Category Fact checks / debunkings

What’s behind this fake advert calling on North Africans to fight in Ukraine to get EU citizenship

Since May 21, a number of posts online have been claiming that an advertisement posted on the British jobs website Adzuna offers proof that Western countries are recruiting mercenaries in Africa and the Middle East to go and fight in Ukraine. However, we investigated and determined that this post isn't real.

Read MoreWhat’s behind this fake advert calling on North Africans to fight in Ukraine to get EU citizenship

False claim uses video game footage to illustrate ‘possibilities of Russian aviation’ – Truth or Fake

A viral video claims to show the impressive maneuvers of a Russian pilot. The video is actually an extract from a highly realistic combat simulator video game that has been continuously used in fake claims. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Read MoreFalse claim uses video game footage to illustrate ‘possibilities of Russian aviation’ – Truth or Fake

Claim of 1 million Ukrainian soldiers dead has no official backing

Reuters reported in April that leaked documents allegedly from U.S. intelligence agencies estimated as many as 354,000 Ukrainian and Russian soldiers have died or been injured in the war. Reuters has not been able to independently verify the documents, and U.S. officials said some files appeared to be altered.

The Facebook video's claim that 1 million Ukrainian soldiers have been "wiped out" is much higher than any official reported estimates. So we rate this claim False.

Read MoreClaim of 1 million Ukrainian soldiers dead has no official backing

Ukraine: fake NYC subway ad calls homeless Americans to “join” the war – Truth or Fake

Viral photos on social media showed a fake advertisement in the New York City subway system calling for the city's homeless to join the fight in Ukraine. Vedika Bahl explains this misinformation, in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Read MoreUkraine: fake NYC subway ad calls homeless Americans to “join” the war – Truth or Fake

Fake: Document Says that Ukrainian General Requests Additional Burial Plots at the Zaporizhia Cemetery…

This "letter" has been forged, as evidenced by numerous gross errors in the text and vocabulary not typical of official documents. Specifically, the "letter" incorrectly states the addressee's official position and the location of the cemetery for victims of World War II, and the surname of the secretary of the Zaporizhia city council is misspelled.

Read MoreFake: Document Says that Ukrainian General Requests Additional Burial Plots at the Zaporizhia Cemetery…

Manipulation: Poland Says “West is Preparing Coup in Belarus”

Polish General Waldemar Skrzypczak did not talk about the West supposedly preparing a coup in Belarus. Skrzypczak emphasized that events similar to those that recently took place in the Belgorod region are quite likely to occur in Belarus in the event of a successful advancement of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the Polish military officer, it is the citizens of Belarus who may potentially rise against the self-proclaimed regime of President Lukashenko in the future. He stated that Poland should be prepared for this and support a democratic uprising in the neighboring country.

Read MoreManipulation: Poland Says “West is Preparing Coup in Belarus”

Fake: Odesa School Children Recruited to the Front

Russian propaganda is spreading another fake in the form of a "questionnaire" filled with numerous errors and listing military activities which simply do not exist in the Ukrainian military. Children and minors are not involved in Ukraine's military service in any way. Mobilization is mandatory for individuals aged 18 to 60.

Read MoreFake: Odesa School Children Recruited to the Front