on the night of June 22 were supposed to be used by Ukraine. Propaganda has spread a fake screenshot of a Radio Svoboda news story in another attempt to create the impression that the West no longer supports Ukraine.

The assertion that Ukraine has been left without school textbooks following the closure of a USAID program is a manipulation. In reality, the USAID program was implemented as planned, and textbook provision continues through funding from Ukraine’s state budget. Such disinformation is intended to sow panic and erode public trust in both Ukrainian authorities and international partners.

We analyzed the structure and content of the WIRED website and concluded that the screenshot provided by the pro-Russian Telegram channel is definitely fake. The official website has no “BREAKING NEWS” section, and the magazine publishes all security-related news, including about hacker attacks, in the “Security” section.

First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska made no such statement regarding the acceptance of 40 million Israeli refugees. The claim is entirely false and has been circulated as part of a disinformation campaign. In reality, Ukraine successfully coordinated the evacuation of 176 individuals from Israel to Moldova, including 133 Ukrainian citizens and nationals of Moldova, Latvia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, and the United States.

There is no evidence online of the existence of such a lot. Moreover, the photo was shared only by Russian resources.

In the video published by the Ukrainian deputy schoolchildren joined in clearing the rubble as volunteers.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has made no statement suggesting that Ukraine “must fight until 2030.” In reality, Rutte warned that Russia could be prepared to use military force against NATO within the next five years, and emphasized that the threat to European security will persist even after the war in Ukraine concludes.

In reality, the visa center, which helps to obtain visas to the UK, has long since moved to another address. As a result of the Russian shelling, the building where it is currently located was not damaged, and it continues to operate. This visa center is a commercial structure and is formally in no way connected with the British government.

A newspaper with that name does not actually exist, and the interview is forged.

The American outlet Wired has not reported that a so-called ‘Ukrainian branch’ of the Anonymous hacker collective attacked the U.S. Department of Defense website over a Russian flag image used in a Flag Day greeting. Russian propaganda appropriated Wired’s branding to fabricate yet another disinformation narrative aimed at discrediting Ukraine.

A video showing missiles striking central Kyiv in 2024 has been falsely suggested by social media users to show Moscow’s retaliation in June 2025 to Ukraine’s drone attack inside Russia.

Rating: Originated as satire. In a statement to Snopes, Naseem Amini, spokesperson for the Times, wrote: “The New York Times did not publish this story, and none of the writers listed are employed by The Times.”