---
title: "\"Ukraine is winning\", that's what they tell on western media. Here are the facts…"
source: "https://x.com/Alex_Oloyede2/status/2067593884574572881"
platform: "X / Twitter"
factual_accuracy: 24
overall_accuracy: 15
tags: ["ukraine war", "ukraine", "russia", "population decline", "conscription", "casualties", "economy", "debt", "propaganda"]
---
# Source fact-check: "Ukraine is winning", that's what they tell on western media. Here are the facts…
Original post: https://x.com/Alex_Oloyede2/status/2067593884574572881
Factual accuracy: 24% · Overall accuracy: 15%
## Source post
**Target post by @Alex_Oloyede2**
> "Ukraine is winning", that's what they tell on western media. Here are the facts on Ukraine and you choose your reality;
>
> - 25% of territory under Russia
> - Ukrainian pop. fell from 45M to 25M
> - Forced conscription, none in Russia
> - 2M men dеаd/missing
> - KIA exchange of 1🇷🇺 : 32🇺🇦
> - Ukrainian economy → non-existent
> - Drowning in debt (hoping Russia pays reparations - it won't )
> - Average age in the AFU is 47, young ones sadly dуing, 65yo conscripted
>
> This is not Russian propaganda, all proven facts, if you want to argue it please prove me wrong with evidence.
>
> No matter how much refineries Kiev attacks, it won't change the stats, they'd be repaired in a week. In fact, Moscow made more profit these past months than it did in 2025. The question remains, how long Ukraine can continue or will Putin decide to end it once and for all.
> [attached video 0](https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/2067593777208782849/pu/vid/avc1/1280x716/z2LbgooIoRP_QX3c.mp4?tag=26)
## Post analysis
Verdict: 15% · Model: Kimi K2.6 · Checked on: 19/06/2026
The post by Alex\_Oloyede2 claims to present “proven facts” about the war in Ukraine, but nearly every specific factual assertion is either false or heavily distorted according to the provided claim verifications.
The assertion that Russia controls 25% of Ukrainian territory overstates the current occupation; credible assessments place Russian control at approximately 20%, a figure that has remained below 25% for years and recently saw a net loss of territory\[CLAIM 1\]. The claim that Ukraine’s population fell from 45 million to 25 million confuses a pre-2014 baseline with a long-term demographic projection for 2051; current estimates place the population significantly higher, between roughly 28 and 39 million depending on methodology\[CLAIM 2\].
The post falsely contrasts Ukraine’s conscription with Russia’s, asserting Russia does not use forced conscription. In reality, Russia maintains mandatory military service and has conducted forced mobilization raids, digital summons blocks, and tightened draft evasion laws\[CLAIM 3\]. The claim that two million Ukrainian men are dead or missing appears to misattribute combined casualties from both sides (including wounded) to Ukrainian fatalities alone; documented Ukrainian dead and missing figures are far lower, around 186,000 even by rigorous independent tracking\[CLAIM 4\].
The claimed kill ratio of 32 Ukrainians killed for every 1 Russian is directly contradicted by multiple analyses, which find the opposite: Russian casualties substantially exceed Ukrainian losses, with estimates ranging from roughly 2:1 to 5:1 in Ukraine’s favor\[CLAIM 5\]. The assertion that Ukraine’s economy is “non-existent” is hyperbolic and false; Ukraine maintains a functioning economy with GDP growth, active trade sectors, and foreign exchange reserves, with 2025 nominal GDP exceeding pre-war 2021 levels\[CLAIM 6\].
Regarding military demographics, the average age of AFU soldiers is estimated at 43–45 years, not 47, though it has risen significantly since 2022\[CLAIM 9\]. While the post claims 65-year-olds are being conscripted, Ukrainian general mobilization targets men aged 25 to 60; those over 60 may only volunteer, and the 65-year age limit applies specifically to senior officers, not general conscripts\[CLAIM 8\].
The only assertion that holds up is that Ukraine faces severe debt and expects Russian reparations that are unlikely to materialize. Ukraine’s debt has surged to over 100% of GDP, and mechanisms like the EU’s proposed reparations loan are structured around the assumption that Russia will not voluntarily pay\[CLAIM 7\]. However, the claim that Moscow’s recent profits exceeded those of 2025 is misleading; evidence suggests Moscow’s revenue growth has slowed, and comparing recent months to a full year is an apples-to-oranges distortion\[CLAIM 10\].
Taken together, the post presents a deeply misleading picture by inverting casualty ratios, exaggerating territorial losses, conflating future projections with current realities, and falsely attributing combined losses to Ukraine alone. The overwhelming majority of the listed “facts” are incorrect.
**Overall validity**: 15%
## Claims found (10)
### 1. Russia controls 25 % of Ukrainian territory — 20%
Model: Kimi K2.6 · Checked on: 19/06/2026 · Detail: /claim/tlykJDr7LQYGoLxPS2JD
**Reasoning:**
- According to the Institute for the Study of War data analyzed by Russia Matters as of April 7, 2026, Russia presently controls approximately **20%** of Ukrainian territory (about 45,795 square miles), which includes Crimea and parts of Donbas that Russia occupied before its full-scale invasion in February 2022[^1].
- Russia's territorial control peaked at approximately **27%** in March 2022 shortly after the invasion began, but Ukrainian forces have since liberated significant territory, and the current figure has remained well below 25% for years[^2].
- In the weeks leading up to May 12, 2026, Russian forces experienced a net loss of 45 square miles of Ukrainian territory, further demonstrating that the control percentage is not approaching 25%[^3].
- The claim of 25% overstates the current extent of Russian occupation by roughly 5 percentage points, making it a substantial numerical inaccuracy for a present-day assessment.
**Overall validity**: 20%
[^1]:
[The Russia-Ukraine War Report Card, April 8, 2026](https://www.russiamatters.org/news/russia-ukraine-war-report-card/russia-ukraine-war-report-card-april-8-2026)
[^2]:
[Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian-occupied_territories_of_Ukraine)
[^3]:
[The Russia-Ukraine War Report Card, May 13, 2026](https://www.russiamatters.org/news/russia-ukraine-war-report-card/russia-ukraine-war-report-card-may-13-2026)
### 2. Ukraine’s population has fallen from 45 million to 25 million. — 35%
Model: Kimi K2.6 · Checked on: 19/06/2026 · Detail: /claim/r8jSQmz28io4fZx2t0C7
Here is my analysis of the claim:
**Reasoning:**
- The figure of 45 million is approximately accurate for Ukraine's population around 2014, before Russia's annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbas. According to Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister, the population was 45 million before Russia's first invasion in 2014, and fell to 42 million after the annexation of Crimea[^1].
- However, the claim that the population has fallen "to 25 million" is **not accurate** for the current population. The 25 million figure is a long-term demographic projection for 2051, not a current reality[^1].
- Current estimates for Ukraine's population vary depending on whether occupied territories are included, but authoritative sources place the current population significantly higher than 25 million:
- Wikipedia's demographic data estimates approximately 28.7 million for 2025 in government-controlled territory[^2].
- The UN's Worldometer estimates Ukraine's total population at approximately 37.9 million in 2024 and 39.5 million in 2026, though this methodology includes occupied territories[^3].
- A Ukrainian demographer estimated the population in government-controlled territory at about 28 million at the beginning of 2026[^4].
- The Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine stated in February 2025 that the population had dropped to around 32 million by the end of 2024[^1].
- The 25.2 million figure cited in some reports refers to projections for 2051 by the Institute of Demography and Social Quality of Life at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine[^1].
- The confusion may arise from conflating the population of government-controlled territory (which is lower) with Ukraine's total de jure population, and from mixing current statistics with future projections.
**Overall validity: 35%**
[^1]:
[Ukraine's population stands at 32 million, says Deputy PM | Ukrainska Pravda](https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/02/12/7497876)
[^2]:
[Demographics of Ukraine - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Ukraine)
[^3]:
[Ukraine Population (2026) - Worldometer](https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/ukraine-population)
[^4]:
[Depopulation and war threaten Ukraine's demographics - EDJNet](https://www.europeandatajournalism.eu/cp_data_news/depopulation-and-war-threaten-ukraines-demographics)
### 3. Ukraine employs forced conscription, whereas Russia does not employ forced conscription. — 25%
Model: Kimi K2.6 · Checked on: 19/06/2026 · Detail: /claim/hmOkctUPiaOtUq6m40aA
Based on my research, here is my analysis:
**Claim: Ukraine employs forced conscription, whereas Russia does not employ forced conscription.**
**Reasoning:**
- Ukraine does indeed employ forced conscription. Ukraine declared martial law and general mobilization on February 24, 2022, and has conscripted over 1 million men since then, with draft evasion punishable by fines, corrective labor, or imprisonment up to 10 years[^1][^2][^3].
- However, the claim that Russia "does not employ forced conscription" is **false**. Russia has a long-standing system of mandatory military service (conscription) for citizens aged 18-27/30, with semi-annual draft campaigns[^4][^5][^6].
- In September 2022, Russia announced a "partial mobilization" of 300,000 reservists, which was widely understood as forced conscription to address manpower shortages in Ukraine[^7][^8].
- Russia has also been reported to conduct forced conscription raids, including grabbing young people from streets, dormitories, apartments, mosques, and educational institutions[^9].
- Russia has tightened laws to prevent draft evasion, including digital summons systems that block eligible individuals from leaving the country, and raised fines for conscription avoidance significantly[^8][^10][^4].
- The conscription law in Russia "practically presumes draft dodgers guilty unless they prove innocence"[^4], and in 2023, Russian authorities intensified efforts to control mobility of citizens who received mobilization summons[^4].
**Overall validity**: 25%
[^1]:
[Inside Ukraine’s conscription crisis as two million dodge the draft | The Independent](https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/europe/ukraine-military-draft-russia-war-conscription-soldiers-b2952734.html)
[^2]:
[Conscription in Ukraine - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription_in_Ukraine)
[^3]:
[Country policy and information note: military service, Ukraine ...](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ukraine-country-policy-and-information-notes/country-policy-and-information-note-military-service-ukraine-june-2022-accessible)
[^4]:
[Conscription in Russia - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription_in_Russia)
[^5]:
[\[PDF\] Military service - Russian Federation - GOV.UK](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64c8f8f2d8b1a71bd8b05deb/RUS_CPIN_Military_service.pdf)
[^6]:
[Russian Military Personnel](https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/personnel-draft.htm)
[^7]:
[“Covert” Troop Mobilization Fuels Russia’s War in Ukraine. | CNA](https://www.cna.org/our-media/indepth/2024/12/covert-troop-mobilization-fuels-russias-war-in-ukraine)
[^8]:
[2022 Russian mobilization - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Russian_mobilization)
[^9]:
[\[PDF\] COI FFM rapporter\_Conscription in Russia](https://us.dk/media/fixlsvgr/report-march-2025-conscription-in-russia.pdf)
[^10]:
[Russia raises the maximum age of conscription as it seeks to replenish Ukraine forces | Russia | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/26/russia-conscription-maximum-age-raised-ukraine-war)
### 4. Two million Ukrainian men are dead or missing. — 5%
Model: Kimi K2.6 · Checked on: 19/06/2026 · Detail: /claim/UX32SPGUsOEJ3tHtwLI9
Based on my research, the claim that **"Two million Ukrainian men are dead or missing"** is **false**.
**Reasoning:**
- The **\~2 million figure** refers to **combined Russian and Ukrainian military casualties** (both sides together), not Ukrainian casualties alone[^1]. A study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimated that Russia has suffered approximately 1.2 million casualties and Ukraine about 500,000–600,000 casualties, with the combined total potentially reaching 2 million by spring 2026[^1].
- The **2 million figure includes killed, wounded, AND missing**, not just dead or missing. The claim incorrectly narrows this to only "dead or missing"[^1][^2].
- Ukrainian military casualties specifically are estimated at **500,000–600,000 total** (killed + wounded + missing), with fatalities estimated between 100,000–140,000 according to one analysis[^2], or **55,000 killed** according to President Zelenskyy's February 2026 statement[^3].
- The most rigorously documented figures for Ukrainian fighters show **91,559 killed and 95,165 missing** (186,724 dead or missing total) as of April 2026, tracked by name through the UALosses project[^4]. These figures, while likely incomplete, are far below 2 million.
- The claim appears to be a misrepresentation of combined casualty data, attributing the total losses of **both sides** to **Ukrainian men only**, and conflating total casualties (including wounded) with deaths and missing persons.
**Overall validity**: 5%
[^1]:
[Russian and Ukrainian military casualties in war nearing 2m, study ...](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/28/russia-ukraine-military-casualties-war-study)
[^2]:
[Russia's Grinding War in Ukraine - CSIS](https://www.csis.org/analysis/russias-grinding-war-ukraine)
[^3]:
[55,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed in war with Russia, Zelensky says](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgn2dzwd1do)
[^4]:
[Casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian war - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Russo-Ukrainian_war)
### 5. The kill‑ratio for Ukrainian forces versus Russian forces is 1 Russian killed for every 32 Ukrainians killed. — 0%
Model: Kimi K2.6 · Checked on: 19/06/2026 · Detail: /claim/8R0AaOjwZoIJ5nySDGvv
**Reasoning:**
- The claim of a 1:32 kill ratio (1 Russian killed for every 32 Ukrainians killed) is directly contradicted by multiple credible sources, which show the opposite: Russian casualties significantly exceed Ukrainian casualties[^1][^2][^3].
- A January 2026 report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) found that Russian battlefield casualties and fatalities are significantly greater than Ukrainian casualties, with a ratio of roughly 2.5:1 or 2:1 in Ukraine's favor[^1][^3].
- The CSIS report estimates Russian forces have suffered approximately 1.2 million casualties (killed, wounded, and missing) and as many as 325,000 killed, compared to Ukraine's 500,000-600,000 casualties and 100,000-140,000 fatalities between February 2022 and December 2025[^1][^3].
- Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated in April 2026 that the current kill ratio is 1:5 in Ukraine's favor, meaning one Ukrainian soldier killed for every five Russian soldiers killed[^2].
- An October 2025 Economist analysis, based on satellite data and over 200 credible estimates, found that even if Ukrainian fatalities were double the reported figures, the ratio would still be "roughly five Russian soldiers killed for one Ukrainian"[^4].
- The claim of 32 Ukrainians killed for every 1 Russian is wildly inconsistent with all available data and appears to invert the actual documented ratio, where Russia suffers substantially higher losses.
**Overall validity**: 0%
[^1]:
[Russia's Grinding War in Ukraine - CSIS](https://www.csis.org/analysis/russias-grinding-war-ukraine)
[^2]:
[1:5 kill ratio: Ukraine inflicts heavy Russian losses using drones, says Finnish president - Breaking Defense](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/04/15-kill-ratio-ukraine-inflicts-heavy-russian-losses-using-drones-says-finnish-president)
[^3]:
[Russia’s 1.2 million casualties in Ukraine dwarf all its conflicts since World War II, report says | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/28/europe/russia-ukraine-casualties-csis-report-intl-hnk-ml)
[^4]:
[Casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian war - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Russo-Ukrainian_war)
### 6. The Ukrainian economy is non‑existent. — 2%
Model: Kimi K2.6 · Checked on: 19/06/2026 · Detail: /claim/KCJRJ8UGj1h8RxxNe3hH
**Reasoning:**
- Ukraine's GDP was approximately $190.8 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach about $225 billion by 2026, demonstrating a functioning, measurable economy[^1][^2].
- The Ukrainian economy has multiple active sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, construction, services, mining, and utilities, all contributing to GDP[^2].
- Despite the severe impact of the 2022 invasion, Ukraine's GDP grew by 5.3% in 2023 and 3.6% in 2024, with the World Bank reporting 1.8% growth in 2025[^3][^4][^5].
- Ukraine's nominal GDP in 2025 (about $207 billion) exceeded pre-war 2021 levels, and real GDP recovered to 79% of its 2021 level by the end of 2025[^5].
- The country maintains foreign exchange reserves, engages in international trade, receives external financing, and continues EU accession negotiations—all indicators of an active economy[^4].
- While the economy has been severely damaged and faces significant challenges (energy infrastructure attacks, labor shortages, dependence on external financing), the claim that it is "non-existent" is hyperbolic and factually incorrect[^4][^5][^3].
**Overall validity**: 2%
[^1]:
[Ukraine GDP (2026) - Worldometer](https://www.worldometers.info/gdp/ukraine-gdp)
[^2]:
[Ukraine GDP](https://tradingeconomics.com/ukraine/gdp)
[^3]:
[Economy of Ukraine - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Ukraine)
[^4]:
[\[PDF\] UKRAINE MPO - The World Bank](https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/d5f32ef28464d01f195827b7e020a3e8-0500022021/related/mpo-ukr.pdf)
[^5]:
[Ukraine's GDP in 2025 was 21% lower than its pre-war level](https://gmk.center/en/infographic/ukraine-s-gdp-in-2025-was-21-lower-than-its-pre-war-level)
### 7. Ukraine is drowning in debt and expects reparations from Russia that will not be paid. — 85%
Model: Kimi K2.6 · Checked on: 19/06/2026 · Detail: /claim/dUgduuSjpFCmOMU0wuvI
**Reasoning:**
- Ukraine's public debt has surged dramatically since 2022, rising from less than 50% of GDP in 2021 to 98.6% by December 2025, with gross external debt reaching $216.2 billion (104.9% of GDP) by Q3 2025[^1][^2][^3]. The World Bank reported public debt at 101.9% of GDP in 2025, with a fiscal deficit of 23.6% of GDP financed mainly through external borrowing[^4].
- The OECD describes Ukraine's debt trajectory as "precarious" and notes that without sustained concessional support, stronger recovery, and fiscal discipline, debt sustainability remains at risk[^2].
- The European Union has proposed a "reparations loan" of up to €210 billion to Ukraine, which would be repaid only if Ukraine receives reparations from Russia; this structure explicitly confirms that Ukraine expects reparations from Russia[^5][^6][^7].
- Russia has a documented track record of refusing to honor international arbitration awards or pay compensation, including rejecting tribunal authority in recent cases (e.g., Gazprom v. Uniper, Krymenergo v. Russia), indicating that voluntary reparations payments are highly unlikely[^6].
- The reparations loan mechanism is designed around the assumption that Russia will not pay reparations in the foreseeable future, as the frozen assets would remain untouched and Ukraine would only repay if Russia started paying[^7].
**Overall validity**: 85%
[^1]:
[Ukraine Government Debt: % of GDP, 2010 – 2026 | CEIC Data](https://www.ceicdata.com/en/indicator/ukraine/government-debt--of-nominal-gdp)
[^2]:
[Ukraine’s narrow path to debt sustainability](https://oecdecoscope.blog/2025/05/21/ukraines-narrow-path-to-debt-sustainability)
[^3]:
[\[PDF\] External debt as of the end of Q4 2025](https://bank.gov.ua/files/ES/ExDebt_q_en.pdf)
[^4]:
[\[PDF\] UKRAINE MPO - The World Bank](https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/d5f32ef28464d01f195827b7e020a3e8-0500022021/related/mpo-ukr.pdf)
[^5]:
[Walking a Tightrope](https://verfassungsblog.de/on-the-legal-stakes-of-the-eus-proposed-reparations-loan-for-ukraine)
[^6]:
[The Ukraine Reparations Loan: How to fix Europe's financial plumbing | Centre for European Reform](https://www.cer.eu/insights/ukraine-reparations-loan-how-fix-europes-financial-plumbing)
[^7]:
[\[PDF\] FUNDING REPARATION FOR SURVIVORS OF THE WAR IN ...](https://redress.org/storage/2025/12/Briefing-paper_Funding-Reparation-for-Survivors-of-the-war-in-Ukraine-December-2025.pdf)
### 8. Ukrainian conscripts as old as 65 years are being drafted. — 25%
Model: Kimi K2.6 · Checked on: 19/06/2026 · Detail: /claim/W2p3B2UaNLpA1AZFXyBf
Based on my research, here is my analysis of the claim:
**Reasoning:**
- Ukraine's general mobilization targets men aged **25 to 60**, not 65. According to the UK government's country policy note, as a general rule, mobilization applies to men aged 25 to 60 who are fit for service[^1].
- The law does specify that **senior officers** can serve up to **65 years old** during a special period, but this applies to a specific rank category, not general conscripts[^1].
- In July 2025, Ukraine enacted a law allowing citizens **over 60 to voluntarily enlist** in the military during martial law with no maximum age limit, provided they pass medical exams and are approved by a unit commander[^2][^3]. However, this is **voluntary service**, not conscription or draft[^2].
- The term "conscript" implies compulsory drafting, whereas the over-60 provision is explicitly for **volunteers** signing one-year contracts[^2][^3].
- The Le Monde reported in February 2026 that the draft targets men between 25 and 60, and noted the Ukrainian army's average age is 45—significantly older than European standards[^4].
- Reports indicate Ukraine has faced manpower shortages and systemic issues during mobilization, but there is no evidence that 65-year-olds are being compulsorily drafted as regular conscripts[^5].
The claim conflates the maximum service age for senior officers (65) and voluntary enlistment for over-60s with general conscription. While 65-year-olds may serve in the military under specific circumstances (as senior officers or volunteers), they are not being "drafted" as conscripts in the ordinary sense.
**Overall validity**: 25%
[^1]:
[Country policy and information note: military service, Ukraine ...](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ukraine-country-policy-and-information-notes/country-policy-and-information-note-military-service-ukraine-june-2022-accessible)
[^2]:
[Ukraine: Zelenskyy to allow over-60s enlist in military](https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-zelenskyy-signs-law-for-over-60s-to-join-military/live-73445167)
[^3]:
[Zelensky signs law allowing citizens over 60 to join military during wartime](https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-signs-law-allowing-over-60s-to-join-military-during-wartime)
[^4]:
[Ukraine's 'grandfathers' go to war - Le Monde](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/02/04/ukraine-s-grandfathers-go-to-war_6750151_4.html)
[^5]:
[Conscription in Ukraine - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription_in_Ukraine)
### 9. The average age of soldiers in the Armed Forces of Ukraine is 47 years. — 25%
Model: Kimi K2.6 · Checked on: 19/06/2026 · Detail: /claim/di2BFfZfVqw6Kk3JpJXZ
The claim that the average age of soldiers in the Armed Forces of Ukraine is 47 years is largely inaccurate.
**Reasoning:**
- The most recent credible reporting indicates the average age is approximately 43–45 years, not 47. As of early 2025, Ukrainian military journalism outlet Frontliner reported the average age of the Ukrainian military ranged from 43 to 45 years[^1].
- By February 2026, the French newspaper Le Monde reported that the Ukrainian army's average age on the battlefield was 45, far older than European standards which hover around 30[^2].
- In late 2024, one of President Zelenskyy's close aides told Time magazine that the average age of a Ukrainian soldier had reached 43[^3].
- The average age has risen sharply since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, when it was estimated at 30–35 years[^4][^3].
- While the claim correctly identifies that the Ukrainian military is aging rapidly and is now composed of significantly older personnel compared to the start of the war, the specific figure of 47 years is higher than any verified estimate from credible sources.
**Overall validity: 25%**
[^1]:
[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/DV0ZsXDjDSl)
[^2]:
[Ukraine's 'grandfathers' go to war](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/02/04/ukraine-s-grandfathers-go-to-war_6750151_4.html)
[^3]:
[Average Age of Ukrainian Soldiers Is Past 40 and That Could Be a Problem | Russia Matters](https://www.russiamatters.org/blog/average-age-ukrainian-soldiers-past-40-and-could-be-problem)
[^4]:
[Old men belong here. How Ukrainian Armed Forces have become 40+ age army and whether lowering mobilisation age will affect combat capability | Ukrainska Pravda](https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/articles/2024/05/16/7455980)
### 10. Moscow’s profit in recent months exceeded its profit in 2025. — 20%
Model: Kimi K2.6 · Checked on: 19/06/2026 · Detail: /claim/VvflwxlhJio0rv8csVqU
Based on my investigation, I can analyze this claim:
**Reasoning:**
- The claim is ambiguous because "Moscow" could refer to either the city government or the Moscow Exchange (stock exchange), and "profit in recent months" is being compared against "profit in 2025" (a full year), which is an apples-to-oranges comparison.
- If referring to the **city of Moscow**, evidence shows the opposite trend. Moscow's revenue growth slowed to just 2% in the first two months of 2026, well below the planned 6.5%, prompting the city to implement a 10% cut in investments and 15% reduction in municipal staff to address budget problems[^1].
- If referring to the **Moscow Exchange**, Q1 2026 net profit of 17.2 billion rubles did exceed Q1 2025's 13.0 billion rubles, but this compares a single quarter to a full calendar year, which is misleading[^2].
- Russia's overall business profits fell 8.3% (1.6 trillion rubles) between January and August 2025, indicating a broader economic slowdown that would affect Moscow-based businesses[^3].
- Moscow's planned budget income for 2026 is projected at 4,933 billion rubles compared to 4,597 billion rubles in 2025, but these are planned/annual figures, not actual recent-month profits[^4].
- The article about wealthy Moscow cutting investment explicitly states this reveals "Russia's deeper budget problems," contradicting the notion that Moscow's profits are exceeding previous levels[^1].
**Conclusion:** The claim is misleading and likely false. The most natural interpretation (Moscow city government) is contradicted by evidence of budget constraints and spending cuts. The comparison structure (months vs. full year) is inherently flawed.
**Overall validity**: 20%
[^1]:
[Wealthy Moscow cuts investment, revealing Russia's deeper budget problems](https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/wealthy-moscow-cuts-investment-revealing-060235134.html)
[^2]:
[Moscow Exchange announces results for the first quarter of 2026 | Новости и пресс-релизы](https://www.moex.com/n100231)
[^3]:
[Russia’s Economic Growth Slows for Third Straight Quarter – Ministry Data - The Moscow Times](https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/10/30/russias-economic-growth-slows-for-third-straight-quarter-ministry-data-a90994)
[^4]:
[Moscow budget income & expenditure 2026| Statista](https://www.statista.com/statistics/1411179/moscow-budget-income-and-expenditure)