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.

Despite being false, the story reached members of the US Congress, where leaders say any decision on further aid to Ukraine will be delayed until next year.

  • Th4tGuyII@kbin.social
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    6 months ago

    Either they’re traitors paid off by Russian, or they really are dumb enough to spout off unverified information like they’re on Facebook rather than supppsedly helping run a country

    Also, why would anything we’ve seen from Zelensky so far suggest he would be the type to waste his country’s precious resources on yachts? That’s the behaviour of someone who’d sit out a war they instigated in a bunker.