RNZ investigates false news account of Ukraine and Russian conflict

Friday, 9 June 2023

A story run by RNZ on the Russia and Ukraine war is being investigated after the media outlet published a false account of events.

RNZ is investigating after a story was published on its website with a false account of events in Ukraine.

The story, which originally ran on international news agency Reuters, appeared on RNZ with a pro-Russian view, on Thursday.

The original story explained the conflict began in 2014 when a “pro-Russian president was toppled and Russian-backed separatist forces annexed Crimea”.

RNZ’s version of the story had additional pro-Russian details on these events, which the company later said was “a false account of the events”.

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The story has since been corrected.

“RNZ is concerned and takes this matter extremely seriously.

“We are investigating and have taken appropriate action,” RNZ said in a Tweet on Friday.

No further comment would be made until the investigation and any resulting action was completed, a spokesperson said.