Did an authentic video on Facebook show F-16 fighter jets striking Russian President Vladimir Putin's cruise ship while it was carrying Korean shells? No, that's not true: The clip was published by an account self-described as that of a gaming video creator. The account has posted hundreds of similar videos on Facebook that also include signs of having been created with a visual-effects program.
The claim originated in a video on Facebook on August 20, 2024, (archived here) with a caption that read:
9 minutes аɡо! F-16'ѕ саuѕеԁ а mоnѕtrоuѕ ԁеtоnаt𝗂оn оn Рut𝗂n'ѕ сru𝗂ѕе ѕһ𝗂р fuⅼⅼ оf Kоrеаn ѕһеⅼⅼѕ! Too good
Here is how the post appeared at the time of writing:
(Source: Facebook screenshot taken Fri Aug 30 10:48:18 2024 UTC)
Under its Intro section, the account on Facebook identifies itself (archived here) as that of a "Gaming video creator." The video's caption, however, does not include a disclaimer revealing that connection or stating that a video-game program was used to produce the footage.
(Source: Facebook screenshot taken Fri Aug 30 17:12:08 2024 UTC)
The page was created on August 14, 2023, according to its Page transparency section (archived here). Since its creation, the account has posted hundreds (archived here) of similar videos with captions mentioning the Russia-Ukraine war (archived here), suggesting that "nuclear war has begun" (archived here), or claiming to depict conflict in the Middle East (archived here), to name but a few.
Below are examples of the types of posts shared on this page as of August 30, 2024:
(Source: Facebook screenshots taken Fri Aug 30 17:15:00 2024 UTC)
Lead Stories tried to contact the account on Facebook for further information about how the videos were created. We will update this article if we receive a response.
A closer look at the video reveals apparent signs that it is not authentic footage. For example, the supposed cruise ship is pixelated, misshapen and likely made using a visual effects program or software. Lead Stories could not determine which program may have been used to create the video.
(Source: Lead Stories compilation of Facebook screenshots taken Fri Aug 30 16:50:19 2024 UTC)
Similarly, the supposed fighter jets look cartoonish and unrealistic:
(Source: Lead Stories compilation of Facebook screenshots taken Fri Aug 30 17:50:35 2024 UTC)
Other Lead Stories debunks related to the Russia-Ukraine war can be read here.
