A video shared on Facebook claims Russia is evacuating Crimea as Ukraine continues to push toward the region.

Verdict: False

Russia is not evacuating Crimea. While there is a report of a city being evacuated in the northern part of Crimea, occupational officials denied the claim.

Fact Check:

Russia withdrew from the northern Kherson Oblast after a Ukrainian counteroffensive, according to The New York Times. Reuters reported that Ukraine has used drones and other methods to attack Russian targets in Crimea, which has been occupied by Russia since 2014.

The Facebook video, viewed more than 50,000 times, claims Russia is evacuating Crimea. The video’s caption reads, “Putin Couldn’t Take It Anymore: Russia evacuates Crimea!”

This claim, however, lacks evidence. If Russia was conducting mass evacuations in Crimea, media outlets would have covered it, yet none have. Furthermore, neither the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense nor its Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released any statements on Russian evacuations of Crimea.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), which releases daily reports on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, has not reported any mass evacuations in its latest reports. In its Dec. 1 report, it highlighted Russian reserves being stationed in northern Crimea. (RELATED: Does This Video Show A Ukrainian Strike On A Russian Airbase in Crimea?)

“Hromov stated that Russian forces are concentrating reserves in northern Crimea to reinforce troops on the east bank in Kherson Oblast and in the direction of Orikhiv in Zaporizhia Oblast. Hromov stated that Dzhankoy and surrounding settlements have become the largest Russian military base in Crimea due to the amount of Russian military personnel and equipment transfers and deployments,” ISW’s assessment reads.

Russian occupational officials rejected claims that they were evacuating a city in the northern part of the peninsula, according to Radio Free Europe. Russia is reportedly digging defenses in Crimea to protect against a potential Ukrainian advance, the outlet reported.

Misinformation regarding the state of the Russia-Ukraine war has been widespread since the start of the war in February 2022. Check Your Fact recently debunked a video that allegedly showed “hundreds” of Russian Submarines being sunk by Ukraine.