Category Poland

Debunking claims that US Abrams tanks were seen in Poland – Truth or Fake

In a video circulating on social media, some users claim to show American M1 Abrams tanks and military infantry vehicles in Poland, allegedly heading to Ukraine. These false claims began to circulate online on January 25, when President Joe Biden announced that US Abrams tanks would be delivered to Ukraine. We tell you where this video was actually filmed in this edition of Truth or Fake.

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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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How Russia is broadcasting fake Polish TV reports to scare their citizens

Did a Polish news channel really broadcast a weather map showing Poland expanding into Ukrainian territory? Or the TV report on how the Polish army was creating an LGBT paramilitary unit? Both of these video reports do feature the logo of a Polish public broadcaster. But there are a lot of clues that make it pretty clear that these 'reports' are fake.

Read MoreHow Russia is broadcasting fake Polish TV reports to scare their citizens

Fake weather forecast accuses Poland of swallowing Ukrainian territory – Truth or Fake

Purported images of Polish state television have circulated on Twitter showing a national map of Poland's borders, but overpowering much of Ukraine's territory. The channel itself and the country's secretary of state have slammed this as the "Russian propaganda machine" trying to destroy Ukraine's positive relationship with Warsaw. We take a closer look in this edition of Truth or Fake, with Vedika Bahl.

Read MoreFake weather forecast accuses Poland of swallowing Ukrainian territory – Truth or Fake

Fake: Polish TV Uses Poland Map that Includes Neighboring Ukrainian Regions

The Polish television channel TVP, whose logo was used on a Russian fake
showing a map of Poland that includes neighboring Ukrainian territories,
denied they had ever used such a map during any of their programming. The
screenshot used by Russian media was taken from a TVP weather forecast, a
map was photoshopped with a new map and a presenter from another Polish
television channel.

Read MoreFake: Polish TV Uses Poland Map that Includes Neighboring Ukrainian Regions

How we debunked reports of anti-Zelensky graffiti in a Paris suburb

Did graffiti depicting the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a black hole "absorbing European money" really appear on the streets of a Paris suburb? That's what a photo that has been circulating on social media since November 29 seems to show. However, our team found no trace of this graffiti at the actual site. Our forensic analysis of the photo shows signs that it was digitally altered. We also consulted some street art experts, who pointed out some inconsistencies in the art.

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Poland missile strike: Beware of images on Twitter unrelated to the blast – Truth or Fake

Some users on social media are sharing images that allegedly show debris of the S-300 air defence missile that killed two people in Poland this Tuesday. But one of the images being shared is actually from projectile remains found in Dagestan in October 2020. We tell you which images to look out for in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Read MorePoland missile strike: Beware of images on Twitter unrelated to the blast – Truth or Fake

War in Ukraine: Fact-checking Russian claims that Nato troops are fighting in Ukraine

It's well known that foreign fighters have joined Ukrainian military units. However, claims are being made by Russian officials and media outlets of serving Nato troops on the ground in Ukraine. [...]

Russian media outlets haven't provided evidence of serving Nato personnel on the ground, only pointing to the presence of individual foreign fighters on the battlefield.

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Social media posts share false claim about ‘NATO-supplied fighter jets arriving in Ukraine’

A claim that NATO has sent fighter jets to Ukraine to help the country fight invading Russian forces was shared by multiple social media posts in August 2022. The claim, however, is false. While there was a proposal in March to supply Ukraine with Soviet-era jets through a US air base, Washington rejected the idea over fears it could escalate the conflict. Separately, NATO's press office told AFP that the claim was "not accurate".

Read MoreSocial media posts share false claim about ‘NATO-supplied fighter jets arriving in Ukraine’

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.

Read MoreFake: In 1943, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army Crucified Four Children