Draft · subject to editorial review
Methodology
How VERKLÄRT classifies information and draws the map.
Evidence levels
Every figure and claim carries one of five evidence levels. The level is separate from the format of the source (for example a news report or an official statement) and from who made the claim (for example a government or an armed group).
- Documented data
documented_data - From an established dataset or official record, cited with source and data date. Not independently checked by VERKLÄRT.
- Editorially verified
editorially_verified - Checked by a VERKLÄRT editor against primary documents or several independent, credible sources.
- Preliminary
preliminary - Provisional information that is likely to be revised, such as early casualty counts or candidate datasets.
- Unconfirmed
unconfirmed - Reported, but not yet supported by independent evidence.
- Disputed
disputed - Credible sources contradict each other. The positions are shown side by side.
Borders and disputed areas
Borders on the Atlas follow Natural Earth, a public-domain map dataset that shows boundaries as they are administered on the ground.
This is a cartographic convention, not a position on which claim is legitimate.
Areas whose sovereignty is contested are marked with diagonal hatching. Selecting one shows its name and that it is disputed. Where VERKLÄRT covers a dispute, the relevant profile sets out the positions of the parties and the sources.