Viral Video Alleging June 2025 Explosion in Moscow Is Misleading

A viral video making rounds on social media purports to show a recent explosion in Moscow on June 2, 2025, allegedly caused by a Ukrainian strike. However, we found that this claim is misleading, the footage in question is not recent and is unrelated to current events in Moscow.

Social Media Posts

The viral video shows a massive nighttime explosion, claiming it occurred in Moscow last night. This footage and its associated claims have spread rapidly across multiple social media platforms.

Source | Archive

Source | Archive

Fact Check

Our investigation using reverse image search revealed that this footage has been available online since at least December 2023, disproving claims that it was captured in June 2025.

The original video was posted on ABC News (Australia) YouTube channel on December 27, 2023, titled “Russia says naval ship in Crimea was damaged in air strike by Ukrainian forces.”

According to multiple credible sources, the video captures the aftermath of a Ukrainian missile strike on the Novocherkassk landing ship at the port of Feodosia, Crimea — more than 1,700 kilometers from Moscow.

The strike reportedly caused a large explosion triggered by onboard ammunition and resulted in at least one fatality. Ukrainian officials confirmed that the attack involved cruise missiles supplied by the UK and France, and targeted a vessel used to transport tanks and troops. This was part of a broader Ukrainian campaign against Russian military assets in Crimea. (Source: Reuters)

Current Escalations in the Russia–Ukraine War

While Ukraine and Russia have engaged in dramatic military escalations recently, none of the June 2025 incidents match the content of the viral video.

On June 1, 2025, Ukraine launched one of its most extensive cross-border operations, deploying 117 drones deep into Russian territory. The strikes targeted airbases across five regions, reaching as far as Siberia and the Arctic, and reportedly damaged or destroyed multiple strategic bombers. (Sources: New York Times, Axios)

In retaliation, Russia carried out its largest combined drone and missile assault to date, launching over 400 drones and several missiles, inflicting damage on both civilian and military targets across Ukraine.

At the same time, peace talks resumed in Istanbul, but with limited success. Ukraine proposed a 90-day ceasefire and humanitarian actions, including the return of Ukrainian children taken by Russia. However, Russia rejected the proposals and demanded sweeping territorial and political concessions. (Source: Reuters)

Conclusion

The viral video’s claim of a recent Moscow explosion is misleading. The footage is not a recent explosion in Moscow from June 2025. Instead, it shows footage from December 2023 when Ukraine struck a Russian naval ship in Crimea. While recent military escalations have occurred between Russia and Ukraine, including extensive drone strikes, this particular video is being shared with false context.