Category Fact checks / debunkings

Vladimir Putin didn’t intercept shipment of chemical compound adrenochrome

Adrenochrome features heavily in QAnon conspiracy theories, which purport the baseless idea that a global cabal of pedophiles is harvesting the chemical from the blood of children to stay young and healthy.
That's false, and so is the claim that Putin foiled a shipment of it.

We found no credible news reports or other sources to corroborate the claims in this post.

Real Raw News has a disclaimer saying it contains "humor, parody and satire," though the author has defended his stories as truth. The website also regularly publishes false, fantastical stories authored by someone using a pseudonym.

We rate this baseless post Pants on Fire!

Posts Misquote Biden’s Year-Old Remarks on Tanks for Ukraine

President Joe Biden announced on Jan. 25 that the U.S. would provide Ukraine with 31 tanks. After the announcement, a meme on social media misquoted Biden’s remarks from March 2022, suggesting he said that sending tanks to Ukraine would cause World War III. Biden said sending weapons “with American pilots and American crews” would cause a world war.

February 13, 2023
Aid to Ukraine Disinformation Escalation / WWIII Fact checks / debunkings Military aid Misconceptions Ukraine USA

Fact check: Russia’s disinformation campaign targets NATO

In the battle for influence running parallel to Russia's war on Ukraine, the Kremlin has consistently taken aim at NATO. DW asked experts how the propaganda machine works.

Have Over 150K Ukraine Troops Been Killed in Russia Conflict?

Unverified. The figures quoted in Twitter come from a Turkish website that does not link to its sources, nor does it provide any other authenticated evidence.

The claim that it received its data from Israeli security services is also highly dubious.

While we cannot verify the actual number of soldiers killed on either side of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the estimates quoted in the tweet and the article do not match anywhere near the figures cited by Western intelligence services and senior officials.

February 10, 2023
Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings Misconceptions Russian propaganda Ukraine

Did Volodymyr Zelensky call for ‘preventive nuclear strikes’ against Russia? Not exactly

Social media users have been circulating a video of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, claiming that the footage shows him calling on NATO to launch preventive nuclear strikes against Russia. It turns out, however, that this footage isn't new - Zelensky made these statements back in October 2022. Moreover, the translation of his statement, originally in Ukrainian, leaves out some nuance.

Manipulation: Bill Gates: Ukraine Is World’s Biggest Danger

Bill Gates did not say that in the coming years Ukraine will be the greatest danger for the world. In an interview with the German newspaper Handelsblatt, the well-known philanthropist stressed that war is a "terrible tragedy" for the country where hostilities are taking place, but the echoes of this war also reverberate throughout the world. In particular, African countries are now receiving less attention because European budgets are being reallocated to other needs brought on by the pandemic, the war, and the energy crisis.

Fake: Spring Sowing Campaign Under Threat As All Grain Taken Out of Ukraine

Preparations for the spring sowing campaign in Ukraine are in full swing.
Despite the Russian invasion, mined fields and the temporary occupation of
some regions, Ukraine is preparing to sow enough grain to not only meet the
country's annual needs, but to also to allow grain and foodstuffs exports
to foreign markets.

February 10, 2023
Coordinated disinformation Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings International community Misconceptions Russia Russian propaganda Ukraine

Manipulation: Ukraine To Become Uninhabitable – Foreign Affairs

A recent article talks about steps to be taken to help Ukrainian energy networks
avoid collapse in the face of relentless Russian bombardment. The author
argues that this is no less important than the supply of modern weapons.
The possibility of Ukraine becoming uninhabitable is discussed only in the
event of a complete lack of support from the West, and the total Russian
destruction of Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Fake: Expressing Condolences, Zelenskyy Urges Turkey to Supply Ukraine More Aid

Russian social media users are claiming that while expressing condolences about the tragic earthquake that struck Turkey, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also reminded Ankara that he hopes Turkey will continue to provide assistance to Ukraine. President Zelensky never posted such a tweet, this post is a fake. On the contrary, the Ukrainian President offered help to Turkey and said that Ukrainian rescuers and equipment were being sent to participate in the rescue efforts.

Fake: US Unlikely to Hand over Abrams Tanks to Ukraine’ – Financial Times

The Financial Times article cited in this latest Russian fake claiming the
US is unlikely to actually send Abrams tanks to Ukraine, features several
experts, some of whom said that Ukraine may face difficulties using the
Abrams tanks. However, neither the author of the article nor the experts
featured in the story ever said that the United States could "refuse to
transfer Abrams tanks to Ukraine because of the technically complex process
of maintaining their combat readiness."