Category UK

Fact Check: INAUTHENTIC Audio Suggests BBC Reporter Joked On Open Mic That Trump F***ed Zelenskyy In Oval Office Meeting

Did a video clip shared to X authentically show a BBC reporter joking the February 28, 2025 Oval Office meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump was " ... the second time that a U.S. president f***ed someone in the Oval Office." ? No, that's not true: The audio was generated using artificial intelligence. The original newscast did not include any such remark and the reporter has publicly dismissed its authenticity.

Video doesn’t show Zelenskyy using expletive about Trump outside 10 Downing Street

However, Zelenskyy did not use any expletives about Trump when speaking to journalists during the walk from his motorcade to greet Starmer. The claim is false. Further, the video exhibited potential signs that its originator used an artificial-intelligence tool to create many of its elements.

An unedited video (archived) showing the same moment featured an unidentified reporter asking, "Mr. President, how was the trip? How do you feel?," and Zelenskyy responding, "Ok. Thank you so much."

FACT CHECK: Viral X Post Of Boris Johnson Giving Raised Arm Salute Is Digitally Altered | Check Your Fact

A viral image shared on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter, purports to show former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson giving a raised arm salute at a recent public event.

Verdict: False
The image is digitally altered. The image was originally shared to the platform by user @smak_media, who admitted it was photoshopped in a subsequent post.

October 14, 2024
AI-generated images Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings Hatred and bigotry International community Methods Misconceptions Nazism UK

No, the BBC didn’t report that Ukraine is selling weapons to Hamas

No, the BBC report that said Ukraine is selling weapons to Hamas is not real. The fake video is being promoted by pro-Russia social media accounts.

FACT CHECK: Posts Claims Ukrainian Challenger 2 Tank Was Not Destroyed | Check Your Fact

Social media posts are claiming Russia didn't destroy a Ukrainian Challenger 2 tank.

Verdict: False
The video does show a Ukrainian Challenger 2 tank, according to multiple media outlets and independent analysts. The United Kingdom Defense Secretary confirmed the Challenger 2 tank was destroyed.

October 14, 2024
Aid to Ukraine Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings International community Military aid Misconceptions Russia UK Ukraine

FACT CHECK: No, BBC News Did Not Report Prigozhin Is Still Alive | Check Your Fact

A video shared on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, claims to show a BBC News report stating Wagner Group founder Yevengy Prigozhin is still alive.

Verdict: False
There is no evidence that the BBC created this video. A spokesperson for the organization said the video was fake.

October 14, 2024
Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings Faked news reports International community Methods Misconceptions Russia UK

No, Zelensky didn’t buy a mansion belonging to the British royal family

Did the Ukrainian president embezzle Western aid money to buy Highgrove House, the family residence of King Charles III? No, but pro-Russian social media accounts have been spreading that rumour. They want people in the United States and Europe to question how aid being sent to Ukraine is being used ahead of upcoming elections. However, this rumour is based on fake testimony and, what's more, this sale is legally impossible.

Fake news about Kremlin critic Navalny aims to discredit him after his death

Since news broke on February 16, 2024 that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny had died while incarcerated in the Russian Arctic, there has been a resurgence of doctored images and fake news aiming to discredit Navalny and his family. We took a look at three of the most widely spread fake news items about Navalny. None of them are true.

DISINFO: Boris Johnson called on Kyiv not to sign any peace deal with Russia and just fight

A recurring disinformation narrative in pro-Kremlin outlets claiming that Ukraine and its allies are not interested in peace.

The claim, which is also timed to smear Ukraine ahead of the international peace conference hosted in Switzerland 15-16 June 2024, is part of an ongoing pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign in Russia's illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The claim seeks to paint the Ukrainian government as warmongering and Russia as peace-lover / peace proposer. It also attempts to portray Ukraine as a Western puppet state.

FAKE: In 2023, Ukraine paid over $1.2 billion to British PR companies to create fakes about the successes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Neither BBC News nor Bellingcat published this information. The video was edited using footage available in the public domain, and there are errors in the video's text.

January 19, 2024
Coordinated disinformation Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings Faked news reports International community Methods Misconceptions UK Ukraine