FACT CHECK: Did This Satirical Magazine Feature An Image Of Zelenskyy Stealing From Jesus? | Check Your Fact
Verdict: False
The image is digitally fabricated. There is no evidence that Charlie Hebdo published this cover.
Category Fact checks / debunkings
Five fact-checks about the war in Ukraine
Russia's invasion of Ukraine this year kept our fact-checkers very busy. We wrote 92 articles debunking false claims about information related to the war. These ranged from claims the Bucha massacre was staged to false TV reports and accusations of Nazism among Ukrainians. To mark the end of the year, we made a list of some of our top fact-checks about Ukraine.
Manipulated photo of Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky spreads online
On the heels of Volodymyr Zelensky's December 21, 2022 trip to Washington, social media users are claiming an image shows US President Joe Biden placing his hand on the Ukrainian leader's buttocks. But the picture has been digitally manipulated; the original photo and other shots from the visit show Biden's hand on Zelensky's back, and a White House spokesperson confirmed the version circulating online is "doctored."
Did Biden Grab Zelensky’s Butt in Viral White House Photo?
False. No, Biden did not place his hand on Zelensky's buttocks. The viral image is a digitally manipulated version of an official photo shared by the White House press team.
Was Putin’s Spokesman Caught Wearing $6 Million Watch?
False. While Dmitry Peskov possesses a number of expensive watches by designer Richard Mille, including one estimated to be worth more than $600,000, the watch in the photo shared on social media is not worth $6 million.
Reports by Russian independent media claimed the watch in the photo was worth 6 million rubles, which appears to have been misinterpreted or mistranslated into a dollar value.
Did Zelensky’s Wife Go on $40K Shopping Spree in Paris?
Claims that the first lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska went on a shopping spree during her visit to Paris this month are not supported by credible evidence.
They appear to stem from a single tweet posted by an unverified and low-engagement Twitter account, which provided scant details about the alleged purchases, simply citing an anonymous "source."
Additionally, the location of the U.S.-based account and its posting history raise significant doubts about the veracity of the claims.
This video was filmed years before the 2022 Ukraine-Russia crisis
A video that shows a military tank hurtling down the street has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts that claim it was filmed in Ukraine in January 2022, after Western leaders sounded the alarm over a potential Russian invasion. The posts are misleading; the footage was filmed in May 2014, when deadly clashes erupted between Ukrainian troops and separatists in the city of Mariupol.
FACT CHECK: Were Thousands Of Children Rescued From A Biden-Owned Property In Ukraine? | Check Your Fact
Verdict: False
There is no evidence suggesting any children have been rescued from Bidenâs properties. There is also no evidence suggesting Biden himself owns any properties in Ukraine.
No, a Latvian town did not decorate its Christmas tree with Nazi symbols – Truth or Fake
The town of Lielvārde in Latvia has attracted attention from social media users after images and video of its Christmas tree - decorated with swastikas - were posted online. Internet users were quick to condemn the move as "fascist" and "pro-Nazi" - but is all as it seems? We take a closer look in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.
No, anti-Zelensky graffiti was not painted in the suburbs of Paris – Truth or Fake
Some Instagram and Twitter accounts are posting a graffiti image that's allegedly appearing in Paris and Poland of President Volodymyr Zelensky, represented as a money-sucking black hole. Russian media was quick to share the alleged street art, claiming that "taxpayers from Europe are increasingly dissatisfied with supporting Ukraine". We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.