Video caption falsely claims Zelenskyy signed bombs for Gaza
The video actually shows him at a U.S. factory supporting Ukraine's defense needs
CLAIM
Posts claimed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed artillery shells destined to be dropped on Gaza during a visit to a Pennsylvania munitions factory.
BACKGROUND
A video and still images shared online were described as showing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signing artillery shells destined for use in Gaza by Israel.
One version of video was circulated online at the beginning of March with the caption: “For those feeling sorry for Volodymyr Zelensky, here’s the Ukrainian President signing bombs to be dropped on innocent Gazans”. The video had been shared close to 4,000 times and viewed more than 700,000 at the time of publishing.
The video, and screenshots from the video, were shared with similar captions across multiple platforms in March 2025.
“I’ve got zero sympathy or respect for this Zionist puppet!!” one Facebook user wrote while another on Bluesky wrote“Libs love Zelensky. But I don’t, because I don’t forget. #FreePalestine”.
The video was also shared on X with one writing “NEVER FORGET!! Zelensky signing bombs that killed Palestinian women and children”.
METHOD
The video of Zelenskyy and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signing artillery shells began to circulate online following an eventful meeting at the White House between Zelenskyy, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance on February 28 which turned into a near-shouting match. During the meeting, Trump told Zelenskyy to make a deal with Russia to end the war in Ukraine. “You either make a deal or we are out,” Trump said. He also told Zelenskyy he was “gambling with World War III”.
A reverse Google Image search of a screen shot from the video however revealed that it was published several months before the fateful White House meeting.
Governor Josh Shapiro shared the video on September 23, 2024, with a caption referencing Ukraine’s war with Russia. “We must all do our part in the fight for freedom — from the workers in Scranton who make Pennsylvania the arsenal of democracy to the brave Ukrainian soldiers protecting their country. We stand with Ukraine in their just defense of their homeland in the face of Russian aggression,” Shapiro wrote.
A high resolution and longer version of the video was also found on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service website, posted on September 23, 2024. This version allowed us to see that Zelenskyy wrote “Glory to Ukraine” on one shell and “Thanks for Support” on another, both referencing Ukraine’s war with Russia and not Israel’s war in Gaza.
Information about Zelenskyy’s visit to the ammunition factory, as well as details on its operations, was provided on Ukraine’s official government website.
“The plant’s capacity is fully dedicated to meeting Ukraine’s needs, particularly for the production of 155mm shells, which has significantly increased over the past year,” the statement read.
A statement regarding the visit was also released on the U.S. Army website which confirmed the factory was being used to bolster Ukraine’s ammunition stockpile.
RATING
The video shows Zelenskyy visiting a munitions factory that produces armaments for the Ukrainian Security and Defense Forces, not Israel. It was published five months before the February 2025 meeting and a longer version of the video reveals that Zelenskyy’s handwritten messages do not reference Ukraine’s war with Russia or Israel’s war in Gaza. Therefore, the video is miscaptioned and misrepresented.
SOURCES
X (formerly Twitter). (2025). Available at: For those feeling sorry for Volodymyr Zelensky [Accessed 13 Mar. 2025].
Facebook. (2025). Available at: I’ve got zero sympathy or respect for this Zionist puppet [Accessed 13 Mar. 2025].
Bluesky. (2025) Available at: Libs love Zelensky [Accessed 13 Mar. 2025].
X (formerly Twitter). (2025). Available at: Zelensky signing bombs that killed Palestinian women and children [Accessed 13 Mar. 2025].
Politico. (2025) Available at: Trump and Vance attack Zelenskyy [Accessed 13 Mar. 2025].
X (formerly Twitter). (2025). Available at: We must all do our part in the fight for freedom [Accessed 13 Mar. 2025].
DVIDS. (2025) Available at: Ukrainian President visits Scranton Army Ammunition Plant [Accessed 13 Mar. 2025].
ukraine.gov (2025) Available at: President Visited Scranton Army Ammunition Plant [Accessed 13 Mar. 2025].
army.mil (2025) Available at: Ukrainian President Zelenskyy tours Scranton Army Ammunition Plant [Accessed 13 Mar. 2025].