This photo shows a plane towed for a 2011 exhibit in Croatia
- This article is more than one year old.
- Published on March 23, 2022 at 06:24
- 2 min read
- By Taylor THOMPSON-FULLER, AFP New Zealand and Pacific Islands
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"BREAKING: Ukrainian farmer captured a Russian military jet," reads a screenshot shared in a Facebook post from March 10.
The photo was shared in similar Facebook posts around the world, including in the Czech Republic and Hong Kong.
It appears to originate from a tweet from March 11 that has been shared more than 9,000 times.
There have been reports of Ukrainian farmers towing away captured Russian military hardware as ordinary people show resistance to the invasion.
However, the photo was taken in Croatia years before Russia invaded Ukraine.
Google reverse searches found the picture in an article from May 26, 2011 by Croatian daily newspaper Jutarnji list.
It said the photo was taken during preparations for a military weapons display to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Croatian armed forces.
Local newspaper 24sata published the same photo in a report on May 26, 2011, which said the aircraft was towed through the streets of Zagreb at night ahead of the exhibit in the capital's Jarun district.
24sata published various photos of the plane from different angles, one of which can be found on the Croatian defence ministry's website in an article about the exhibit.
The plane features the national emblem of Croatia, a checkerboard of red and white.
AFP has debunked a wave of false and misleading claims around the Ukraine conflict.
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