BBC Verify Live: Authenticating strikes in Russian-occupied Ukraine

Peter Mwai
BBC Verify senior journalist

We have been looking at video footage said to show the wreckage of a small plane on fire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which is reported to have been bombed while on the ground by the country’s air force in a rebel-held area.

The Congo River Alliance (AFC), an alliance of several rebel groups (including the M23), says the plane had been transporting humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, destined for Minembwe in South Kivu province when it was hit.

The incident comes just few days after the DR Congo and Rwanda – accused of backing the M23 rebels – signed a peace agreement in Washington.

Satellite imagery in the area is very patchy and old, which makes it challenging to find an exact match for what we see in the video.

But by using two images of the wreckage filmed during daytime – which began appearing online today – we can draw matches between the wreckage of the plane and the positioning of the debris.

We also get a clearer view of a mountain range in the background, roughly seen in the early morning video, which matches with the mountain we see in the background from the Minembwe airstrip.

This, however, does not mean the footage is verified, as we haven’t yet isolated the exact location where the wreckage was filmed.

It is not clear where the plane was flying from and the Congolese government says it wasn’t registered. We have done reverse image search to be sure the video and images are current.

Ben Chu
BBC Verify policy and analysis correspondent

Rachel Reeves told the House of Commons at Treasury questions today that “business confidence is now at a nine-year high”, citing the Lloyds Business Barometer.

That claim is correct, but needs context.

The latest Lloyds release, external shows 64% of 1,200 businesses surveyed in June 2025 reported confidence was higher and 13% said it was lower, giving a net “balance of confidence” figure of 51% for the month – the highest since 2015.

However, other indicators of UK business confidence show a weaker picture.

A business economic confidence index of 449 firms compiled by the Institute of Directors (which ranges between a maximum of 100 and a minimum of -100) fell back to -53 in June 2025.

The index had been in positive territory when Labour came to power in July 2024.

The Bank of England’s network, external of regional agents also points to a subdued, rather than buoyant, picture of business confidence.

The agents’ report for the second quarter (April to June) of 2025 said “several uncertainties are weighing on the confidence needed to commit to future investment plans.”

Tom Edgington
BBC Verify senior journalist

This afternoon, the government will release the latest small boat crossing figures – showing the number of migrants that have crossed the Channel this way.

There’s speculation that numbers may reach 20,000 so far this year.

The most recent figures we have show that, as of 29 June, 19,103 people had arrived in the UK on small boats in 2025 – up by around 42% compared with this time last year.

This is despite the government’s pledge to “smash the gangs” by disrupting the people-smugglers that facilitate the crossings.

We’ll bring you more on this later today, but you can also read our previous work on this topic, where we’ve been tracking the government’s pledges on illegal migration and asylum.

Matt Murphy
BBC Verify senior journalist

One of BBC Verify’s key roles is authenticating clips and images circulating online – such as the footage we’ve been looking at from Russian-occupied Ukraine today.

We do this by examining features in the clips which could help locate the images and verify whether it is where the poster says it is.

Landmarks such as trees, signs and even road or footpath layouts can give clues about where a clip is.

They are then cross-referenced with other images we already know are from the location, such as images online and satellite data.

We will also run the video through a reverse image search to establish when the footage first appeared online.

If the clip has not previously appeared in search results that is a good indication that it is new.

Joshua Cheetham
BBC Verify journalist

We’re continuing to monitor updates out of Gaza, after a wave of Israeli attacks across the strip yesterday – including a strike on a seafront cafe in Gaza City, which killed 20 people, according to medics and eyewitnesses.

On Monday, we verified 10 videos of the aftermath of strikes at various sites including two near al-Aqsa Martyr’s Hospital.

We also verified graphic footage from a strike in the densely populated eastern neighbourhood of Zeitoun, in Gaza City.

In a statement the IDF said that the Israeli Air Force “struck over 140 terror targets in the Gaza Strip”, including weapon storage facilities and “military structures”.

Regarding the beachside cafe strikes, the Israeli military said in a statement that it targeted Hamas operatives, but it did not identify them.

• Read our main news story from Monday that reports on the Israeli strike on a Gaza seafront cafe

Tom Edgington
BBC Verify senior journalist

It’s set to be another hot day in parts of the UK, with temperatures in the south-east of England expected to climb above 30C again.

Yesterday, London Heathrow reached a high of 33.1C – the hottest recorded temperature in the country.

Heathrow Airport has a long history of setting temperature records. In 2022, it became the first place in the UK to record a temperature of over 40C.

Back then, we looked into why it is so associated with setting high temperatures, with some people speculating that this is connected to all the planes constantly landing and taking off.

In fact, an expert in atmospheric science told us it was actually down to something called the “urban-heat island”. This is where cities with a lot of buildings, roads and concrete absorb more heat from the sun compared with the countryside.

Heathrow – with its large black asphalt runways and airport buildings – naturally absorbs more heat.

The airport is based in London, which is also very built-up, further contributing to the urban heat island effect.

• Continue reading about why Heathrow is so hot

Ben Chu and Tom Edgington
BBC Verify

The government has confirmed details of its scaled-back plan to reform health and disability benefits, following pressure from Labour MPs.

However, government analysis, external on the impact of welfare reforms that are still planned estimates that an extra 150,000 people will end up in “relative poverty” as a result.

BBC Verify has been looking at how many people claim these benefits.

In 2019, almost three million working-age adults (those aged 16 to 64) in England and Wales claimed either disability or incapacity benefit – 1 in 13 of the population.

As of March 2025, that had grown to about 4 million or 1 in 10 of the population, according to research, external from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS).

This rise has been fuelled by claimants citing mental health conditions.

According to IFS data, external the ‘mental and behavioural disorders’ category (which includes conditions such as ADHD) accounted for 44% of all claims in 2024 – up from around 39% in 2015.

• Continue reading our piece that looks at what has been driving the rise in disability benefit claims

Emma Pengelly
BBC Verify journalist

We’re looking into reports of Ukrainian strikes being carried out in parts of Russian-occupied Ukraine overnight.

So far we’ve verified five videos filmed in the hours of darkness, which show the aftermath of an attack in the city of Donetsk.

One shows emergency workers climbing over debris and rubble of a destroyed building. Other footage shows two buildings on fire in Pratsi Avenue, one of them a multi-storey block, and first responders trying to put out flames.

A further clip, which we have not yet verified, appears to show a possible moment of impact – a fiery explosion is visible, and you can hear what sounds like a blast.

Local Ukrainian media are reporting that a Russian military site was struck. The Moscow-installed leader of the region claims civilians were harmed in the attack, and says one woman was killed while a teenage boy and man were injured.

We have not been able to confirm those specific claims, but we have verified a video which appears to show a lifeless body covered by a sheet near the scene of the fire and damage.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence has not yet commented on the reported attack in Donetsk, but has said about 60 drones were downed in Crimea and parts of Russia overnight on Tuesday.

Johanna Chisholm
Live page editor

Good morning and welcome to our daily coverage at BBC Verify Live.

Here’s what we’re looking at today:

• Our team of video verifiers are investigating footage from Russian-occupied Ukraine, where attacks have been reported in the city of Donetsk
• Our fact-check team is looking at various claims that are being made about people being approved for disability benefits
• And later, we’ll turn our attention to the Commons, where MPs will vote on the government’s planned reforms to welfare – dozens of Labour MPs are still planning to vote against them

If you’ve seen something you think BBC Verify should investigate then contact us via this form.