FACT CHECK: Does This Video Show Ukrainian Forces Firing Missiles At Russian Tanks?
A video shared on Twitter purportedly shows Ukraine firing FGM-148 Javelin missiles at Russian tanks.
Ukraine is playing havoc with the Russian armour with state of the art anti armour missiles.1 such example👇 where Ukrainian forces r hunting Russian tanks with American FGM- 148 Javelin missiles.Has to be seen to be believed! #RussianArmy #Russians #UkraineRussiaWar #UkraineWar pic.twitter.com/oHL7HhUa1B
— Ghazanfar Iqbal (@Ghazan0018) October 16, 2022
Verdict: False
This video actually displays footage from a military-based video game, Arma 3. The alleged footage appeared on YouTube in July 2022.
Fact Check:
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared martial law in four recently-annexed areas of Ukraine as Ukrainian forces continued their counteroffensive, according to Reuters. Civilians have also been advised to evacuate as fears of an imminent Ukraine attack grow in the region, the outlet reported.
A Twitter video claims to show footage of Ukrainian forces attacking Russian tanks with FGM-148 Javelin missiles. “Ukrainian forces r hunting Russian tanks with American FGM- 148 Javelin missiles,” the caption reads in part. “Has to be seen to be believed!”
This video is miscaptioned, however, and does not depict real footage of Ukrainians attacking Russians. A reverse image search found the video was posted to YouTube in July 2022. The user who posted the video emphasized in the description that the footage does not represent reality and is instead “just a simulation of real news.”
“All events in this video are not real. This is just a video game ARMA 3!” the poster added in the comment section. (RELATED: Does This Video Show Ukraine Destroying A Russian Submarine?)
The game developer, Bohemia Interactive, confirmed to Reuters that the video shows gameplay from Arma 3.
Several instances of gameplay from Arma 3 being passed as legitimate war footage has occurred since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February. Check Your Fact recently debunked a video appearing to show a Russian nuclear submarine being captured by Ukrainian forces.
