Category Coordinated disinformation

No, Ukraine’s Zelensky did not buy a lavish mansion in Florida – Truth or Fake

A few days after Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Washington, social media accounts are claiming that the Ukrainian president recently bought a mansion in Florida. The posts show pictures of a lavish mansion and a document that looks like a US naturalisation certificate under his name. But both photos are fake: Zelensky did not buy a house in the US, nor did he become a US citizen.

Read MoreNo, Ukraine’s Zelensky did not buy a lavish mansion in Florida – Truth or Fake

Fake: Elon Musk Wants to Receive Russian Passport and Thinks Putin Is “Not a…

An excerpt from a broadcast on X (formerly Twitter), in which Elon Musk praises Putin and Russia, was generated by a neural network and shared initially by Russian sources. The original recording of the broadcast with Musk, where he says no such thing, is available online.

Read MoreFake: Elon Musk Wants to Receive Russian Passport and Thinks Putin Is “Not a…

Manipulation: Former NATO Commander Praises Russian Army and Give Up on Ukrainian Forces

Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe James Stavridis did not say that the Russian army is significantly superior to the Ukrainian army, and certainly did not "give up on the Ukrainian army." He only noted that the Russian army currently has a significant advantage in aviation. In his column on the Bloomberg website, Stavridis emphasizes the importance of further military support for Ukraine from its Western partners. The ex-military officer also notes that, with sufficient means, Ukraine "will at a minimum be able to hold off further significant Russian land gains."

Read MoreManipulation: Former NATO Commander Praises Russian Army and Give Up on Ukrainian Forces

Fake: Ukrainian Resort Bukovel Saves Guests from Mobilization for Money

In a comment to StopFake, the resort's press service denied the existence of such a service and noted that representatives of Territorial drafting centers have full access to the territory of Bukovel.

Read MoreFake: Ukrainian Resort Bukovel Saves Guests from Mobilization for Money

Fake: Ukraine Recognizes a Person With One Leg As Fit for Military Service

A person with an amputated leg was never considered fit for military service. According to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, a person with a diagnosis of "unilateral amputated stump of the lower limb above the level of the upper third of the lower leg" is unfit for military service. In a comment to StopFake, a territorial center of recruitment and social support representative said that the document looks like a fake.

Read MoreFake: Ukraine Recognizes a Person With One Leg As Fit for Military Service

US celebrities tricked into recording videos urging Zelensky to go to rehab – Truth or Fake

In a new Russian disinformation campaign uncovered by Microsoft, celebrities such as Elijah Wood, Priscilla Presley and Mike Tyson have been tricked into recording a video via the Cameo app that was later doctored and used for anti-Zelensky propaganda. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Read MoreUS celebrities tricked into recording videos urging Zelensky to go to rehab – Truth or Fake

Fake: Ukraine Arrests and Tortures American Blogger Gonzalo Lira “For Criticizing Zelenskyi”

Blogger Gonzalo Lira is in custody not for criticizing Volodymyr Zelenskyi, but for violating Article 436-2 of Ukraine's Criminal Code - justifying Russian aggression against Ukraine. In particular, Lira publicly justified Russia's attack on Ukraine, denied Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian cities and mass killings of civilians in Bucha and other cities, revealed the location and identities of Western journalists and the Ukrainian military. Additionally, there is no evidence that any torture was used against Gonzalo Lira.

Read MoreFake: Ukraine Arrests and Tortures American Blogger Gonzalo Lira “For Criticizing Zelenskyi”

Video Fake: Ukrainian Military Leaving Their Positions in Bilohorivka

The video was most likely edited. There is a discrepancy between the facial expressions of the man and the words he is saying. In addition, the landscape and weather conditions depicted in the video suggest that the original video was filmed before winter began. Additionally, the press service of the 119th separate brigade of the Military Police in the Chernihiv region stated that the person in the video does not serve in their unit.

Read MoreVideo Fake: Ukrainian Military Leaving Their Positions in Bilohorivka

Fake: German Defense Minister Refuses to Consider Ukraine an Ally

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius did not say that Ukraine is not an ally of Germany. In an interview with the German TV channel ZDF, he only emphasized that Ukraine is not a NATO partner of Germany and therefore the format of providing it with military aid is different than if the "united West" were directly at war with Russia.

Read MoreFake: German Defense Minister Refuses to Consider Ukraine an Ally