Category Corruption

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.
Read MoreAccounting error on military support does not mean US sent Ukraine $6.2 billion by mistake

9 Doctored Pics and Deepfakes of Volodymyr Zelenskyy | Snopes.com

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been the subject of numerous false rumors, particularly in the form of doctored or misleading photographs and video footage. From a manipulated deepfake video of Zelenskyy supposedly telling Ukrainian soldiers to surrender to Russia to false claims he displayed Nazi logos on his clothes, there is no shortage of examples.
Read More9 Doctored Pics and Deepfakes of Volodymyr Zelenskyy | Snopes.com
Did Bill Gates Call Ukraine 'Big, Fat, Corrupt Sinkhole'?

Did Bill Gates Call Ukraine ‘Big, Fat, Corrupt Sinkhole’?

The words "big, fat, corrupt sinkhole" are not a direct quote, but an interpretation of what Gates is saying in the edited clip. As his quote shows, Gates was referring to "pre-war" Ukraine, crucial context that was omitted from the clip circulating online. It is not clear what Gates' timeframe is for "pre-war"—it could refer to before Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 or its initial invasion in 2014.
Read MoreDid Bill Gates Call Ukraine ‘Big, Fat, Corrupt Sinkhole’?
Did Zelensky Order Destruction of Docs Linked to Hunter Biden?

Did Zelensky Order Destruction of Docs Linked to Hunter Biden?

False. The tenuous link between Hunter Biden, Rosemont Seneca, Metabiota, and the Ukrainian government notwithstanding, the "letter" from the Ukrainian government has been debunked. The letter, which was circulated on Russian social media in 2022, was littered with mistakes that indicated it was translated to Ukrainian from Russian.
Read MoreDid Zelensky Order Destruction of Docs Linked to Hunter Biden?
U.S. Spent Much More in Afghan War Than in Support for Ukraine So Far, Contrary to Online Claim

U.S. Spent Much More in Afghan War Than in Support for Ukraine So Far, Contrary to Online Claim

The U.S. spent more than $849 billion in the 20-year war in Afghanistan and has spent about $113 billion to support Ukraine since Russia invaded in 2022. But a video on social media falsely claims that the aid for Ukraine is “double the U.S. expenditure for its own war in Afghanistan.”
Read MoreU.S. Spent Much More in Afghan War Than in Support for Ukraine So Far, Contrary to Online Claim

The War in Ukraine: A Collection of Fact Checks About Volodymyr Zelenskyy | Snopes.com

As the war in Ukraine raged on in early 2023, rumors about the country's president rage with it. From claims about his career, to rumors about illicit drug use, Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a magnet for doctored images, misinformation, and more. Continue below for a collection of stories about the Ukraine president's history before and after the war began.
Read MoreThe War in Ukraine: A Collection of Fact Checks About Volodymyr Zelenskyy | Snopes.com
Was Putin's Spokesman Caught Wearing $6 Million Watch?

Was Putin’s Spokesman Caught Wearing $6 Million Watch?

False. While Dmitry Peskov possesses a number of expensive watches by designer Richard Mille, including one estimated to be worth more than $600,000, the watch in the photo shared on social media is not worth $6 million. Reports by Russian independent media claimed the watch in the photo was worth 6 million rubles, which appears to have been misinterpreted or mistranslated into a dollar value.
Read MoreWas Putin’s Spokesman Caught Wearing $6 Million Watch?
Did Zelensky's Wife Go on $40K Shopping Spree in Paris?

Did Zelensky’s Wife Go on $40K Shopping Spree in Paris?

Claims that the first lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska went on a shopping spree during her visit to Paris this month are not supported by credible evidence. They appear to stem from a single tweet posted by an unverified and low-engagement Twitter account, which provided scant details about the alleged purchases, simply citing an anonymous "source." Additionally, the location of the U.S.-based account and its posting history raise significant doubts about the veracity of the claims.
Read MoreDid Zelensky’s Wife Go on $40K Shopping Spree in Paris?

FACT CHECK: Were Thousands Of Children Rescued From A Biden-Owned Property In Ukraine? | Check Your Fact

Verdict: False There is no evidence suggesting any children have been rescued from Biden’s properties. There is also no evidence suggesting Biden himself owns any properties in Ukraine.
Read MoreFACT CHECK: Were Thousands Of Children Rescued From A Biden-Owned Property In Ukraine? | Check Your Fact