Schoolchildren in Lviv Were Not Forced To Celebrate Hitler’s Birthday
The Claim
The image shows schoolchildren in Lviv, Ukraine, standing in a swastika shape to mark Adolf Hitler's birthday on April 20.
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Emerging story
Social media users circulated an image which allegedly shows schoolchildren in Lviv, Ukraine, forced to stand in a swastika shape to mark Adolf Hitler's birthday on April 20.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the claim and found it to be fake. Using Google reverse image search, Misbar’s team, was able to trace the image to reports published by Russian news outlets back in 2016, which proves that the image is unrelated to Ukraine and the ongoing war.
Cosmonautics Day
Using Google Translate, Misbar’s team discovered that the photo was taken on Cosmonautics Day, April 12, in Penza, Russia. The photo shows participants in a flash mob lined up to shape the number 55 to mark the 55th anniversary of the first manned flight into space.
On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first person to ever leave Earth's atmosphere. In Vostok 1 (Vostok 3KA-3), the Soviet Cosmonaut spent 108 minutes orbiting the Earth.
Based on these findings and given that the claim has no elements of truth, Misbar’s team confirms that the claim is fake. The photo has no relation to Ukraine.
