Fake News Surge in France Targets Zelenskyy, Western Aid and Ukraine’s Fight Against Russia

The Center for Countering Disinformation has tracked a rise in pro-Russian fake news campaigns in France, with false stories aimed at discrediting Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and Western support for Ukraine.

The spread of pro-Russian narratives in the French information space has significantly increased, with a number of fake news stories designed to undermine Ukraine’s war efforts and Western support. According to the Center for Countering Disinformation (CPD), these manipulated messages are being circulated widely on French-language platforms.

One prominent example is the fake news that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had purchased a hotel in Courchevel, a luxury ski resort in France, for 88 million euros. Another false claim suggested that Zelenskyy had bought a villa on the exclusive island of Saint-Barthélemy. These stories were quickly debunked by the CPD, but they had already spread across various platforms.

The CPD also observed the growing influence of pro-Russian messaging, including statements that blamed the West for the war in Ukraine. Phrases like “France is fomenting war in Ukraine,” “The West is making money on arms supplies, and Ukraine is paying with lives,” and “The West is responsible for the war in Ukraine” are being used to manipulate public opinion. These messages are part of a larger disinformation campaign that seeks to discredit Western aid to Ukraine while shifting the blame for the conflict onto the West.

A key player in this disinformation campaign is a French-language network of propaganda outlets known as Pravda, which has been identified by the CPD for spreading these manipulative narratives. The network’s influence has been growing, making it a significant tool for Russian-backed information warfare.

The spread of these stories is not only aimed at undermining Ukraine’s efforts but also at creating doubt among the Ukrainian population and weakening international support. As Russian propaganda shifts focus from justifying the invasion to trying to weaken Ukrainian resolve, it has become clear that disinformation is playing a critical role in shaping public perceptions.

These false narratives, designed to erode trust in both the Ukrainian government and its allies, are a growing concern as they undermine the unity and international support that Ukraine needs in its fight against Russian aggression.