FACT CHECK: Has NATO Launched An Intervention In Ukraine?
A video shared on Facebook claims that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) entered Ukraine and launched attacks against Russia.
Verdict: False
There is no evidence NATO has entered Ukraine or declared war on Russia. NATO continues to support Ukraine with vehicles, weapons and other aid.
Fact Check:
The U.K. confirmed this month that it would be sending Challenger tanks to Ukraine, according to BBC News. This comes after the U.S. and France announced they would be sending Western-made infantry fighting vehicles (IFV), such as Bradleys and Marders, to the country, The Washington Post reported.
The Facebook video, viewed more than 55,000 times, claims that NATO “entered Ukraine” and launched attacks against Russia. The video’s caption reads “7 minutes ago! NATO army entered Ukraine! 12 attacks against Russia!”
This claim, however, lacks evidence. If NATO had actually entered Ukraine and launched attacks against Russia, media outlets would have covered it, yet none have. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, the Russian Ministry of Defense and NATO have not released any statements confirming that NATO troops had attacked Russia in Ukraine.
NATO has also stated it has not sent troops or enforced a no-fly zone above Ukraine. (RELATED: Did Russia Collapse ‘Within Seconds’?)
“NATO’s actions are defensive, designed not to provoke conflict but to prevent conflict. The Alliance has a responsibility to ensure that this war does not escalate and spread beyond Ukraine, which would be even more devastating and dangerous. Enforcing a no-fly zone would bring NATO forces into direct conflict with Russia. This would significantly escalate the war and lead to more human suffering and destruction for all countries involved,” NATO wrote on its website.
NATO countries have provided tens of billions in military and financial support to Ukraine, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. Countries such as Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia have provided Ukraine with Soviet-era tanks, per Oryx.
Check Your Fact reached out to NATO and will update this article if a response is provided.