No, Time magazine didn’t publish a Putin-Hitler cover

A fake Time magazine cover comparing Russian President Vladimir Putin to Adolph Hitler went viral in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Let’s take a look at the facts.

NewsLit takeaway

Digital artwork often circulates out of context, particularly when it connects with a controversial or highly emotional issue — and the iconic nature of Time magazine covers makes them a common target for artists and fabricators (see here, here, here and here). Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to launch an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation around the globe and prompted comparisons to Adolph Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939. This likely factored into the speed with which this image spread across the web, in many cases without the designer’s digital signature — “By Patrick Mulder” — in the bottom right corner. No matter how much a purported magazine cover may resonate or conflict with your views and beliefs, it’s always a good idea to confirm its authenticity before spreading it.

Related: “How To Spot a Fake TIME Cover” (D.W. Pine, Time).

• “Fact check: Fake Time magazine cover compares Vladimir Putin to Adolf Hitler” (Bayliss Wagner, USA Today).