A screengrab taken from the viral video.

Gulf Today Report

News of President Vladimir Putin releasing nearly 800 lions and tigers on the streets of Russian cities went viral on social media.

The fake news, many believed was real, reported that the Russian president warned the citizens by unleashing the lions and tigers on the streets to stop them from going outside during the current coronavirus pandemic.

Many social media users believed that Putin also gave Russians a directive of staying at homes for two weeks or they could face a jail term of five years.

Russia has so far reported 438 infections, the majority of them in Moscow, its largest city with more than 12 million inhabitants.

However, later some Twitter users found out the video showing a lion on the street was actually taken during the year 2016 in South Africa. Another video also surfaced of a lion walking around at night in India, which many thought was taken in Russia. While the news is now confirmed as fake, it still went viral across social media platforms.

“Vladmir Putin has given Russians two options, you stay at home for two weeks or you go to jail for five years,” one user incorrectly informed his followers. “Putin has dropped 800 tigers and lions all over the country to push people to stay at home, stay safe everyone!”

Some Twitter users couldn’t believe that so many believed the news. “I really didn’t know I have to tweet this, but the overflow of this image on WhatsApp and social media has moved me to tell Russia didn’t leave lions on road to quarantine people at homes,” one user pointed out.

“My country, they will eat the tiger,” a Russian Twitter user said in reply. “This is a joke right,” another person replied in confusion.

Meanwhile, a fake Twitter account of US President Donald Trump also created some hype around the fake video.

“I must congratulate my good friend Vladimir Putin for his bold steps to enforce national lockdown in Russia! He has released LIONS onto the streets! Actual lions! This is NOT a joke! Bravo Vladimir, bravo! #COVIDー19.”

Safe to say, there are no lions and tigers running around on the streets of Russia and Twitter can now rest easy.