No, These Photos Do Not Show Recent Russian Military Buildup Near Ukrainian Border
The Claim
The photo shows Russia's military buildup near the Ukrainian border in preparation for a massive attack on Kyiv.
Emerging story
News websites and Facebook accounts have shared photos purporting to show thousands of Russian troops gathered at the Ukrainian border in preparation for a massive attack on Kyiv.
Description: The screenshots show the recently circulated claim.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar’s team investigated the claim and found it misleading. Most of the photos shared with the news are outdated, and they reflect events other than the recent Russian military buildup near the Ukrainian border.
The photos below, which were already published by the website Shutter Stock, show Ukrainian soldiers mounting armored personnel carriers as they pass near the village of Divychky in the Kyiv region on Oct. 29, 2020.
The two photos below were taken from a video clip published on April 22, 2021, as part of a Russian military exercise in Crimea.
The photo below has been online since April 22, 2021, and shows the same Russian military exercise that Russia conducted in Crimea at the time.
The two photos below were also cut from a video posted on the Facebook page of the Russian ministry of defense on April 22, 2021. The photos showed military exercises in Crimea at the time.
Finally, the photo below was published on Feb. 10, 2022, as part of recent Ukrainian exercises.
The claim started to circulate amid global anticipation and warnings from Western countries against a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine. Several countries have called on their citizens on Ukrainian soil to leave the country.
Translated by Ahmed N. A. Almassri
