| Title: | No, this photo of Ukrainians training for combat doesn’t prove the war is fake |
| URL: | https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/may/19/viral-image/no-photo-ukrainians-training-combat-doesnt-prove-w/ |
| Publisher: | PolitiFact |
| Date published: | May 19, 2022 |
| Description: | A Reuters photo of Ukrainians training for combat is being used as supposed evidence that the war there is fake. It’s not. A screenshot of a tweet by conservative activist Jack Posobiec is spreading on social media as evidence that the war in Ukraine is staged. Trudy Rubin, a foreign affairs columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, wrote from outside of Kyiv in February that civilian trainees were “practicing with cardboard guns or plastic paintball guns or hunting rifles from home until they are provided military weapons.” Even members of the U.S. military have used paintball guns for training exercises. The war in Ukraine is real, and it has been well-documented by reporters and citizens on the ground in the country. We rate claims that this photo proves it’s being staged Pants on Fire. |
No, this photo of Ukrainians training for combat doesn’t prove the war is fake
A Reuters photo of Ukrainians training for combat is being used as supposed evidence that the war there is fake. It's not.
A screenshot of a tweet by conservative activist Jack Posobiec is spreading on social media as evidence that the war in Ukraine is staged.
Trudy Rubin, a foreign affairs columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, wrote from outside of Kyiv in February that civilian trainees were "practicing with cardboard guns or plastic paintball guns or hunting rifles from home until they are provided military weapons."
Even members of the U.S. military have used paintball guns for training exercises.
The war in Ukraine is real, and it has been well-documented by reporters and citizens on the ground in the country.
We rate claims that this photo proves it's being staged Pants on Fire.
