Category Misconceptions

The War in Ukraine: A Collection of Fact Checks About Volodymyr Zelenskyy | Snopes.com

As the war in Ukraine raged on in early 2023, rumors about the country's president rage with it. From claims about his career, to rumors about illicit drug use, Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a magnet for doctored images, misinformation, and more. Continue below for a collection of stories about the Ukraine president's history before and after the war began.
Read MoreThe War in Ukraine: A Collection of Fact Checks About Volodymyr Zelenskyy | Snopes.com

FACT CHECK: Did This Satirical Magazine Feature An Image Of Zelenskyy Stealing From Jesus? | Check Your Fact

Verdict: False The image is digitally fabricated. There is no evidence that Charlie Hebdo published this cover.
Read MoreFACT CHECK: Did This Satirical Magazine Feature An Image Of Zelenskyy Stealing From Jesus? | Check Your Fact

Five fact-checks about the war in Ukraine

Russia's invasion of Ukraine this year kept our fact-checkers very busy. We wrote 92 articles debunking false claims about information related to the war. These ranged from claims the Bucha massacre was staged to false TV reports and accusations of Nazism among Ukrainians. To mark the end of the year, we made a list of some of our top fact-checks about Ukraine.
Read MoreFive fact-checks about the war in Ukraine
Was Putin's Spokesman Caught Wearing $6 Million Watch?

Was Putin’s Spokesman Caught Wearing $6 Million Watch?

False. While Dmitry Peskov possesses a number of expensive watches by designer Richard Mille, including one estimated to be worth more than $600,000, the watch in the photo shared on social media is not worth $6 million. Reports by Russian independent media claimed the watch in the photo was worth 6 million rubles, which appears to have been misinterpreted or mistranslated into a dollar value.
Read MoreWas Putin’s Spokesman Caught Wearing $6 Million Watch?
Did Zelensky's Wife Go on $40K Shopping Spree in Paris?

Did Zelensky’s Wife Go on $40K Shopping Spree in Paris?

Claims that the first lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska went on a shopping spree during her visit to Paris this month are not supported by credible evidence. They appear to stem from a single tweet posted by an unverified and low-engagement Twitter account, which provided scant details about the alleged purchases, simply citing an anonymous "source." Additionally, the location of the U.S.-based account and its posting history raise significant doubts about the veracity of the claims.
Read MoreDid Zelensky’s Wife Go on $40K Shopping Spree in Paris?

FACT CHECK: Were Thousands Of Children Rescued From A Biden-Owned Property In Ukraine? | Check Your Fact

Verdict: False There is no evidence suggesting any children have been rescued from Biden’s properties. There is also no evidence suggesting Biden himself owns any properties in Ukraine.
Read MoreFACT CHECK: Were Thousands Of Children Rescued From A Biden-Owned Property In Ukraine? | Check Your Fact
U.S. Aid to Ukraine, Explained

U.S. Aid to Ukraine, Explained

When asked whether Republicans would “make it more difficult” for Congress to approve Ukrainian aid, Rep. Mike Turner criticized the $40 billion package enacted in May, saying: “We don’t need to pass $40 billion large Democrat bills ... to send $8 billion to Ukraine.” Much more than that, however, was allocated for military support.
Read MoreU.S. Aid to Ukraine, Explained

Have gasoline prices fallen to pre-Ukraine war levels, as Joe Biden said?

According to the most recent weekly data, the cost of a gallon of gasoline is $3.53. That's exactly the same as it was just days before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Our ruling Biden said, "Gas prices are down back to where they were before Russia invaded Ukraine." Gas prices didn't start increasing with the onset of the war, but the most recent weekly price data shows the cost of a gallon of gasoline at $3.53, which is exactly the same as it was just days before Russia invaded Ukraine. We rate the statement True.
Read MoreHave gasoline prices fallen to pre-Ukraine war levels, as Joe Biden said?