Latest fact checks & sources

The video of a Ukrainian soldier, circulating on social media, is AI-generated. It contains several flaws indicating the use of artificial intelligence. The original source of the video is a TikTok account that has posted a number of similar AI-generated videos.

Claim on x.com: These are real videos of Ukrainian soldiers surrendering in the town of Pokrovsk. Lead Stories rating: AI Generated

Claim by Viral social media post: Ukrainian Gang Stole Chairs from Spanish Restaurants StopFake rating: The story is true. Yet none of the media publications mention the nationality of the perpetrators. [No indication that they are Ukrainian.]

The quote attributed to Olena Zelenska is false. A similar phrase appeared in a 2022 BBC interview, but there she spoke not about enduring harsh conditions for 20-30 years or about joining NATO, but about 2-3 years and the prospect of joining the European Union

A historic tower in central Rome did not collapse because Italy “sent all its money to Ukraine.” The medieval Torre dei Conti fell during fully funded restoration work. Italian authorities are investigating the incident as a workplace accident and possible negligence.

Claim by Multiple sources: Picture of fire at Russian gas plant in Orenburg on October 19, 2025 AFP Fact Check rating: False

Claim by Viral social media post: Ukraine Lost a Billion Dollars by Signing a Contract With an “American Weapon Store” – FT StopFake rating: The Financial Times did not write that Ukraine lost a billion dollars on this deal. The newspaper only reported on the arms supply contract that Ukraine signed with an Arizona company in the first months of the full-scale invasion. The company was never able to fulfill it due to the lack of experience in such large-scale deliveries. The irresponsible supplier received 17 million euros in advance, but Ukraine successfully sued for this money after the contract was canceled.

Claim by Viral social media post: Canada Backtracks on Plan to Send Repaired Armored Vehicles to Ukraine StopFake rating: Pro-Kremlin outlets have distorted the facts, portraying a routine contract adjustment as a sign that Ottawa is “abandoning” Kyiv. In truth, Canada remains a steadfast supporter of Ukraine – continuing to deliver weapons, train Ukrainian forces, and finance key defense initiatives.

Claim by ukraina.ru: Zelensky Blocked Trump-Putin Meeting StopFake rating: Kyiv flatly contradicted the narrative, with the Ukrainian President underscoring his support for diplomatic negotiations and asserting his readiness to participate in a prospective Trump-Putin summit.

Claim: Stolen jewels from the October 2025 Louvre heist were listed for sale on a Russian classifieds site. Snopes rating: False

Claim by Viral social media post: Trump Administration Did Not Meet Zelensky in the Airport During His Visit to the United States StopFake rating: Ukraine’s President was met by Abigail Jones, Acting Chief of Protocol of the US State Department, which corresponds to the protocol for receiving foreign heads of state or government during a working visit.

Claim by Viral social media post: Zelensky Said He “No Longer Feels Welcome in the U.S.” After Meeting With Trump StopFake rating: The quote attributed to President Volodymyr Zelensky, claiming he “no longer feels like a welcome guest in the United States,” is entirely fabricated. No such remark appears in official transcripts, press releases, or credible media coverage. In reality, Zelensky’s statements following his meeting with Donald Trump were measured, underscoring Ukraine’s willingness to maintain constructive dialogue and cooperation with Washington.

French authorities-including the Paris prosecutor’s office, the Ministry of Culture, and local police-have not reported any arrests of Ukrainian refugees in connection with a theft at the Louvre. The claim appears exclusively on pro-Russian disinformation channels, underscoring its origins as a propaganda-driven falsehood.

The Turkish outlet Aydinlik offers no evidence to support its claims – no banking records, no documentation linking President Zelensky to the companies in question. The story is part of a broader Kremlin disinformation effort aimed at discrediting Ukraine’s leadership and eroding international confidence in aid to Kyiv.

Amid ongoing talks among Western allies over providing Ukraine with U.S. Tomahawk long-range missiles, Russian propaganda escalated a disinformation campaign. Seeking to undermine a potential U.S. decision to supply advanced weaponry, Kremlin-linked media falsely claimed that President Volodymyr Zelensky had openly admitted to planning terrorist strikes inside Russia using American missiles. […] In reality, the Ukrainian president emphasized that any use of U.S.-supplied Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles would be strictly limited to military targets.

StopFake rating: This statistic is completely made up.

The Irish school admissions process operates under strict legal guidelines and contains no “lottery” mechanism that privileges migrants or Ukrainian refugees over local students.

This photo is real. The first ladies met at the UN General Assembly in late September and discussed the protection of Ukrainian children. […] However, this accusation against the Ukrainian media is completely unfounded. First, the photos are not identical: Melania Trump’s facial expression and leg position are different in the photos. And secondly, the US First Lady took joint photos with Olena Zelenska and the Queen of Jordan on the same day, which is why she is wearing the same white suit. […] There are no signs of editing on the photo with Zelenska.

A review of broadcast recordings and digital forensics shows the claim doesn’t hold up. Ukrainian networks aired the official UN feed, while the version circulating online – showing a packed audience – was manipulated footage. […] A review of the original United News broadcast – including the 1+1 TV segment – found no evidence of any ‘added’ audience. […] The authentic broadcast carried unmistakable identifiers – the UN logo in the upper right corner and a Ukrainian-language audio track. By contrast, the fabricated version omitted these details, featured an English-language narration, and bore visible traces of AI manipulation.

The International Legion firmly denied any role in the appearance of the leaflets. Their limited distribution – confined to a single district of Berlin – points to a staged provocation designed to discredit Ukraine and its armed forces. […] Notably, the leaflets appeared only in a single Berlin district and carried an overtly propagandistic message – an appeal to a ‘sense of revenge.’ […] The press service of the International Legion of Defence of Ukraine told StopFake it had no connection to the creation, distribution, or promotion of the leaflets.