Category USA

Fake: Zelensky Urges Americans to Fight for Ukraine

An out of context excerpt from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's
press conference is being circulated online by Russian and US social media
users, claiming that he is calling on Americans to fight for Ukraine.
Answering questions during a press conference dedicated to the first
anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Zelensky said that
if Ukraine fails to stop Russia, then NATO countries will have to do it,
because capturing Ukraine will not stop Russia's expansionist policies
regarding its neighboring countries, including NATO members.

Fake: Zelensky’s DoppelgÃ¤nger Spotted During Biden Visit Kyiv

In a video circulated by Russian media claiming it shows Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelensky's double, the Ukrainian President is followed
by his personal bodyguard, Maxim Donets, who has headed the Ukrainian
Presidential Security Service since 2-019.

Fake: US Consulate in Milan Publishes Post with Ukraine and Nazi Germany Flags

Employees of the US consulate in Milan never published a Twitter post with
the flags of Ukraine and Nazi Germany. The consulate's Twitter account was
hacked. After regaining control over the account, the hacked post was
deleted.

Fake: Air Raid Siren During Joe Biden’s Visit to Kyiv Turned on Intentionally

According to Ukraine's Air Force, the air raid alert that sounded during
the US President Joe Biden's visit to Kyiv was due to the take-off of in
Belarus of MiG-31K aircraft carrying Russian Kinzhal missiles. The maximum
range of such missiles is more than 2,000 kilometers, which is why air
raids sirens are sounded throughout the country every time Russian planes
carrying those missiles take off.

Footage shows Volodymyr Zelensky’s bodyguard, not body double

Social media posts claim a man pictured trailing Volodymyr Zelensky during US President Joe Biden's surprise trip to Kyiv was the Ukrainian leader's secret body double or clone. This is false; other footage of the same moments shows the man is Maksym Donets, Zelensky's bodyguard since 2019.

March 1, 2023
Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings International community Media taken out of context Methods Misconceptions Ukraine USA

Images of Biden eating ice cream in Ukraine are doctored

Images purporting to show Joe Biden eating ice cream in Ukraine have widely circulated on social media since the US president's surprise visit to the country on February 20, 2023. But the photos are manipulated; the original pictures show Biden in the US states of Ohio and Oregon.

February 24, 2023
Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings International community Misconceptions President Biden Ukraine USA

Dilapidated train track is in years-old image and isn’t close to East Palestine derailment site

The image in the widespread photo is from a 6-year-old video that showed an old railway in Ohio. It had already been fixed by the time the Feb. 3 derailment happened in East Palestine.

The Biden-Harris administration announced plans to help railway infrastructure in Ohio, including managing $4 billion to improve rail safety.

A Facebook post said a photo of a dilapidated railroad track shows "what railways in Ohio look like while we send $40 billion to Ukraine."

The image used in the post comes from a 6-year-old video, and that railway has since been fixed.

We rate this claim False.

February 23, 2023
Aid to Ukraine Fact checks / debunkings International community Misconceptions Palestine USA

Photo from Biden Warsaw speech altered to add vulgar gesture

An image shared widely on social media purports to show a pair of middle fingers directed at Joe Biden after the US president's speech in Warsaw, Poland. But the picture has been digitally manipulated; the original photo shared by Biden and the White House depicts a thumbs-up gesture in the crowd.

February 23, 2023
Fact checks / debunkings International community Misconceptions Poland President Biden USA

Don’t fall for this promise of a ‘leaked’ recording of Biden and Zelenskyy

We found no evidence to corroborate a claim that an audio recording was leaked documenting a private conversation between the presidents. A social media post claims otherwise.

We requested to follow the account where the supposed leaked audio of Biden and Zelenskyy was posted but as of publication time, that request hadn't been granted.

However, we searched for news reports and other sources to corroborate this latest post's claim, and found none.

We rate it False.

February 22, 2023
Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings International community Misconceptions President Biden Ukraine USA

Photo of Biden, Zelenskyy holding hands was altered

President Joe Biden made a surprise trip to Ukraine on Feb. 20, and he was photographed walking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy outside of a monastery in Kyiv.

Multiple news outlets have published the picture. But an altered version of the photo is spreading on social media....Biden announced more military aid for Ukraine on the trip, but the image, taken for The New York Times by photographer Daniel Berehulak, is doctored.

We rate claims the photo is authentic False.

February 22, 2023
AI-generated images Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings International community Methods Misconceptions President Biden Ukraine USA