Did Ukraine Give Up Nukes for Russia, U.S. Security Guarantees? // Newsweek

Source published on: December 7, 2022 /

The Budapest Memorandum, signed in December 1994, resulted in Ukraine voluntarily handing over its nuclear arsenal, as well as other military stocks and munitions, to Russia.

In exchange, Moscow vowed to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.

The U.S. and the U.K. were among the co-signatories, but stopped short of providing “guarantees” (which would have entailed a direct military intervention) and instead offered “assurances,” a term that left some wiggle room for a response to potential aggression from Moscow.

Indexed on 2023-09-18 01:49 // Categories: Aid to Ukraine, Fact checks / debunkings, Russia, Treaties & agreements, Ukraine, and USA

U.S. Aid to Ukraine, Explained // FactCheck.org (University of Pennsylvania)

Source published on: December 2, 2022 /

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.

Indexed on 2023-09-18 01:45 // Categories: Aid oversight, Aid to Ukraine, Fact checks / debunkings, Military aid, Misconceptions, Ukraine, and USA

Was ‘Fired’ Russian General’s Body Found in Moscow River? // Newsweek

Source published on: October 31, 2022 /

False. The claim that Lapin’s body was discovered in a river is unsubstantiated. The original reports were based on a misleading tweet and were later retracted.

While there are numerous and, so far, unverified reports, including those from by pro-Kremlin outlets, suggesting that Lapin resigned or was removed from his command, there is no evidence to suggest that he is no longer alive.

Indexed on 2023-09-18 12:51 // Categories: Disinformation, Fact checks / debunkings, Misconceptions, and Russia

Are Stray Dogs ‘Lining Up’ for Pet Food in War-Torn Kramatorsk? // Newsweek

Source published on: October 28, 2022 /

The dogs in the photo were pictured lined up near a feeding station in Kramatorsk, as confirmed by photos and film clips taken by volunteers in the city.

While there have been other recorded instances of dogs queueing, they were often highly trained. It’s not clear whether these dogs were patiently waiting their turns or it was simply a well-timed photo, but the image is deeply heart-warming nonetheless.

Indexed on 2023-09-18 12:44 // Categories: Fact checks / debunkings and Ukraine

Did Putin Promote Drug Smuggler U.S. Exchanged for Ex-Marine? // Newsweek

Source published on: October 28, 2022 /

True. Konstantin Yaroshenko was convicted in 2011 for his involvement in a major drug smuggling operation. It is also true that he was part of a prisoner exchange that also included Trevor Reed, a former U.S. marine.

In October 2022, Yaroshenko was indeed appointed to civic office by the Russian president’s decree, having earlier expressed an interest in “human rights advocacy” and “social work.”

Indexed on 2023-09-18 12:33 // Categories: Fact checks / debunkings, Russia, and USA

Russia’s Claim That Photo Shows ‘Dirty Bomb’ in Ukraine // Newsweek

Source published on: October 27, 2022 /

The images in the graphic, shared by the Russian Ministry of Defence, are not of a Ukrainian dirty bomb facility or evidence of the creation of a dirty bomb.

Some are photos of Russian and Siberian research facilities. Another, according to the Slovenian government, is from a 2010 Radioactive Waste Management presentation by a Slovenian non-profit. One of the images has been used several times over on different websites since 2010.

Indexed on 2023-09-18 12:30 // Categories: Disinformation, Fact checks / debunkings, Misconceptions, Russia, Russian propaganda, and Ukraine

Is Red Cross Funding Families of Mobilized Russians? // Newsweek

Source published on: October 26, 2022 /

As stated on its website the Russian Red Cross, an organization making up the international network of Red Cross societies, has been fundraising and providing support for Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine and their families.

However, this does not mean that other Red Cross societies or its international organizing bodies have any part in its fundraising. The International Federation of Red Cross says it is guided by “impartiality”, among its guiding principles.

Indexed on 2023-09-17 11:05 // Categories: Fact checks / debunkings, International community, NGOs, and Russia

Did Putin Suggest Russia Would Use Ukrainians as Human Shields? // Newsweek

Source published on: October 21, 2022 /

True. The video of Putin saying Russian troops would “stand behind the people,” and dare Ukrainian troops to “shoot their own people” is genuine. The statement was made during his 2014 press conference.

While it is unclear if he implied using them as human shields, he did specify “not in front of them, but behind,” further supporting that interpretation.

Indexed on 2023-09-17 11:00 // Categories: Fact checks / debunkings, Russia, Ukraine, and War crimes

Did Fuel Crisis Force Berliners to Chop Trees in Tiergarten? // Newsweek

Source published on: October 17, 2022 /

Germans have not been chopping down trees in Tiergarten, Berlin, to meet energy needs. The claim is a misquote from a Bloomberg article about firewood demand.

While the article mentions that residents in the German capital did resort to felling parts of the park after the Second World War, the article clearly states that no such thing has happened today following Russia’s shutdown of gas supplies to Europe.

The misquote, however, has been widely shared by pro-Russian accounts to support their narrative about the energy crisis in Europe.

Indexed on 2023-09-17 10:53 // Categories: Disinformation, Fact checks / debunkings, Germany, Misconceptions, and Russian propaganda

GM, Ford Vehicles Were Donated to Ukraine by Carmakers // FactCheck.org (University of Pennsylvania)

Source published on: September 26, 2022 /

Two American carmakers have donated 100 pickup trucks and SUVs to assist with humanitarian aid in Ukraine. But an Instagram post makes the baseless claim that the vehicles were provided at U.S. taxpayers’ expense.

Indexed on 2023-09-17 10:37 // Categories: Aid to Ukraine, Disinformation, Fact checks / debunkings, Misconceptions, Ukraine, and USA

Zelensky and Soros Aren’t Cousins, Contrary to Social Media Claim // FactCheck.org (University of Pennsylvania)

Source published on: April 8, 2022 /

Conspiracy theories aimed at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have been circulating on social media since Russia invaded Ukraine in February. One recent example, falsely attributed to a “Pentagon official,” is the unfounded claim that Zelensky is the cousin of billionaire philanthropist George Soros.

Indexed on 2023-09-17 10:33 // Categories: Antisemitism, Disinformation, Fact checks / debunkings, Hatred and bigotry, Misconceptions, and Ukraine

The Facts on ‘De-Nazifying’ Ukraine // FactCheck.org (University of Pennsylvania)

Source published on: March 31, 2022 /

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia’s talk of “de-Nazifying” Ukraine is a non-starter in peace negotiations. We’ll explain what these claims are all about and why experts say they are misleading.

Indexed on 2023-09-17 10:25 // Categories: Antisemitism, Disinformation, Fact checks / debunkings, Fascism, Hatred and bigotry, Incitement & hate speech, Misconceptions, Nazism, Russia, Russian propaganda, and Ukraine

CNN Video Shows Canadian Fire Gear Donated to Ukraine, Not ‘Fake Footage’ // FactCheck.org (University of Pennsylvania)

Source published on: March 30, 2022 /

A recent Facebook post falsely claims that CNN footage from the war in Ukraine was faked, citing a firefighter’s jacket bearing the name of a Canadian city. But the footage was shot in Ukraine. The jacket was donated by a Canadian organization.

Indexed on 2023-09-17 10:21 // Categories: Aid to Ukraine, Disinformation, Fact checks / debunkings, Misconceptions, and Ukraine

Video Shows Climate Protest in Austria, Not ‘Crisis Actors’ in Ukraine // FactCheck.org (University of Pennsylvania)

Source published on: March 22, 2022 /

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has triggered a barrage of false claims on social media, including posts that purport to show a video of “crisis actors” portraying dead victims of the fighting. The video used in the posts is from a climate protest held in Vienna, Austria, weeks before the war in Ukraine began.

Indexed on 2023-09-17 10:10 // Categories: Disinformation, Fact checks / debunkings, Genocide vs Ukraine (2022-), Misconceptions, Russia, Russian propaganda, Ukraine, and War crimes

Marjorie Taylor Greene Parrots Russian Talking Point on Ukraine // FactCheck.org (University of Pennsylvania)

Source published on: March 22, 2022 /

Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene parroted a Russian talking point with her claim that Ukraine is a country whose “government only exists because the Obama State Department helped to overthrow the previous regime.”

FactCheck.org presents the history of this Russian propaganda talking point, and explains why it is false.

Indexed on 2023-09-17 10:07 // Categories: Democracy, Disinformation, Fact checks / debunkings, Misconceptions, Russia, Russian propaganda, and Ukraine