FACT CHECK: Does This Video Show The Finnish-Russian Border After Vladimir Putin’s Speech?
Verdict: Misleading
The video was taken two days before Putin’s speech. The Finnish Border Guard said the situation at the border “has not changed.”
Fact Check:
Putin announced a partial mobilization of its military in a Sept. 21 speech, marking a significant escalation of the country’s war against Ukraine, according to The Washington Post. Flights out of Russia sold out after Putin’s speech on fears fighting-age men would not be allowed to leave the country and be conscripted, Reuters reported.
The Facebook video claims to show a “35 [kilometer]” line at the Finnish-Russian border after Putin’s announcement. The claim went viral on Twitter, with one version receiving over 2.7 million views.
#Breaking: just in – The traffic jam at the border with #Russia/#Finland has pilled up to 35KM and is rising by the hour, it is the only border who is still open for Russian civilians with shengen visas, after #Putin announced he will send 300.000 new troops to #Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/EOJ1346qDO
— Sotiri Dimpinoudis (@sotiridi) September 21, 2022
The video, while showing the border, predates Putin’s speech. The video was posted to TikTok by account @igorinRussia Sept. 19. The TikTok account published a follow-up video claiming that the video was taken Aug. 29 and claiming the video was taken out of context.
Finnish authorities also denied that a large queue had formed following the announcement, according to Irish-based news outlet The Journal. The Finnish Border Guard stated in Sept. 21 tweet that the “situation at Finland’s borders has not changed” following Putin’s speech.
Situation at Finland’s borders has not changed with the announcement of Russian moilization. There are videos circulating on social media, at least some of which have already been filmed before and now taken out of context. There is incorrect information in circulation.
— Rajavartiolaitos (@rajavartijat) September 21, 2022
“Situation at Finland’s borders has not changed with the announcement of Russian moilization(sic),” the Finnish Border Guard tweeted. There are videos circulating on social media, at least some of which have already been filmed before and now taken out of context.”
This is not the first time miscaptioned videos have circulated on social media in regards to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Check Your Fact previously corrected a video allegedly showing a Oil Depot in Russia on fire.