Fact Check: Russia bombs Ukraine airbases in military retaliation? No, video is from 2024
Ahead of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, both countries launched major attacks at each other. In this context, a video is going viral on social media with claims that it shows Russia’s retaliation in Ukraine for a recent attack.
By K Sherly Sharon
Claim:After a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack, the video shows Russia retaliating by bombing Ukrainian airbases.
Fact:The claim is false. The video shows Russian missiles raining down on Kyiv on July 8, 2024.
Hyderabad: The second round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia was held in Istanbul on May 2. A day prior, Russia launched 472 drones, attacking Ukraine overnight. In retaliation, Ukraine carried out a major drone attack on multiple Russian air bases, causing significant losses.
In this context, a video showing multiple air strikes raining down while smoke clouds emerge on impact is going viral on social media. In the background, a high-rise building can be seen.
The video was shared by an X user with the caption, “Boom Boom Boom…Ukraine Airbases Bombarded by Russia.” (Archive)
We found that this viral video was re-posted from another X post, in which the caption reads, “In a retaliatory action, 7 Ukrainian airbases were destroyed. This war will end with Ukraine's devastation.” (Archive)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is false. The video shows a Russian missile striking Kyiv on July 8, 2024.
Using reverse image search, we found the viral video shared by an X user on July 9, 2024, with the caption, “Intense footage of 5-6 Russian Kh-101 air-launched cruise missiles hitting Kyiv during yesterday's strikes.”
Using keyword searches, we found the viral video shared on other X posts with captions indicating that the video shows Russian missiles raining down in Kyiv on July 8, 2024. These posts can be seen here, here and here.
Daily Mail World published a YouTube video with the title, ‘Kyiv children’s hospital: Moment Russian Kh-101 missile strikes’ on July 9, 2024. The viral video can be found at the 0:11-second mark in the video.
According to the description, the video shows Russian Kh-101 missiles hitting various places in the Ukrainian Capital on July 8, 2024, including the Ohmatdyt Children’s Hospital.
NewsMeter concludes that the viral claim is false. This is an old video from July 8, 2024, showing the Russian missile attack on Ukraine.
