CLAIM: A photo shows a billboard with a picture of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the word “Stability!” in Russian in front of a giant plume of flames and smoke.
AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. The image is synthetic. It was created using Photoshop and artificial intelligence by an artist from Kherson, a city in southern Ukraine. The artist told The Associated Press that the image is a combined representation of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil depots and Putin’s preordained reelection.
THE FACTS: Amid a new wave of Ukrainian attacks inside Russian territory, including a fire sparked by a drone that fell on an oil refinery in the Krasnodar region, social media users are sharing the image as if it is a photo of an actual event.
In the image, a billboard sits in front of a large, raging fire. The word “Stability!” appears in Russian on the billboard, to the left of a portrait of Putin.
Xi Story: Ensuring a Better Life for the People
UFO spotted shooting through clouds over Texas during the solar eclipse... do YOU know what it is?
Six ways to use up surplus chocolate, meat and vegetables from Easter according to top chefs
Who's a clever boy? Dogs excel in different intelligence tasks
Xi Focus: China Pursues Development for People's Well
Piece of 5,800lb battery pallet tossed from NASA's ISS crashes through Florida home
Giant screen falls on stage during concert by Hong Kong boy band Mirror, two performers injured
World Insights: Bringing China
I put my night sweats down to early menopause
Xi Focus: Xi Addresses Opening Ceremony of High
The View host Sara Haines REFUSES to say OJ Simpson's name in the wake of his death