Category Narratives

How pro-Russian ‘yacht’ propaganda influenced US debate over Ukraine aid

A website founded by a former US Marine who now lives in Russia has fuelled a rumour that Volodymyr Zelensky purchased two luxury yachts with American aid money. Despite the false claim, the disinformation plot was successful. It took off online and was echoed by members of the US Congress making crucial decisions about military spending.

It was an incredible assertion - using two advisers as proxies, Mr Zelensky paid $75m (£59m) for two yachts. But not only has the Ukrainian government flatly denied the story, the two ships in question have not even been sold.

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No, Volodymyr Zelensky didn’t buy a villa in Florida

Did Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky buy a house in Florida? And did he get American citizenship? Those are the rumors circulating on social media along with a couple of photos. However, the villa that appears in the photos is still up for sale and the certificate of nationality is fake, making this the latest example of fake news stories implying that Ukrainian officials are using international aid money for personal purposes.

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No, Ukraine’s Zelensky did not buy a lavish mansion in Florida – Truth or Fake

A few days after Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Washington, social media accounts are claiming that the Ukrainian president recently bought a mansion in Florida. The posts show pictures of a lavish mansion and a document that looks like a US naturalisation certificate under his name. But both photos are fake: Zelensky did not buy a house in the US, nor did he become a US citizen.

Read MoreNo, Ukraine’s Zelensky did not buy a lavish mansion in Florida – Truth or Fake

Fake: Ukrainian Resort Bukovel Saves Guests from Mobilization for Money

In a comment to StopFake, the resort's press service denied the existence of such a service and noted that representatives of Territorial drafting centers have full access to the territory of Bukovel.

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Fact Check: Did Zelensky Buy $20 Million Mansion in Florida?

Although Zelensky and his business partners had several offshore companies and properties, according to financial documents leaked in 2021, none of those assets are in Florida.

And the Florida home that purportedly belongs to him actually belongs to a couple who bought the property more than four years ago.

Read MoreFact Check: Did Zelensky Buy $20 Million Mansion in Florida?

FACT CHECK: No, AP Did Not Run A Headline Calling Biden ‘Corrupt’ And Zelenskyy A ‘Dictator’ | Check Your Fact

There is no evidence that the AP ran such a headline. An AP spokesperson denied the claim.

Read MoreFACT CHECK: No, AP Did Not Run A Headline Calling Biden ‘Corrupt’ And Zelenskyy A ‘Dictator’ | Check Your Fact

US celebrities tricked into recording videos urging Zelensky to go to rehab – Truth or Fake

In a new Russian disinformation campaign uncovered by Microsoft, celebrities such as Elijah Wood, Priscilla Presley and Mike Tyson have been tricked into recording a video via the Cameo app that was later doctored and used for anti-Zelensky propaganda. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Read MoreUS celebrities tricked into recording videos urging Zelensky to go to rehab – Truth or Fake

Fake: Ukrainian Government Tried to Sell Scythian Gold at Sotheby’s – Bloomberg

This news is fake, and the story of the attempted sale of Scythian gold is made up. Bloomberg did not publish such stories either on its website or in its social media. Currently, the archaeological objects known as Scythian gold from Crimea, returned to Ukraine from the Netherlands, are under close guard at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine.

Read MoreFake: Ukrainian Government Tried to Sell Scythian Gold at Sotheby’s – Bloomberg

FACT CHECK: No, BBC Did Not Publish A Video About Ukrainian Official Under Investigation For Sending Weapons To Hamas | Check Your Fact

A post shared on X, formerly Twitter, claims that BBC News published a video about a Ukrainian official being under investigation for sending weapons to Hamas.

Verdict: False
There is no evidence that BBC News published this video

Read MoreFACT CHECK: No, BBC Did Not Publish A Video About Ukrainian Official Under Investigation For Sending Weapons To Hamas | Check Your Fact

FactChecking the Fourth GOP Primary Debate

Christie derided Ramaswamy's plan for ending Russia's war in Ukraine, saying it would concede to Russia "all the land they've already stolen" and keep Ukraine from joining NATO (although Christie misspoke, saying the plan would keep Ukraine out of Russia). In exchange, Christie said, Ramaswamy would trust Russian President Vladimir Putin "not to have a relationship with China."

Ramaswamy shot back, "That's not my deal."
But it seems to be a mostly accurate synopsis of what Ramaswamy had proposed in June and refers to as the "reasonable peace deal."

Read MoreFactChecking the Fourth GOP Primary Debate