Category Misconceptions

FACT CHECK: Does This Image Show Russian Conscripts With Mosin-Nagant Rifles? | Check Your Fact

An image shared on Facebook allegedly shows Russian conscripts with 19th-century era Mosin-Nagant bolt-action rifles.

Verdict: Misleading
While the image does feature the rifle, the photo is from a 2020 parade. It has nothing to do with the current conflict in Ukraine.

Read MoreFACT CHECK: Does This Image Show Russian Conscripts With Mosin-Nagant Rifles? | Check Your Fact

Debunking claims that Izium mass graves are Ukrainian propaganda – Truth or Fake

Pro-Russian accounts on social media are falsely claiming that certain civilian graves found in Izium date from before the Russian occupation. In this edition of Truth or Fake, we debunk claims that the graves were staged by Ukrainian authorities.

Read MoreDebunking claims that Izium mass graves are Ukrainian propaganda – Truth or Fake

Is Gazprom threatening to keep Europe cold this winter? Why this video is likely fake

Global media outlets widely shared a video they attributed to Russian state energy company Gazprom in articles published on September 6, 2022. The video, which was circulated online by pro-Russian users, showed the company halting its flow of natural gas to Europe. However, our journalists investigated the origins of the video and discovered that it likely wasn't made by Gazprom.

Read MoreIs Gazprom threatening to keep Europe cold this winter? Why this video is likely fake

Ukrainian naval ship’ destroyed by Russia is actually just an old bridge – Truth or Fake

The Russian ministry of defence has released a video claiming its forces have struck an "amphibious" Ukrainian vehicle near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. However, by geolocating the alleged target from the footage, we discovered it is in fact the remnants of a bridge built during World War II. We explain the details in this edition of Truth or Fake with Vedika Bahl.

Read MoreUkrainian naval ship’ destroyed by Russia is actually just an old bridge – Truth or Fake

Video shows Putin’s face superimposed on exiled tycoon’s body for anti-Kremlin film promo

Footage that appears to show Russian President Vladimir Putin behind bars has surfaced in social media posts claiming he was arrested on terrorism charges. However, the clip has been doctored to superimpose Putin's face onto that of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, an oil tycoon who spent a decade in jail. The altered video was originally published to promote a documentary that accused Russian authorities of orchestrating a series of apartment block bombings in 1999.

Read MoreVideo shows Putin’s face superimposed on exiled tycoon’s body for anti-Kremlin film promo

No, a Ukrainian publisher did not issue maps omitting Russian-occupied territories

In a video posted on Russian Telegram accounts, a man claims to have found a geography book for Ukrainian high school students in which the map of Ukraine has been cut in half, missing the areas occupied by Russian troops. But several clues in the video indicate that it is a fake, as confirmed to us by the book's publisher.

Read MoreNo, a Ukrainian publisher did not issue maps omitting Russian-occupied territories

Social media posts share false claim about ‘NATO-supplied fighter jets arriving in Ukraine’

A claim that NATO has sent fighter jets to Ukraine to help the country fight invading Russian forces was shared by multiple social media posts in August 2022. The claim, however, is false. While there was a proposal in March to supply Ukraine with Soviet-era jets through a US air base, Washington rejected the idea over fears it could escalate the conflict. Separately, NATO's press office told AFP that the claim was "not accurate".

Read MoreSocial media posts share false claim about ‘NATO-supplied fighter jets arriving in Ukraine’