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FACT CHECK

Fact check: Altered images falsely claim to show Ukrainians demonstrating in support of Myanmar

The claim: Photos show Ukrainian demonstration in support of Myanmar

On Feb. 24, Russia invaded Ukraine. Roughly a year prior, a military coup seized control of Myanmar. Thousands of people have been killed or imprisoned since the takeover, according to the United Nations

Now some social media users are posting images they claim show Ukrainians demonstrating in support of Myanmar. 

In one of the photos, people are shown walking down a street, some carrying Ukrainian flags. A person in the foreground is holding a sign that says, "We pray again for Myanmar, which has supported Ukraine."

"Save Ukraine Save Myanmar," reads a sign in a second photo. 

Some posts include a third photo showing a person holding a sign that appears to combine the Myanmar and Ukrainian flags into one image.

"Many thanks to Ukraine for raising concerns for Myanmar," reads one Feb. 28 Facebook post that features two of the photos. The post received thousands of interactions in a little more than a week. 

However, the signs in the photos have been altered. The original, unaltered photos do not show Ukrainians demonstrating in support of Myanmar, as independent fact-checking organizations have reported

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USA TODAY reached out to the Facebook users who shared the images for comment.

Photo of demonstrators' signs altered

The unaltered version of the photo featuring the "We pray again for Myanmar, which has supported Ukraine" slogan was taken by United Press International. 

The photo caption says it was taken at a Feb. 12 rally in Ukraine "held to show unity amid US warnings of an imminent Russian invasion." The sign in the unaltered photo says, "No Putin, No Cry."

The original version of the second photo, with the altered sign reading, "Save Ukraine Save Myanmar," can be found on the AP Images website. AP reports the photo shows a Ukrainian "protest against COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates" on Nov. 3, 2021. The unaltered sign reads, "Anti Vax."

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The original version of the third photo, altered to depict a sign with a Ukrainian and Mynamar flag amalgam, was taken by a Reuters photographer. Like the first photo, the image was captured on Feb. 12 in Ukraine. 

Reuters reports the photo was taken at a "Unity March." The unaltered sign reads,"#Stand With Ukraine."

Our rating: Altered

Based on our research, we rate ALTERED photos claimed to show a Ukrainian demonstration in support of Myanmar. The original photos were taken at Ukrainian demonstrations that were unrelated to Myanmar. They were altered to include pro-Myanmar slogans and images on protest signs. 

Our fact-check sources:

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