Category International community

No, U.S. Army forces aren’t in Ukraine

U.S. Army members aren't in Ukraine, according to the Department of Defense.

The Pentagon relocated National Guard members in February who were training Ukrainian military members in February.

There were 160 Florida National Guard troops training Ukraine's military when Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin temporarily relocated them to Europe in February. And 3,000 more American troops from the 82nd Airborne were also deployed to Europe from Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

The National Guard has continued to support Ukrainian soldiers remotely, according to the Army. For example, a June article on the Army's website shares how a Ukrainian soldier called a member of the Washington Army National Guard for help with a failed anti-tank missile.

But we rate claims that U.S. Army forces are stationed in Ukraine False.

August 24, 2022
Aid to Ukraine Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings International community Military aid Misconceptions Ukraine USA

Fake: In 1943, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army Crucified Four Children

This photo has nothing to do with the Ukrainian national movement and with the events of the 1943 Volyn tragedy. The children in the photo were killed by their own mother Marianna Dolinska on the night of December 11-12, 1923, in the village of Antoniowka near the Polish city Radom.

FACT CHECK: Does This Video Show Dancers Performing At A NATO Event? | Check Your Fact

Verdict: False
The footage was taken during a 2017 event at the University of Ghent. The event was not affiliated with NATO.

July 28, 2022
Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings International community Media taken out of context Methods Misconceptions NATO

No, these people with Nazi tattoos are not Ukrainian refugees

A new hoax has been targetingÂ Ukrainian refugees. These two men covered in Nazi tattoos, wearing beach shorts, have been presented as Ukrainian refugees in Croatia by pro-Russian Twitter accounts. In reality, the images show Hungarian members of a neo-Nazi group.

FACT CHECK: Did A Pentagon Spokesperson Demand Lithuania Be Expelled From NATO? | Check Your Fact

Verdict: False
There is no evidence to suggest the organization is planning to remove any members. Representatives for the Pentagon and NATO confirmed the claim is false.

June 29, 2022
Disinformation European Union Fact checks / debunkings International community Misconceptions NATO Russia Russian propaganda USA

FACT CHECK: Did Denmark Open Fire On Russian Warships? | Check Your Fact

Verdict: Misleading
While Russian warships did enter Denmarkâs territorial waters, no such exchange took place. A spokesperson for Denmarkâs Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied the claim.

FACT CHECK: Did Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban Say He Does Not Care About Ukraine? | Check Your Fact

Verdict: False
There is no record of Orban making such a statement. A spokesperson for the Hungarian government denied the claim.

June 20, 2022
Disinformation European Union Fact checks / debunkings Hungary International community Misconceptions Ukraine

Did Polish police open fire on African refugees fleeing Ukraine? – Fact or Fake

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, over 7 millionÂ people have fled the country.Â Multiple reports have outlined the specific difficulties that African refugees faced as they attemptedÂ to cross the Polish border and enter the European Union.Â Georgina Robertson and Sophie Samaille take a look at a Facebook post falsely claiming that refugees fromÂ AfricaÂ were shot at by Polish police.

The Pentagon didn’t ‘admit’ that there are 46 US-funded biolabs in Ukraine

The United States government didn't admit that there are 46 U.S.-funded biolabs in Ukraine.

The document referenced by far-right and socialist websites repeats known information about 46 Ukrainian-owned and -operated laboratories, health facilities and diagnostic sites that have received support from the U.S.

The government fact sheet specifically states that Ukraine "has no nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons programs."

Our ruling
A Gateway Pundit article said, "US Department of Defense Finally Comes Clean - Admits in Public Document that There Are 46 US Military-Funded Biolabs in Ukraine."

There was no "coming clean" ' and the government made no such admission.

The document referenced in the stories repeated known information about 46 Ukrainian-owned-and-operated laboratories, health facilities and diagnostic sites that have received support from the U.S. The document specifically states that Ukraine "has no nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons programs."

We rate this claim False.

No, the Ukrainian colors were not added to an official pride flag

An image of a flag that incorporated the Ukrainian colors originated as satire. This particular image isn't affiliated with any official LGBTQ organizations.

Snopes reported that Dublin's LGBTQ Pride Festival designed a flyer that used a different image of a flag that incorporated Ukrainian colors as a signal of welcome displaced Ukrainian refugees.

Our ruling
Greene and others shared an image that showed the pride flag altered to incorporate the colors of the Ukrainian flag as if it were real.

This isn't a genuine flag used by the LGBTQ community. It originated as satire.

We rate this False