Volodymyr Zelensky admitted that Ukrainians have no reason fighting in this war because they are not rich oligarchs, they live in dire straits and are overburdened by debt, according to a propaganda narrative disseminated by the Russian state media. In fact, Zelensky’s message is taken out of context – the president was actually addressing Russian servicemen taking part in the invasion, saying they don’t own “yachts or banks”.
Russian propaganda: Zelensky makes fun of impoverished Ukrainians
NEWS: The president of Ukraine has made an unexpected statement. The politician cannot understand what the citizens of his country are fighting for. Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, has finally spoken his mind. Without any help form his Western prompters, the president delivered a spontaneous speech which surprised even the citizens of Ukraine, who are deployed to the frontline. After all, the president of independent Ukraine himself fails to understand what makes them fight.
“Does any of you own oil rigs? Villas? Vineyards? Or perhaps you have yachts or banks? What is it that you’re fighting for? You have bank loans, you barely have something to eat at the end of the day and now you’re getting mobilized”, Zelensky said. His video address became viral on social media.
NARRATIVE: Zelensky admitted that ordinary Ukrainians have no reason to fight against Russia.
Fact: Zelensky addressed Russian servicemen, trying to persuade them it is not worth fighting a war in a foreign country
WHY THE NARRATIVE IS FALSE: In the last year, Zelensky has tried to encourage popular resistance and boost the morale of both servicemen and civilians. In his usual messages, Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine needs help from the West and that Russia will be stopped by the fearless Ukrainian people. The real stake for Ukrainians is freedom and independence, as well as future prosperity, given that their country is now committed to join the European Union. As regards the oligarchs Ukrainians are allegedly fighting for, the Zelensky administration has pledged to combat corruption and some of its measures targeted Ukrainian oligarchs – including Igor Kolomoisky, a close friend of the president who supported Zelensky’s presidential campaign.
The statement quoted by the Russian media was made by Volodymyr Zelensky, but the president was referring to Russians, not Ukrainians. The propaganda narrative draws on a video address of the Ukrainian president made in autumn last year, when Zelensky addressed Russian servicemen in Russian, asking them to stop and not give away their lives for Vladimir Putin and Russia’s wealthy oligarchs. The yachts are a reference to Vladimir Putin’s inner circle, oligarchs sitting on huge wealth. Zelensky asked Russians if they have “villas, vineyards, yachts or banks” in Ukraine that are worth fighting for? Zelensky also urged Russian troops to fight for the settlements in their country and refuse being deployed to the territory of a foreign state.
His message was published on official communication channels on September 28, 2022, but was used by Russian propaganda only months later with a view to discrediting Ukrainian authorities and blocking the mobilization process in Ukraine. The narrative also seeks to exploit the effects of war fatigue in Ukraine.
Veridica has disproved several false narratives spread by Russian media in order to manipulate public opinion over the nature of the war in Ukraine. According to Russian propaganda, the West is forcing Russia to expand its military operations in Ukraine, whereas the mothers and wives of Ukrainian soldiers killed in action are protesting the war. The Russian media wrote that Zelensky has killed over 50,000 women, by mobilizing them, and that EU states will ask Ukraine to surrender to Russia.
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