Category Fact checks / debunkings

Fake: US Colonizes Ukraine for its Titanium Deposits

A recent Russian fake cites a Newsweek article which allegedly claims that the US is colonizing Ukraine for its titanium reserves. The Newsweek article however does not contain a single word about any such colonization. On the contrary, the article claims that Russia could launch large scale military operations against Ukraine also with the aim of seizing the country's mineral deposits.

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Manipulation: Ukraine and the West Preparing Terrorist Acts in Crimea

Russian unleashed a full-scale war against Ukraine, occupied Crimea and other territories, thus making Russian military bases located in occupied Crimea legitimate targets for the Ukrainian military. The narrative that "NATO is fighting against Russia" is one of the most widespread Kremlin fakes that Stopfake has repeatedly debunked. Ukraine is standing up to Russian aggression and fighting the Russian invading forces, and not some "collective West".

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Debunking a Ukrainian MP’s strange visit to Thailand – Truth or Fake

Mykola Tyshchenko, a Ukrainian MP, has been expelled from the war-torn country's ruling party over a trip to Thailand earlier this month. The trip came to light through an encounter that was organised with the MP by the Ukrainian embassy in Thailand. Traces of this event were later deleted online. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.

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Manipulation: UN Dissatisfied With Western Tanks Sent to Ukraine

Russian media reports claiming the United Nations is not pleased with the West providing tanks to Ukraine are a manipulation. UN Secretary-General spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said that the processes currently observed in Russia's war against Ukraine are not leading to peace. However, he did not express "dissatisfaction" with the supply of Western tanks to Ukraine. On the contrary, Dujarric emphasized that he meant "a just peace in accordance with the UN Charter and in accordance with international law." This, in turn, entails the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from the entire territory of Ukraine within its 1991 internationally recognized borders.

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Manipulation: Massive German Protests Against Tanks for Ukraine

Russian media are claiming that mass demonstrations took place in Munich against German tank supplies to Ukraine. This is a manipulation of a demonstration against something completely different. In the video from the Munich demonstration, there is not a single sign against Germany sending tanks to Ukraine. Such demonstrations, organized by the group München steht auf, are held regularly in the Bavarian capital, usually on Wednesdays. München steht auf is a group that advocates for a world without weapons, they are against vaccinations, against measures for coronavirus containment, and against the German government. The protesters are so-called Querdenkers - "dissenters." During the coronavirus pandemic, they often disseminated fakes about COVID-19, "harmful vaccinations", chipping, 5G radiation, and airplane vapor trails conspiracy theories.

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U.S. spending in Afghanistan dwarfs aid to Ukraine

Congress has approved about $111 billion in aid to Ukraine since the country was invaded by Russia in February 2022.

During a 20-year entanglement in Afghanistan, the U.S. spent between $825 billion and $2.3 trillion, depending on the source of the estimate and what's being included.

Even taking the lower estimate of $825 billion, the U.S. would have spent $714 billion more in Afghanistan than in aid to Ukraine.

We rate the claim that the amount the U.S. has spent in Ukraine is "double the U.S. expenditure for its own war in Afghanistan" False.

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Debunking claims that Poland’s army will create ‘special’ LGBT units – Truth or Fake

Russian social media channels and media are sharing a doctored video that alleges Poland will form army units of "non-traditional orientation". We disprove these claims in this edition of Truth or Fake.

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