Category Ukraine

PTI Fact Check: 2022 video of Ukrainian marines surrendering in Mariupol falsely shared as recent incident from Kursk region of Russia

A video featuring people in military uniforms walking on a landscape with their hands in the air was recently shared on social media. Those sharing the video claimed that the Ukrainian army surrendered in the Kursk region of Russia.

However, the PTI Fact Check investigated and found that the viral video dates back to 2022 when the Ukrainian marines surrendered in Mariupol and is unrelated to the ongoing conflict in the Kursk region.

March 18, 2025
Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings Media taken out of context Methods Misconceptions Ukraine

Fact Check: Edited Image Shows European Leaders Taking Off Their Suit Coats In Support Of Ukraine — No Actual Video

Does a viral image authentically show European leaders taking off their suit coats in support of Ukraine during a group picture? No, that's not true: The image is likely a screenshot from a video that was digitally edited, possibly using AI. Actual footage of the moment the group picture was taken did not show anyone taking off their suit and no news outlets reported about it happening at the time.

2022 Video of Mariupol Surrender Misattributed to Kursk Events

Misbar investigated the circulating video and found the claim to be misleading.

Misbar's team found that the video shows Ukrainian marines surrendering in Mariupol in 2022 and is not related to the ongoing events in the Kursk region.

March 15, 2025
Fact checks / debunkings Misconceptions Russia Ukraine

Video of Ukrainian flag on Statue of Liberty is fake

What was claimed: A video shows the Ukrainian flag being flown from the top of the Statue of Liberty.

Our verdict: This is not a real video. A watermark in the bottom right corner suggests it was made by OpenAI's text-to-video artificial intelligence model, Sora.

March 14, 2025
Deep fake videos Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings International community Methods Misconceptions Ukraine USA

Photo of Zelenskyy wearing a suit when meeting WEF leader predates Ukraine war

What was claimed:
A photo shows President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently wearing a suit to meet WEF founder Klaus Schwab because he is his "actual boss", amid criticism Mr Zelenskyy received for not wearing one to meet President Trump.

Our verdict:
This photo shows the two men in suits in 2020, before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, after which President Zelenskyy stopped wearing suits publicly.

March 14, 2025
Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings Germany International community Misconceptions Ukraine

Old video shared as recent footage of Ukrainian troops ‘surrendering’ in Kursk

What was claimed: A video shows Ukrainian troops surrendering in the Kursk region on 11 March 2025.

Our verdict: The clip predates this and has been shared online since at least April 2022.

March 14, 2025
Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings Media taken out of context Methods Misconceptions Russia Russian propaganda Ukraine

No, Russia Has Not Surrounded Thousands Of Ukrainian Troops In Kursk

"I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared," Trump wrote.

But there aren't thousands of Ukrainian troops in Kursk any longer. They left days ago, despite what Putin may claim. "It's wise to rely on intelligence," Tatarigami advised, "not Putin's word."

March 14, 2025
Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings Misconceptions Russia Russian propaganda Ukraine

InfoWars reporter Jamie White, who was fatally shot, was not on Ukrainian enemies list

After InfoWars reporter Jamie White was fatally shot March 10 in Austin, Texas, police said they believe the suspects were burglarizing White's car when White interrupted them.

White is not on a Ukrainian enemies list. In June 2024, Texty.org.ua, an independent Ukrainian media outlet, shared online a list of research subjects as part of its analysis of rhetoric opposing Ukrainian aid. White was among the people whose statements were analyzed.

Texty did not refer to White as an "enemy" of Ukraine, nor did the outlet call for him to be harmed or killed.

March 14, 2025
Fact checks / debunkings International community Misconceptions Ukraine USA

Trump falsely claimed US spent $350B on military aid to Ukraine

Claim: As of February 2025, the United States had given $350 billion in military aid to Ukraine for its war with Russia.

Rating: False.

Context
It's possible to arrive at varying totals depending on how military aid is defined or by considering how much money was allocated - as opposed to actually paid out - by the U.S. government, but none of these totals amounts to $350 billion

March 13, 2025
Aid to Ukraine Disinformation Fact checks / debunkings International community Misconceptions President Donald Trump Ukraine USA

Fact Check: Video Of Putin Speaking About Russian Terms For Ceasefire Is NOT From 2025

Did a video circulating on social media show Russian President Vladimir Putin making a public statement about Russia's terms for a ceasefire in Ukraine in March 2025? No, that's not true: The clip had been online for nine months. It showed Putin's remarks from June 2024.