Category Fact checks / debunkings

False Claims Around Israel Attacks Include Recycled Videos and a Game Clip

False Claims Around Israel Attacks Include Recycled Videos and a Game Clip

“Bellingcat: Ukrainian military offensive failure and HAMAS attack linked,” opening text on the video claimed. But the BBC never published that report, and the underlying claim is unsubstantiated.
Read MoreFalse Claims Around Israel Attacks Include Recycled Videos and a Game Clip
BBC did not report that Ukraine is sending arms to Hamas, a video was fabricated

BBC did not report that Ukraine is sending arms to Hamas, a video was fabricated

CLAIM: A video shows a BBC News report confirming Ukraine provided weapons to Hamas. AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. The widely shared video clip is fabricated. Officials with the BBC and Bellingcat, an investigative news website that is cited in the video as the source, confirm that neither outlet has reported such a claim. Experts say there is no evidence of Hamas making such a claim, either, and say there is no reason for Ukraine to arm the militant group.
Read MoreBBC did not report that Ukraine is sending arms to Hamas, a video was fabricated
Israeli military spokesperson shuts down rumors of Ukraine weapons used by Hamas

Israeli military spokesperson shuts down rumors of Ukraine weapons used by Hamas

Russian propaganda channel RT Arabic asked the Israel's IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee about "Ukraine providing Western weaponry to Hamas" several times. Lt. Colonel Adraee replied: "I do not comment on such fabrications and lies.”
Read MoreIsraeli military spokesperson shuts down rumors of Ukraine weapons used by Hamas

No, Ukraine didn’t release a postal stamp of a pro-Nazi soldier

Pro-Russian social media accounts have been circulating an image of what they say is a Ukrainian postage stamp showing a Ukrainian veteran who fought alongside the Nazis in World World II. It turns out, however, that this isn"t a real stamp.
Read MoreNo, Ukraine didn’t release a postal stamp of a pro-Nazi soldier
Old Italian rally photo falsely shared as 'anti-war protest' in Ukraine in Sept 2023

Old Italian rally photo falsely shared as ‘anti-war protest’ in Ukraine in Sept 2023

A photo of people gathering in a square has been viewed tens of thousands of times alongside a false claim it shows an anti-war protest in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in September 2023. The photo in fact predates Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine; it was taken in Turin, Italy in November 2018 and shows a rally to support the construction of a controversial train line.
Read MoreOld Italian rally photo falsely shared as ‘anti-war protest’ in Ukraine in Sept 2023
UN report details summary executions of civilians by Russian troops in northern Ukraine

UN report details summary executions of civilians by Russian troops in northern Ukraine

KYIV (7 December 2022) – In the initial weeks of the invasion of Ukraine, Russian armed forces summarily executed or carried out attacks on individuals leading to the deaths of hundreds of civilians, the Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, Matilda Bogner said today. A UN Human Rights report based on the work of the Mission details how Russian troops killed civilians in Ukrainian towns and villages across the Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy regions of Ukraine from 24 February until 6 April 2022. Bogner said the summary executions examined in the report may constitute a war crime. “There are strong indications that the summary executions documented in this report may constitute the war crime of willful killing,” she said.
Read MoreUN report details summary executions of civilians by Russian troops in northern Ukraine
Estonia Denies Link to Russian Airport Drone Strike

Estonia Denies Link to Russian Airport Drone Strike

There was no reasoning provided for the claims shared online beyond the distance between Estonia's border and Pskov. However, the Estonian government has firmly denied the claims. A statement sent to Newsweek from a spokesman for the Government Office of the Republic of Estonia said: "This is false information."
Read MoreEstonia Denies Link to Russian Airport Drone Strike