VoxCheck is a fact-checking project of Ukrainian a legally registered non-profit organization VoxUkraine. It is stated on the website herehttps://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/home-eng.html or https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/. The information is available in English and Ukrainian. The certificate of registration as a non-profit organization is attached below. 

VoxCheck newsroom team is part of VoxUkraine online analytical portal. VoxUkraine is officially registered in Ukraine entity. The Statute of VoxUkraine clearly states fact-checking initiative and distribution of this information as specific activity of the organization. VoxCheck was established and designed exactly for Fact-checking purposes and publications.

1.VoxCheck was established in 2016 due to widespread political misinformation, a low level of critical thinking, and a lack of fact-checking efforts in Ukraine.

2. There are 19 core members of the VoxCheck team (VoxUkraine CEO, VoxUkraine CTO, Head of VoxCheck, Chief Accountant, Financial Manager, Deputy Head of VoxCheck, 4 Senior Analysts, 1 Analyst, 3 Junior Analysts, Content-Creator, Website Administrator, Head of the Multimedia Department, Multimedia Producer, Graphic designer). One can find them and their positions here https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/home-eng.html or https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/ . The information is available in English and Ukrainian

3. The organization's main activities are exposing Russian lies, debunking fakes from social networks, and fighting against Russian disinformation. We also create explainers to show complex things in simple words and work on developing critical thinking.

4. The main objectives for the coming year are to:

a) continuously monitor and refute the growing Russian disinformation both in Ukrainian and European media spaces;

b) expand the partnership with foreign organizations that focus on fact-checking and Russian disinformation;

c ) develop an educational program for regional media to strengthen their fact-checking capabilities and form a network of fact-checkers from regions

d) continue the internship program for students to develop their critical thinking and find more talents to join VoxCheck.

VoxCheck had been launched at 2016 in Kyiv. 19 staff-members are working on fact-checking, publishing the claims analysis results of a wide range of topics. 

The goal of VoxCheck is providing reliable information debunking disinformation mainly produced by Russian propaganda machine.

The objectives and plans of activities for the upcoming year are focused on countering Russian disinformation spread by Ukrainian and European media, expanding educational program targeted on different audiences and continue students internship program.

Since October 1, 2022 (the last mentioned period during the application) till October 31, 2023), we have published 1260 materials on the website. Most of them include debunking of fakes or Russian disinformation or debunking of health-related disinformation. We also published explainers and digests of Russian disinformation in six European countries. For the indicated period, it is approximately 22 publications per week.

One can find the debunking publications here https://voxukraine.org/category/voxcheck-uk/ and other types of publications here https://voxukraine.org/tag/voxcheck/ . The information is predominantly in Ukrainian, although publications are translated into Russian or English.

Also, fact-checks of politicians are made publicly available through our database Anthology of Lie (https://nepravda.org). This year we have created two additional databases. The first one, the Propaganda Diary, covers disinformation in six European countries (Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Czechia and Hungary) over the almost two years. It is available at https://russiandisinfo.voxukraine.org/en /. The second one, Propaganda Detox, is devoted to the analysis of disinformation on healthcare. It is also located on a separate website https://medfakes.voxukraine.org/ . 

VoxCheck publishes fact-check reports on a regular basis up to 60 publications per day. All stories are located on https://voxukraine.org/category/voxcheck-uk/ and https://voxukraine.org/authors/komanda-voxcheck that have a user-friendly search engine. 

Last year plans of the focus on disinformation in healthcare resulted with the creation of https://medfakes.voxukraine.org/

Another planned initiative is the database of propaganda narratives and debunked disinformation is located at https://russiandisinfo.voxukraine.org/en 

Random analysis of the 6 month publications topics on the website showed that VoxCheck mainly is focusing on the Russian full-scale invasion to Ukraine issues which are vital for Ukrainian society. The publications are targeted on verifying facts and debunking disinformation related to the war and other topics that have a direct impact on public welfare and people life.

VoxCheck is a part of VoxUkraine — a non-profit organization that aims at diversifying its funding. We have no commercial, financial and/or institutional relationship with the state, politicians, or political parties in the country or countries we cover.

According to the Policies and Procedures Manual (attached below), the size of a single grant should not be greater than 33% of the organization’s annual budget and funding from a single private individual should not be greater than 10% of the organization’s annual budget.

The report for 2021-2022 is available on VoxUkraine website: https://voxukraine.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/VoxUkraine-Report-for-2021-2022.pdf

All previous reports are also published on the website: https://voxukraine.org/about-us

Since 2020, as Third-Party Fact-Checking Program partners, we have received financing from Meta, and in 2021, Meta's arrangement constituted 61% of VoxUkraine’s revenues. However, (1) Meta's arrangement is more like a service than a grant — we don't report how we spend money; (2) We save much of this money and we have a lot of other sources of funds; (3) Meta does not influence our policies.

In 2022, Meta's arrangement constituted only 6% of VoxUkraine’s revenues due to raising grants from new donors (USAID Health Reform Support, DT Institute, DRI etc.).

VoxUkraine raises project-aimed and institutional funds from donor organizations if funding conditions and potential projects help to implement our mission. If a donor (private individual or entity) who financially supported VoxUkraine did not state the anonymity preference, his\her name (or name of the entity) would be stated in VoxUkraine’s annual financial report. If a donor expressed an anonymity preference or did not want to reveal the amount of money donated, VoxUkraine would not disclose such information.

Based on the Policies and Procedures Manual and randomly selected stories analysis it is evident that VoxCheck works as fully independent of any state and political influence and control having no relations with local state ad political actors, and not supporting any political party or candidate.

VoxCheckhas strict rules regarding funding and being supported by a number of international donors has the funding sources well diversified.

1. According to the Policy and Procedure Manual of VoxUkraine (attached below), donors and editorial policy is the following. No donor shall intervene in the VoxUkraine editorial policy or influence VoxUkraine content in any way. If a donor tries to influence VoxUkraine content or its other activities, members of the Editorial Board must be notified. If the majority of the Editorial Board thinks that a donor has an undue influence on the editorial process, any member of the Editorial Board or management of VoxUkraine shall consult the Ethical Committee, which would decide on this matter.

2. VoxCheck is a signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network Code of Principles. It means that we are independent of any external interference. It is also stated in the "VoxCheck Independence" section: https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/home-eng.html or https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/ . The information is available in English and Ukrainian.

VoxCheck has strong indication in the Policy manual regarding editorial independence. The money provided by the foreign donors does not affect editorial policy. This is clearly described in the statement of editorial independence on the page https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org

At the bottom of each factcheck story there is a statement: "The authors are not employees, do not advise, do not own shares and do not receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and are not affiliated in any way with them."

In our work, we look into the lies and manipulations about different representatives of the political sphere. Hence, we have materials concentrating on the claims solely about the Ukrainian governmental representatives or the opposition representatives. We have published fact-checks on Western politicians as well. VoxCheck is impartial in its fact-checks. Our assessment does not depend on their political status or preference.

We have also counter narratives used by Russia in its disinformation campaigns, be it fakes about the Russian full-scale invasion in Ukraine, fakes on public health issues or conspiracy theories.

Examples of the materials on the government/president/ruling party in the parliament:

1. https://voxukraine.org/manipulyatsiya-foto-elitnogo-vagona-u-yakomu-peresuvayetsya-zelenskyj 

2. https://voxukraine.org/fejky-shhodo-systemy-ohorony-zdorov-ya-derzhava-marno-vytrachaye-na-ministerstvo-ohorony-zdorov-ya-ukrayiny-6-milyardiv-na-rik-vypusk-59 

Examples of materials on the opposition:

3. https://voxukraine.org/nepravda-sajt-poroshenka-publikuye-ukrayinski-vtraty-pid-chas-kontrnastupu

4. https://voxukraine.org/fejk-avakov-zayavyv-shho-stav-zhertvoyu-zelenyh-represij/

Examples of materials on Western politicians:

5. https://voxukraine.org/manipulyatsiya-kennedi-molodshyj-pidtverdzhuye-rozrobku-biozbroyi-v-ukrayini

6. https://voxukraine.org/nepravda-u-ssha-na-zakonodavchomu-rivni-dozvoleno-torguvaty-ditmy

Examples of materials on Russia disinformation narratives:

7. https://voxukraine.org/zradnytska-mimikriya-kolaboranty-vtikachi-v-moskvi-propaguyut-myrnyj-plan-vid-imeni-ukrayinskogo-narodu

8. https://voxukraine.org/vse-nove-tse-dobre-zabute-stare-abo-chomu-rosiya-dosi-krychyt-pro-tayemni-biolaboratoriyi-ssha-v-ukrayini

Examples of materials on health-related disinformation or misinformation:

9. https://voxukraine.org/nepravda-v-ukrayini-legalizuyut-rekreatsijnyj-kanabis-a-mehanizm-kontrolyu-za-obigom-preparativ-iz-tsiyeyi-roslyny-ne-propysanyj

10. https://voxukraine.org/nepravda-pid-pryvodom-pidgotovky-do-novoyi-pandemiyi-vooz-uzurpuye-vladu

For our fact-checks, we take only those statements that contain facts or figures. All fact-checks are double-checked by the VoxCheck team and go through the peer-review procedure, which means that at least two editors from the VoxUkraine Editorial Board read our fact-checks and give comments (also noted in the Policies and Procedures Manual). No article, except those on debunking fakes, can be published until signed off by two editors. The pieces on debunking fakes are signed off and approved for publication by two members of the VoxCheck team, who have not been involved in the writing process.

While fact-checking or debunking fakes, we use information from official and reliable sources that one can find on the web. These sources may include information from:

• governmental institutions (e.g. CDC, Eurostat, State Statistics Service of Ukraine, etc.);
• fact-checkers from governmental institutions of Ukraine (The Center for Countering Disinformation, The Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security) and foreign fact-checkers, including IFCN signatories;
• international organizations (e.g. the UN, the EU, NATO etc.);
• reputable think tanks and pooling organizations (e.g. NISS, Razumkov Centre, Pew Research Center, Center for Strategic and International Studies etc.);
• governmental and non-governmental institutions providing information on the Russian invasion (General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and similar institutions from other countries (UK, US), Institute for the Study of War, Come Back Alive Foundation);
• official information from companies, associations, and foundations (e.g. Pfizer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation);
• media with high factual reporting standards, including IFCN signatories (e.g. AFP, Associated Press, Reuters, etc.);
• OSINT investigators (e.g. Bellingcat, Oryx, GeoConfirmed, InformNapalm, DeepStateUA);
• peer-reviewed academic articles.

We do not fact-check if we cannot find publicly available proof. If the information needed for the fact-check may be requested from the authorities or non-governmental institutions, we can do so provided that we make this information publicly available. In this way, we ensure that the readers can click-and-check each fact-check.

All the links to the sources are embedded in the fact-checks. One can see that on our website or databases on disinformation: https://voxukraine.org/category/voxcheck-uk , https://nepravda.org/ , https://russiandisinfo.voxukraine.org/ , https://medfakes.voxukraine.org/ . 

The fact-checks provided in the links shows that VoxCheck elects broad variety of topics to bee checked. It is applying equal standards and professional approach in both selecting the topics and claims in an unbiased way as well as doing fact-checking of the claims.

Information about the fact-checking process and possible verdicts is described on our website. The information is available both in Ukrainian and English here: https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/home-eng.html                            

The selection claims for fact-checking as well as assessment methodology are described on https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/home-eng.html  It states that VoxCheck does not unduly concentrate fact-checking on any one side keeping unbiased attitude to all claims and topics. 

The assessment of randomly selected VoxVheck fact-checks published during previous year shows that, while producing fact-checking stories, VoxCheck team notices sources status in the publication. The sources used by VoxCheck to confirm facts are neutral, factual and don't influence the accuracy of the factcheck, so the reader might reasonably conclude the interests could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided. This helps the reader to understand if the source has a specific interest and gives a deeper understanding of the story context.

Evaluation of randomly selected VoxCheck fact-checks published during last year proves unbiased approach and no support of any political party or politician, publications reviewed are neither supporting any policy nor advocating any political initiative.

Our commitment to Nonpartisanship and Fairness, as well as a statement that any member of VoxCheck does not belong to any political party and does not represent the interests of any politician or authority, is stated here https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/home-eng.html or here https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/.

VoxUkraine (which is an organization for the VoxCheck project) is a non-partisan NGO. This principle is noted in the Policies and Procedures Manual of the organization. VoxUkraine also demands all editors, board members, and employees to disclose any potential conflict of interest (Policies and Procedures Manual). Thus, each article, including fact-checks published on the VoxUkraine website, contains a disclaimer on potential conflict of interest or its absence. Also, none of the VoxUkraine governing bodies (General Meeting and Supervisory Board) is a political party member.

At the moment, none of our employees is a political party member.

It is also written in our ethical principles here https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/home-eng.html or https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/ . The information is available in English and Ukrainian.

Policies and Procedures Manual explains the key criteria of non-partisanship preventing possible conflict of interest or support of political parties or any kind of bias or partisanship.

Each publication also contains a disclaimer on Nonpartisanship and absence of potential conflict of interest.

Assessment of randomly selected fact checks published during previous year shows that in all cases VoxCheck discloses the sources of information that prove or undermine facts and claims that are checked including providing direct links to reliable information or source . The fact-check stories are structured as step-by-step guidance that gives the audience the opportunity to replicate the fact check on their own.

Assessment of randomized sample of fact checks of previous year stories proves that in most of cases VoxCheck is using primary sources, mostly official public data or documents to prove the facts in the publications. in case the primary source is not available, VoxCheck clearly explains the reason of using secondary source.

Analysis of the randomly selected content proves VoxCheck is always practicing double-check and is looking for more than one source providing confirmation in case the claims that are checked can be proven by several different sources. 

The audience of Voxcheck might reasonably conclude the interests could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided The assessment of the content, proves the unbiased approach, using neutral sources for verification of claims. In case of quoting politicians VoxCheck clearly notices the interest of these sources for the transparency and understanding of the context.

The document verifying the non-profit status of VoxUkraine is attached (available in Ukrainian). 

VoxCheck newsroom is part of VoxUkraine analytical portal, an independent non-profit, non-government organization. Annual reports published on https://voxukraine.org/about-us/ have detailed information about sources of revenue and expenses. Thus the annual report for 2022 https://voxukraine.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/VoxUkraine-Report-for-2021-2022.pdf shows the structure of funding sources and names 14 donors provided support during a year.

The document provided with the application is suitable proof of the Non-profit independent status of the VoxUkraIne.

The information about the non-profitability of VoxUkraine, and consequently VoxCheck, is indicated several times on our website here https://voxukraine.org/en/about-us or here https://voxukraine.org/about-us/ and is available in English and Ukrainian. 

The VoxCheck section of the main VoxUkraine page https://voxukraine.org/voxcheck/  has notification that VoxUkraine is implementing the VoxCheck project as well as direct link to the VoxCheck webpage and information about partners and Etihcal standards used by the editorial office.

The information about the organizational structure and editorial control is mentioned on our website. The following information is available in Ukrainian and English here: https://voxukraine.org/en/about-us/ and https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/home-eng.html

The organizational structure and system of editorial control of VoxCheck are clearly described here https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/home-eng.html, here https://voxukraine.org/voxcheck and here https://voxukraine.org/about-us  

Information about the VoxCheck team and editorial board is available in English (https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/home-eng.html) and in Ukrainian (https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/) . 

Professional biographies of all members are indicated under the photos. 

All information about the editorial board and newsroom team including biographies is available at https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org and https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/home-eng.html     

We have a feedback form on our website (https://voxukraine.org/en/voxcheck/ or https://voxukraine.org/voxcheck/). Our email is indicated here https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/home-eng.htmll or https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/ . We are also open to communication on our social media. One can reach us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/VoxCheck/) through direct messages or in comments or Telegram through a feedback bot (@voxcheck_feedbackbot) or in comments (https://t.me/voxcheck). Our core team members are affiliated with VoxCheck on their Facebook and LinkedIn pages, so readers can find them and also write there. 

VoxCheck provides multiple user friendly tools to communicate with the editorial team through:

- feedback form on the website https://voxukraine.org/en/voxcheck/ or https://voxukraine.org/voxcheck/

- email at the website https://voxukraine.org/voxcheck/ ,

- special form named "Verify the quote" https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScE25T5l8pnj13_8kGpW741wXG9crdKcf-J3X7VaqceuxGj4g/viewform ,

- social media https://www.facebook.com/VoxCheck/ , @voxcheck_feedbackbot and https://t.me/voxcheck at Telegram.      

One can find our methodology here https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/home-eng.html or https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/. The information is available in English and Ukrainian.

In addition, VoxCheck publishes a methodology for each individual project implemented. For example, in 2022, VoxCheck developed and released a database of Russian disinformation narratives in the six European countries, "Propaganda Diary". One can find a description of the project and methodology here: https://russiandisinfo.voxukraine.org/en/about (available in 9 languages, including English).

Also in 2022, VoxCheck developed an online database of Russian disinformation about public health care in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia "Detox from Lies". One can find a description of the project here: https://medfakes.voxukraine.org/en/about . The information is available in Ukrainian, English and Russian. One can find the project methodology here: https://medfakes.voxukraine.org/en/method . The information is available in Ukrainian, English and Russian.

In 2022 VoxCheck presented research on Russian and pro-Russian Telegram channels which spread disinformation about Ukraine. We also indicate the methodology for this separate research. It is available in Ukrainian, English and Russian: https://narratives.voxukraine.org/en.html

In 2023, we developed a Manual for Interns which covers all main aspects of VoxCheck work: debunking fakes, monitoring disinformation and fact-checking politicians. The Manual is attached below. 

The description of fact-checking methodology is at https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/ as well as at https://russiandisinfo.voxukraine.org/en/about, here https://medfakes.voxukraine.org/en/method, and here https://narratives.voxukraine.org/en.html . These pages are providing detailed explanation of the methodology used by VoxCheck for class and publications verification.

Detailed manual is also in a file that applicant attached to the application.

The methodology of the fact-checking sets the criteria of the claims selection. Most of the fact check stories provided with the application were targeted at the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine and socially important topics focused on politics, public health, finances, social issues, international relations.

The methodology of the fact-checking sets the obligation in providing thorough analysis of the claim and looking for the facts that will prove the claim or undermine it. Assessment of randomly selected stories proves that the newsroom is seeking equality for both, proving and undermining claim facts and providing them to the readers so they can make a conscious decisions.

VoxCheck treats all the sources equally, applying unbiased and neutral approach to the sources of claims and the sources proving or undermining claims no matter the position or status of the person than made a claim.

Basing on the assessment of randomly selected stories published on previous year, it can be stated that VoxCheck newsroom is always seeking to contact those who made a claim to give the right to respond or explain, and use alternative sources explaining the reason why the person whose claim is verified is not presented in the story. 

A topic or quote for a fact check can be suggested by any of the readers in several ways.

VoxCheck encourages its readers and social media audience to send their fact-checking requests to our Facebook and Telegram pages, where we promptly respond to all offers of fact-checking materials.

Link to VoxCheck page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VoxCheck/?ref=page_internal

Link to VoxCheck channel on Telegram

https://t.me/voxcheck and feedback bot @voxcheck_feedbackbot

We also encourage our readers to contact us via email with any questions: voxcheck@gmail.com. They can also email us if they want to suggest a topic or piece of information for a fact check.

The VoxCheck team reviews each offer and performs a review in case of sufficient expertise and resources. In the opposite case, we will explain to the reader why we cannot take this or that material into work, particularly if the information offered to us cannot be verified on the basis of open sources. 

VoxCheck encourages audience to suggest claims for fact-checking and provides multiple tools to submit the claim for checking:

- email voxcheck@gmail.com,

- special form named "Verify the quote" https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScE25T5l8pnj13_8kGpW741wXG9crdKcf-J3X7VaqceuxGj4g/viewform  ,

- social media https://www.facebook.com/VoxCheck/ , @voxcheck_feedbackbot and https://t.me/voxcheck at Telegram.      

The section for Error recognition policy is available in English and Ukrainian on our website: https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/home-eng.html or https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/ . 

VoxCheck has a clearly written correction and complaints policy at https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/home-eng.html and https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/ 

VoxCheck correction and complaints policy meets the criteria and sets transparent and fair rules of identifying, treating, and correcting mistakes as well as correcting/updating verdicts and ratings.

In our article analyzing the “Manifesto for Peace” petition we indicated that German opposition proposes to abandon the supply of weapons to Ukraine. One of our readers indicated that not all opposition parties are against supporting Ukraine. Therefore, we changed the wording “the German opposition proposes” to “the Left Party proposes”, because in the text is about Sarah Wagenknecht, a representative of this party. We also added a note about the correction in the end of the article and showed the correction in the text. The article is available here in English: https://voxukraine.org/en/manifesto-for-peace-but-without-ukraine-fact-checking-of-russian-lies-in-europe/

In one of our fact-checks we refuted a fake that a separate recruitment is being conducted for LGBT community representatives to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Kherson and Mykolaiv regions. In the text of fact-check we mentioned the number of LGBT military personnel serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, representatives of NGO «Ukrainian LGBTIQ Military For Equal Rights» appealed to us to correct the data on the number of LGBT+ military personnel and asked to change absolute numbers to percentage. Sol, we changed the text of the article, showed the corrected sentence and added a note about the correction. Link to this fact-check: https://voxukraine.org/en/false-separate-recruitment-for-lgbt-representatives-to-the-armed-forces-of-ukraine-in-kherson-and-mykolaiv-regions

The examples provided by VoxCheck have clear evidences the correction and complaints policy of VoxCheck is thoroughly implemented, appropriately, honestly enforced, and applied in the cases where correction or update is needed. The corrections and updates were made in transparent and proper way.

Information about the signature of IFCN Code is indicated on the top of the website and in the section about independence of VoxCheck. It is mentioned in English and Ukrainian: https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/home-eng.html or https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/ . 

Information about the signature of IFCN Code is appropriately located at the VoxCheck front page https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/ and in the section https://voxcheck.voxukraine.org/home-eng.html or  .  It is available in English and Ukrainian.

VoxCheck is not a part of the media.

Since VoxUkraine is an analytical platform and not the media, this criteria is not applicable.