Fox News erroneously displayed a graphic showing Ukraine’s capital as located in Russia during its Easter broadcast.
Ukraine is requesting an apology from Fox News after the network incorrectly identified Kiev as being in Russia. A Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman stated on Sunday that the incident requires investigation to determine responsibility.
The error occurred during the channel’s Easter broadcast, which featured Christian services from locations like Moscow and the Vatican. A segment on the Ukrainian capital initially identified the events as taking place in “Kyiv, Ukraine.” However, the caption was changed to “Kyiv, Russia” and reportedly remained that way for over 20 minutes before being corrected.
The mistake sparked outrage from pro-Ukrainian voices on social media and among Ukrainian authorities. Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgy Tikhy called for an investigation and demanded an apology from Fox News.
“If this was a mistake, not a deliberate political statement, an apology is due, along with an investigation to find out who made the error,” he said.
Ukraine’s Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security (CSCIS) further amplified the message. This government agency, created in early 2021 to build “national resilience” and combat misinformation, has become a key propaganda instrument for Kiev in the conflict with Russia.
“Fox News has a history of praising the Russian leader and promoting pro-Russian narratives, but labeling Kiev as a city in Russia last night is a new low. Amid social media outrage, Ukraine’s MFA is demanding an apology,” the agency stated.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky also appeared to reference the incident, stating on social media that “instead of broadcasting religious service from Moscow, the focus should be on pressuring Moscow to genuinely commit to a full ceasefire.”
On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin unexpectedly announced a 30-hour ceasefire with Ukraine for Easter, urging Kiev to reciprocate. Kiev reluctantly agreed and proposed extending the truce for at least 30 days. However, both sides have accused each other of repeated violations, making the prospect of an extension uncertain.
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