Category Misconceptions

No, this video does not prove that an attack on Odesa was staged by Ukraine

A video has gone viral on social media, with users claiming it showsÂ proof that the destruction ofÂ a historic cathedral in OdesaÂ on the night of July 22 to 23 was staged byÂ Ukrainian authorities. They argue that a woman in the video picks up the debris with too much ease for it to be real. However, the woman is actually picking up a light material,Â most likely polystyrene, so this does not prove that the attack was staged.

October 15, 2024
Attacks on religion Fact checks / debunkings Misconceptions Russia Ukraine War crimes

No, Elijah Wood did not urge Volodymyr Zelensky to seek treatment for alleged addictions

A video has been circulating online that allegedly shows "Lord of the Rings" actor Elijah Wood giving the Ukrainian president advice on how to tackle his alleged drug and alcohol addictions. He can be seen recording himself and talking to a so-called "Vladimir". However, the video has been heavily edited and his agent has confirmed it was not published by the actor.

These videos do not show clashes between the Wagner Group and Russian forces

In the aftermath of the armed rebellion attempt by Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner mercenary group against the Russian army command on Saturday June 24, people began sharing images online purporting to show the two sides fighting. But at least two of these videos were taken from the video game Arma 3 - and it's not the first time this military video game has been used to spread misinformation.

October 15, 2024
Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings Media taken out of context Methods Misconceptions Russia Wagner Group

Parties in Kyiv nightclubs in the midst of war? Watch out for these misleading images

A video compilation that has been circulating since May 3 claims to show that - despite the warÂ - the party is in full swing in Kyiv's nightclubs, taking advantage of foreign donations to Ukraine's war effort. Most of these images date from before the war, however, and some of the establishments where they were filmed have been closed since the conflict began in February 2022.

October 15, 2024
Aid to Ukraine Coordinated disinformation Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings Media taken out of context Methods Misconceptions Ukraine

No, this video doesn’t show Ukrainians setting fire to an Orthodox church

Did Ukrainians really set a Russian Orthodox church on fire? A video purporting to show just that has been circulating online since April 5, 2023. However, it turns out that this video was filmed in Russia more than ten years ago and shows an accidental fire.

DISINFO: Ukrainian government is planning to relocate to Lviv

The article contains baseless speculation devoid of any factual basis. It serves the pro-Kremlin aim of eroding morale and a narrative of a disintegrating Ukraine that is in retreat militarily. The article references a Reuters article, which states that foreign investment and the increase in internally displaced people are most noticeable in the western regions (Lviv and Transcarpathia). However, this fact, which is a consequence of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, has no bearing on the claim that the Ukrainian government is planning a resettlement to western Ukraine, specifically Lviv. Ukraine has no intention of abandoning Kyiv, the capital city. Even during the height of the war in spring 2022, the government and the president remained in Kyiv.

October 15, 2024
Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings Misconceptions Russia Russian propaganda Ukraine

No, Volodymyr Zelensky didn’t buy a villa in Florida

Did Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky buy a house in Florida? And did he get American citizenship? Those are the rumors circulating on social media along with a couple of photos. However, the villa that appears in the photos is still up for sale and the certificate of nationality is fake, making this the latest example of fake news stories implying that Ukrainian officials are using international aid money for personal purposes.

Facebook shuts thousands of fake Chinese accounts masquerading as Americans

Someone in China created thousands of fake social media accounts designed to appear to be from Americans and used them to spread polarizing political content in an apparent effort to divide the U.S. ahead of next year's elections, Meta said Thursday.

October 15, 2024
China Chinese propaganda Coordinated disinformation Disinfo threat outlook Disinformation International community Misconceptions Resources

This video is not an Israeli advertisement to ‘recruit Ukrainian soldiers’

Is the Israeli army trying to recruit Ukrainian soldiers into its ranks? This is what some pro-Russian accounts are suggesting by sharing a video they say is an Israeli advertisement, in which a young Ukrainian soldier talks about his decision to join the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). However, the original video actually shows an Israeli soldier, and the Ukrainian voice has been added digitally.

October 15, 2024
Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings International community Israel Media taken out of context Methods Misconceptions Ukraine

Three claims accuse Volodymyr Zelensky of being addicted to cocaine

In recent weeks, people have been sharing at least three videos purporting to show Ukrainian PresidentÂ Volodymyr Zelensky either using cocaine or making incoherent remarks after allegedly consuming drugs. But these videos have been cut misleadingly andÂ sometimes even digitally manipulated.