Category Misconceptions

Viral videos falsely claiming Ukraine’s Zelenskyy uses cocaine are altered

Two viral videos purported to show that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy uses cocaine. One video appeared to show cocaine on Zelenskyy's desk as he spoke, while the other appeared to show him saying that he uses the drug routinely.

The first video was doctored; in the original, there is no white substance on Zelenskyy's desk. The second video was deceptively edited; in the original, he denied using drugs.

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Two videos claimed to show Zelenskyy either using or admitting to using cocaine.

The first video purports to show a white powder on Zelenskyy's desk as he placed a video call to Musk. But the video was doctored to include the substance, which is not in the original.

The second video appears to show Zelenskyy talking about using cocaine regularly, but the video was deceptively edited to reorder Zelenskyy's words. In reality, Zelenskyy denied using drugs.

We rate these videos Pants on Fire!

Read MoreViral videos falsely claiming Ukraine’s Zelenskyy uses cocaine are altered

Doctored CNN tweet circulates in posts about ‘child soldiers training in Ukraine’

An image shared in multiple social media posts in different countries purports to show a genuine tweet from CNN about child soldiers in Ukraine. The claim is false; AFP found no evidence that the tweet was ever published by CNN, and the US broadcaster said it was fabricated. The photo in the posts has circulated online since at least 2018 in reports about Ukrainian children learning battlefield skills at a summer camp, and the photographer told AFP it was "never used" by CNN.

Read MoreDoctored CNN tweet circulates in posts about ‘child soldiers training in Ukraine’

Social media posts overplay North Korea’s support for Russian invasion of Ukraine, analysts say

Social media posts claim North Korea has decided to send troops to Ukraine to support Russia, citing a report by Russian state media. However, the report makes no mention of North Korea sending troops to Ukraine. There have been no official reports or statements to support the claim, as of April 26. North Korean experts told AFP it was "highly unlikely" that Pyongyang would deploy troops to Ukraine.

Read MoreSocial media posts overplay North Korea’s support for Russian invasion of Ukraine, analysts say

Commemorative Zelenskyy coins created by private gift shop, not Biden White House

The commemorative coins honoring Volodymyr Zelenskyy were created for sale by a private company called the White House Gift Shop, not the U.S. government.

Social media users are falsely claiming that the Biden White House created special coins honoring Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Despite what the posts suggest, the commemorative coins were created by a private company, not President Joe Biden's White House.

The nonprofit White House Historical Association ' which runs two retail shops located near the White House in Washington, including one at the White House Visitor Center ' confirmed to PolitiFact that its stores are not selling the commemorative Zelenskyy coins. There is no mention of the coins on the White House's official government website, either.

We rate this Facebook post False.

Read MoreCommemorative Zelenskyy coins created by private gift shop, not Biden White House

This video does not show the Moskva warship exploding — it’s a 2013 Norwegian military exercise

A video has been viewed millions of times on social media, alongside the claim that it shows the Russian warship Moskva exploding. The claim is false: the video is a clipped and edited version of one that has been circulating online since at least 2013, which shows the Norwegian armed forces using a decommissioned frigate for target practice.

Read MoreThis video does not show the Moskva warship exploding — it’s a 2013 Norwegian military exercise

Video claiming ‘Ukraine responsible for train station attack’ was not produced by BBC

A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in social media posts that claim it is a report from the BBC that states Ukraine was responsible for a deadly missile attack on a train station in the eastern city of Kramatorsk. The British broadcaster's press team said it did not produce the "fake" video and was "taking action" to get it removed from social media. AFP identified various visual features in the video that indicated it has been fabricated to imitate a report from the BBC.

Read MoreVideo claiming ‘Ukraine responsible for train station attack’ was not produced by BBC

Doctored photo shared alongside claims that ‘Putin Pub in Jerusalem renamed after Zelensky’

Social media posts shared multiple times claim a bar in Jerusalem called "Putin Pub" was renamed "Zelenskiy Pub" -- using an alternative spelling of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky's surname -- following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in late-February 2022. However, the image shared alongside the posts was doctored to add the Ukrainian president's surname in place of where the Russian president's surname had been. One of the bar's operators told AFP on March 9 they had taken down the sign that said "Putin". On March 10, the bar was renamed "Generation Pub".

Read MoreDoctored photo shared alongside claims that ‘Putin Pub in Jerusalem renamed after Zelensky’

AFP photo from West Bank falsely shared as ‘Ukrainian child throwing stones at Russian tank’

A photo of a child throwing a stone at a tank has been shared repeatedly in Chinese-language posts on Twitter, Facebook, and Weibo alongside a claim it shows the Ukrainian resistance against Russia's invasion. This is false: the photo was taken by an AFP journalist in 2002 and actually shows a Palestinian child throwing a stone at an Israeli tank.

Read MoreAFP photo from West Bank falsely shared as ‘Ukrainian child throwing stones at Russian tank’