FACT CHECK: Did US And Israel Sink Russian Warships?

Elias Atienza | Senior Reporter

A video shared on Facebook claims the U.S. and Israel sunk Russian warships in Crimea during its conflict with Ukraine.

Verdict: False

There is no evidence that Russian warships have been sunk by the U.S. and Israel. Ukraine has not claimed any Russian warship lost in the past week.

Fact Check:

Israel has refused most Ukrainian requests to provide them with lethal aid over concerns around existing tensions with Russia and Syria, according to Axios. Israel also refused a U.S. request that the country send Hawk anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, the outlet reported.

The Facebook video, viewed more than 18,000 times, claims that Russian warships were destroyed in Crimea. The Facebook video’s preview is titled “Unexpected attack from the USA and Israel,” along with an image of a naval vessel on fire. (RELATED: Has NATO Launched An Intervention In Ukraine?)

This claim, though, lacks evidence. If either country had launched an attack on Russian warships in the Black Sea or Crimea, media outlets would have covered it, yet none have. Neither the U.S. Department of Defense nor the Israeli Ministry of Defense has released any statements confirming an attack on Russian ships.

Furthermore, Ukraine has not claimed the destruction of any Russian naval vessels since Jan. 23, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense website. Ukraine has claimed to have destroyed 18 Russian naval vessels, with the latest appearing to be a small boat commandeered by Russian troops in the Kherson region, the New Voice of Ukraine reported.

12 Russian naval vessels have been visually confirmed lost or damaged, according to Warspotting. Ukraine sunk the Russian guided missile cruiser, Moskva, along with several Raptor patrol boats, and a tugboat last year, the website reported.

This is not the first time misinformation about Ukraine has circulated online. Check Your Fact recently debunked a claim suggesting there was “Absolutely no footage” of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

Elias Atienza

Senior Reporter
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