Russia Did Not Declare World War III

Misbar investigated the claim and found it to be misleading. Misbar's team found no official declaration of World War III by reviewing official and credible Russian government sources. However, a television presenter's statement sparked the claim.

Review of Official Russian Sources

None of the official Russian accounts including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Kremlin declared the start of World War III.  There are currently no other countries directly involved in the Russia-Ukraine war. 

Origin of the Circulating Claim

Olga Skabeyeva, a Russian state TV presenter, stated on the show "Sixty Seconds" that her country is fighting World War III against NATO. The remark was made to explain why the "special operation in Ukraine" is taking longer than expected. Skabeyeva went on to say that viewers should understand that the country is now "fighting against NATO infrastructure, if not NATO itself." A clip of the show, with subtitles, can be seen below.

The comments also come in the wake of the sinking of Russia's flagship warship, the Moskva, in the Black Sea on April 14, 2022. While Ukraine claimed responsibility for the sinking and claimed to have launched a missile, Russia's defense officials stated that "ammunition on board the ship had exploded in an unexplained fire." Recently, there have been conflicting reports, with Russian officials refusing to discuss the matter further.

Based on the findings, Misbar’s team confirms that the claim is misleading. Skabeyeva's comments are just an analysis made by a TV presenter on her show, which is produced by the state. However, the show's views do not reflect those of the Russian government. Official sources have not declared or confirmed such an announcement.