Category Fact checks / debunkings

No, USA Today did not report that Zelensky’s delegate started a ‘drunken bar brawl’ – Truth or Fake

A fabricated video edited in the social media style of American media outlet USA Today claims a member of the Ukrainian delegation provoked a drunken bar fight in New York during President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the US, before being detained by police. However, in this edition of Truth or Fake, Vedika Bahl uses geolocation tools to verify that the "brawl" images were filmed around 18 kilometres away from the alleged site. Both USA Today and the New York police dismissed the reports as fake.

Read MoreNo, USA Today did not report that Zelensky’s delegate started a ‘drunken bar brawl’ – Truth or Fake

Why was ‘Glory to Urine’ a top trending topic on X? – Truth or Fake

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was allegedly greeted by a Times Square billboard proclaiming "Glory to Urine", rather than "Glory to Ukraine", upon his visit to New York for a UN summit last week. While the users sharing this information claim that this was a typo by the billboard company, we prove that this is actually a fabricated video in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Read MoreWhy was ‘Glory to Urine’ a top trending topic on X? – Truth or Fake

Photo of ex-Ukraine defense minister on yacht predates Russia war

Social media posts claim photos show Oleksiy Reznikov partying on a yacht in the South of France days after leaving his post as defense minister of Ukraine. This is false; the image was taken near Istanbul, Turkey, in February 2020, years prior to the war with Russia.

Read MorePhoto of ex-Ukraine defense minister on yacht predates Russia war

Claims That Ukraine Wants to Extradite Refugees Are Russian Disinformation

Various media reports originating in Ukraine and Russia are claiming that the Ukrainian government is seeking to extradite military-aged refugees and "draft dodgers" back to the country, and that Ukraine's requests have so far been rejected by a number of its European neighbors. The reports, which are being circulated primarily by Russian government-funded media organizations RT and Sputnik, have also spread to some Western media including a viral Facebook video.

Read MoreClaims That Ukraine Wants to Extradite Refugees Are Russian Disinformation

Fake Times Square billboard circulates as Zelensky visits US

A video shared across social media appears to show a New York City digital billboard displaying Volodymyr Zelensky's face and text that says, "Glory to Urine" as the Ukrainian president visited the United States in September 2023. But the clip is doctored; the company that owns the sign told AFP it has run no such message.

Read MoreFake Times Square billboard circulates as Zelensky visits US

Fake Times Square billboard circulates as Zelensky visits US

A video shared across social media appears to show a New York City digital billboard displaying Volodymyr Zelensky's face and text that says, "Glory to Urine" as the Ukrainian president visited the United States in September 2023. But the clip is doctored; the company that owns the sign told AFP it has run no such message.

Read MoreFake Times Square billboard circulates as Zelensky visits US

Fake Video of ‘Glory to Urine’ New York Billboard Fools Internet

On Sept. 21, 2023, the phrase "Glory to Urine" became one of the top trending U.S. topics on X (formerly Twitter). The phrase was trending thanks to a fake video that allegedly showed a billboard in New York City's Manhattan with the same three words, supposedly as an accidentally misspelled welcome message for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He had been in town for the United Nations General Assembly.

Read MoreFake Video of ‘Glory to Urine’ New York Billboard Fools Internet