Fact Check: Russia attacks Ukrainian fuel storage unit? No, video depicts fire at Sharjah's Al Hamriyah port

Hyderabad: Now in its fourth year, the Russia-Ukraine conflict remains intense, characterised by stalled peace efforts, escalating military actions and a severe toll on civilians.

In this context, a video circulating on social media shows flames and a massive plume of smoke rising into the sky at a site with several large, vertically standing tankers, accompanied by claims that it depicts a Russian attack in Ukraine.

One X user shared the video and wrote, “Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine. Ukraine started this war, and it will end with Ukraine, just as it began.” (Translated from Hindi) (Archive)

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the claim is false, as the video shows a fire at Sharjah’s Al Hamriyah port.

A reverse image search of the video’s keyframes led us to the original footage published by the UAE-based media outlet The National News on June 1. The video was titled, ‘Huge fire at Sharjah’s Al Hamriyah Port brought under control.’

According to the channel, the fire at Sharjah’s Al Hamriyah Port was brought under control after a 12-hour operation involving helicopters and fire crews from across the UAE.

We also found the same video posted by the Instagram account of Peninsula Qatar on May 31. According to their report, a massive fire broke out earlier that day at Sharjah’s Al Hamriyah Port, engulfing flammable materials and prompting a large-scale emergency response from the UAE Civil Defence, Sharjah Police, and the National Guard.

According to reports published by Khaleej Times and Gulf News on May 31, a major fire erupted at a fuel storage facility in Sharjah’s Al Hamriyah Port. Emergency crews, including helicopters, responded swiftly and successfully brought the blaze under control. No casualties were reported. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause, and enhanced safety measures have been implemented in the area.