Weeks into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, some on social media are suggesting the armed conflict is all for show.
"Them: Let's pray for Ukraine! Me: It's all scripted and staged," reads text in a Feb. 25 Facebook meme, superimposed on a picture of the Joker.
The post generated more than 1,400 interactions in a week, and similar versions of the claim circulated on Twitter and iFunny.
But the claim is wrong. From sanctions against Russia to photo and video evidence of war, there's ample evidence the conflict in Ukraine is real.
USA TODAY reached out to the Facebook user who shared the claim for comment.
After months of failed diplomatic efforts, President Vladimir Putin announced Feb. 24 in a video that Russia would invade Ukraine.
Shortly after, Russia launched a full-scale military assault. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Feb. 24 that 137 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians had been killed, with hundreds more wounded.
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Extensive photo and video evidence shows Russia's invasion. USA TODAY previously interviewed a number of Ukrainians on the ground, many of whom described the dangerous conditions in the country.
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